To app or not to app: That’s the question. In the gaming community, casino players have often wondered if it makes a big difference. Should they play on apps or just stick with the mobile-optimized website? We’ve tested this out for ourselves many times, and actually had some of our users send in some feedback too, so let’s dive in and see who wins the battle of app or site. Spoiler alert: Many of the best mobile casinos in Canada make the decision for you. Read on to find out what we’re referring to.
Why Players Enjoy Mobile-optimized Casinos
The first question you might be wondering is why do casinos have websites versus apps. The answer is because the app stores – especially the Apple version – can be very restrictive as to which gaming sites can be allowed in and which can’t. That must be pretty annoying if you’re a casino company just trying to offer more options to your players.
Why does it matter if you play on the app or on a mobile-optimized casino?
While the app stores have become more flexible of late, the reality is that the gaming sites have figured out that they don’t exactly need an app. That’s they can basically mimic the functionality of an app with mobile-friendly, optimized sites that ensure users don’t feel much of a difference. It helps that smartphones and tablets have become so powerful. Maybe playing on sites rather than apps came with some lag at first, but nowadays, there really isn’t much of a speed difference. 1Red Casino, for example, does a great job of providing a mobile-friendly site where players love the experience.
Editor’s note:
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Dedicated Casino Apps
Dedicated casino apps have their benefits over mobile-friendly casino websites, and in reality, they’re probably the best way forward. If there was no friction from the app stores, apps would be the way to go.
The benefits
Casino apps offer a more “fully-loaded” experience, as they come with more features than the mobile-friendly website. For example, you can often log in with just a fingerprint or face recognition. That’s faster than typing in the details every time (as you would via mobile).
Aside from logging in, think about loading: With an app, you simply tap, and you’re taken where you want to go. You don’t have to open a browser or anything else. Lastly, one other great feature is push messaging. Casinos often want to communicate bonuses, features, and new games to you in different ways. It’s nice to get a push message that just pops up when there’s a happy hour, rather than having to read all of your e-mails.
Why you might not play online casino games on an app
The main challenge with dedicated casino apps is that they’re not as readily available as you might think. As long as the app stores continue to keep them out, which is a big issue for casino apps in Canada, you’ll have to settle for what’s available.
The best mobile casino apps are going to be packed with more features that you’ll want. However, many Canadian mobile casinos don’t actually have dedicated apps because of various challenges they have with the Android and Apple app stores. If you search and see that they have an app, go for it.
Editor’s opinion: