The widespread use of mobile gadgets has affected how nearly every industry conducts itself, including that of online gambling. In the past decade, smartphones have become the primary devices used to access casinos, which has seen a significant shift in how the niche provides services. With more than three billion users across the globe, gaming companies have been quick to tap into it for a wider fanbase. Its extensive growth is also used as a display of how the online gaming global market has progressed in the past couple of years. In the mobile sector, Android is the leading operating system used to run the gadgets, which makes it the most prominent target by software companies. The OS is used to generate 46% of the industry’s revenue, which is far ahead of iOS that comes in second with 28%. Blackberry, Windows, and Linux are less popular options, but they are still accommodated in the provision of gambling services. Mobil casino gambling has managed to pick up so well among the masses as compared to its brick and mortar and PC counterparts. Such broad popularity is supported by the numerous upsides offered by the devices, and they include:
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- Portability
The most significant propelling force behind the popularity of smartphones is their ability to be easily carried around. The convenience of their portability means that gameplay sessions can be launched anywhere and at any time. These gadgets are often between five and six inches big, which makes them easy to fit in not only bags but also pockets. Therefore, as long as there is a web connection, punters can play in their favourite casinos while waiting for the bus or when in line to get a cup of coffee or any other location. Smartphones’ portability is further supported by the fact that they run on rechargeable batteries. Technology advancements have also introduced power banks that remotely charge the gadgets without being connected to an outlet. This upside cannot be enjoyed using PCs, which have to be plugged in to run. Even though laptop devices can also run on rechargeable batteries, they cannot operate as long as mobile gadgets without needing to be plugged into a power source. Also, they feature a much bulkier build than mobile devices, which makes them cumbersome to carry around.
- Cost-effective
Smartphones stand as the most used gadgets to access internet services because of how easy it is to get your hands on one. These devices come at much cheaper price tags than desktop computers, which makes them accessible to the greater public. The market is riddled with options as cheap as 50 dollars, and the options range can go as high as 1000 dollars. This amount is significantly lower than what one would get for PCs, which often start as low as 200 dollars. Additionally, smartphones operate with SIM cards that accommodate cheap data plans. Therefore, one does not have to go all out and purchase a Wi-Fi plan to be connected to the web.
- Global casino access
The internet makes the world a small community by allowing people from any part of the globe to access information from any other region. This advantage applies to mobile gambling, where punters are allowed interaction with gambling from diverse parts of the world. For instance, a player in South Africa can access online casinos and games in the United Kingdom. All this is done from one’s location of choice as long as the practice is conducted within the limits of the nation’s laws.
- Wide game range
With the widespread growth of mobile use, online gaming software developers are heavily invested in developing games that are suited for mobile devices. This trend was first kicked off by NetEnt when the firm introduced Java technology to support games on smartphones. With time, flash technology was introduced, and it required toe installation of Adobe Flash Player for games to run on the devices. Today, HTML5 technology is the most prevailing tech used to run mobile games since Adobe is no longer making updates for its flash player. HTML5 allows mobile games to run on nearly all operating systems including iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and Blackberry. Mobile casinos operate much like their PC counterparts and offer a wide range of games to suit varying gambler needs. The most popular category in these gambling clubs is that of slot games. Players also have access to a variety of table games, arcade games, and live dealer sets.
- Free and real money games
Mobile casinos accommodate both free and real money gameplay, which puts them at an advantage over the location-based options. Both casino game versions are usually the same with the only difference being that the demo options do not generate real money wins. In the free games, fun credits are included to serve as bets, and any payouts that are collected are reused as wagers. In some cases, the free options are accessible without the need to create a casino account. The real money versions, however, demand that gamblers not only open an account but also make a cash deposit.
- No download accessibility
Most mobile gambling destinations provide their services in instant play mode. This means that players do not have to go through the trouble of downloading applications when they need to play. HTML5 technology comes into play in this factor as well since it supports the running of games on web browsers used on smartphones such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. In some cases, a flash player may be required for the games to run. However, with the technology being faced out by nearly all software companies, no installation will be needed in the future. With no download games easily accessible, you can save a lot of memory space on your gadget that would be taken up by applications. Nonetheless, some games do offer download options for those that prefer to access the gambling experience directly from an app.
- Range of banking options
The mobile wave has affected many more sectors other than that of gambling, including that of banking. Numerous online money transfer platforms support their services on mobile devices. Therefore, you can easily launch a casino and conduct deposits and withdrawals with it on smartphones without depending on PCs or an actual bank. Some of these services go as far as to create mobile apps that are specifically built for operation on smartphones and tablets. Visa, PayPal, and Skrill are some prominent online banking options that offer mobile services.
- Bonuses and promotions
Bonuses are a significant part of the casino industry, and mobile gambling has not been left behind. Some gambling dens take it a step further and curate incentives that are explicitly targeted at gamblers using their smartphones to access their services. These promos encourage the use of mobile gadgets to access gambling services and further drives the already popular platform. Mobile casinos also offer access to conventional benefits granted when playing on PCs, including:
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Match promotions |
These offers match the amount deposited by a specific amount and can only go as high as a set limit. |
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No deposit offers |
These bonuses are given before players can commit any cash of their own. |
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Free spins |
These incentives are specifically created for use in slot machines and award bonus rounds. |
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Free chips |
These chips operate similarly to free spins but are targeted at table and card games. |
In Brief
Mobile gambling has exploded in the past decade and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Convenience and easy access stand as the sector’s most significant driving forces, and it continues to challenge the bounds of how advantageous it can be.
