Today, more and more players are opting to play on both their desktop computers and mobile devices. This has led to a growing demand among Canadian players for cross-platform casino sites that work on mobile and personal computers. In this article, we will look at why cross-platform gaming in Canada has become so popular, some of the challenges online casinos are facing to meet this demand, and some of the best mobile casinos in Canada.
What Is Cross-Platform Gaming, Exactly?
Cross-platform gaming refers to being able to play with players on multiple, different devices. For example, playing live casino games on your phone with someone else who joined the live casino server from at home on their laptop.
For online casinos, the definition can be a little more specific than playing with someone on a different type of device.
Most people use the term to mean being able to play online casino games on multiple devices, such as when an online casino has a website and a mobile app. This is the definition we will use here in this piece.
One Game, Many Devices: The Rise of Cross-Platform Gaming
There are many reasons cross-platform gaming has gotten so popular. The biggest is probably convenience. Everyone has a phone in today’s world, and getting access to the internet is relatively easy. This allows players in Canada to play games from basically anywhere.
The convenience isn’t just about where someone is physically located. Most modern players grew up using their phones to browse online rather than computers. This means when they want to gamble online, using a mobile device is more natural than using a computer. The numbers back this up.
A study published in Business Wire found that mobile users account for about 80% of all users of gambling sites. Another study found that 70% of all gambling revenue was earned via mobile sites or gambling apps.
Benefits of Cross-Platform Gaming for Canadian Players
As we just discussed, convenience is the biggest reason online casinos with cross-platform support are so popular. It’s not the only one, though. The mobile and desktop casino experience can be very different from casino to casino.
Because mobile gaming is so popular, many sites have focused on a mobile-first approach which detracts from the desktop site. Others have taken the reverse approach and only have quality desktop sites.
Most have gone for the first approach, so playing on mobile is simply better than playing on desktop on these sites. The best mobile casino sites are often faster and have more features than desktop casino sites.
| Popular cross-play platform | Pros | Cons |
| Personal computers | Larger screen, more processing power, | Site-specific, old school |
| iOS | Available anywhere, enhanced security, familiar layout | Smaller screen, limited mobile apps available in Canada |
| Android | Available anywhere, APK apps, most mobile casinos are optimised for Google Chrome | Smaller screen, limited mobile apps available in Canada |
| Tablets | Mix of personal computer and smartphone, larger screen, customizable | Wifi needed, harder to play on the go, limited mobile apps available in Canada |
Is Cross-Platform Gaming the Future of Multiplayer?
Cross-platform gaming only works if the casino is fun to play on every platform. Here are some of the best cross-platform casinos in Canada that do a great job of providing a top-quality online casino experience on desktop and mobile devices:
Cross-Platform Gaming: Future Developments
Canadian iGaming law limits the number of apps available. Right now, casino apps are only available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store in Ontario. As more provinces legalise online gambling, mobile casino apps will be more available.
Another change we see coming is that mobile casino sites will get bigger. Currently, a lot of mobile casinos just have a portion of the games available on desktop sites. As internet speeds improve and new technology develops, it should be easier for mobile casinos to host more games.
Is Cross-Platform Gaming Here to Stay?
Yes, online casino cross-platform gaming is here in Canada, and it is going to stay for a very long time.
The trends that led to cross-platform gaming exploding in popularity are not going anywhere. Young people use their phones more than older people do. As they start playing at casino sites, they will most likely opt online casinos with cross-platform support.
