What Are Desktop Casinos?
Desktop casinos are online gambling platforms that can be accessed using personal computers, or PCs. Generally, this refers to any computer-based casino regardless of the operating system, which means Windows, Mac, and Linux-based systems are all included.
To be clear, almost every modern online casino is compatible with computers in one form or another. While some of them specialize in other platforms like phones, pretty much every brand includes a gambling site that can be accessed and played on using your computer. Moreover, almost 50% of the global gaming market still prefers computers as the go-to device for their favourite casino games.
However, some casinos stand out as top desktop casinos because they pay more attention to PC users or simply deliver a better product. These are the types of venues we’re exploring on this page – sites that provide top-notch experiences through superior UI, better games and bonuses, and advanced features on desktop.
It’s also worth mentioning that these days, most casinos are compatible with all sorts of different platforms. That means that you don’t have to pick between a casino for your phone and a casino for your PC – you can use the same account on all devices. However, if the PC is still your primary choice, the casinos we listed above are for you.
How We Rate the Best Casinos for Desktop
By now, you’re probably wondering why we picked these casinos over others. The best way to answer which casinos are the best on Desktop is to explain our standards for how we picked the top offers for our list.
Reviewing online casinos is a big part of what we do here on BestCasinos. We rank and rate these operators based on a number of metrics and standards which were set by years of experience and extensive knowledge of the industry. We know exactly what the competition offers, which allows us to accurately measure which casinos are best for personal computers.
Below, we’ll explain some of the main characteristics and features of top Desktop casinos. However, we should stress that the rankings still account for our general review standards. Basically, a good desktop casino has to have a solid core offer. It has to be properly licensed, secure, reputable, and boast enough games and features to compete in today’s highly saturated market.
Once we establish that a casino is indeed a good casino, we move on to details such as testing which platforms it performs best on. The results are listed above, and we’ll explain our platform tests and what they look for below.
Compatibility
The first thing we consider is whether the casino can be accessed via PC at all. Again, this applies to pretty much 100% of gaming sites out there, so it isn’t a high standard to beat.
However, compatibility is still a major concern for desktop casino players. Unlike some other platforms, personal computers are extremely diverse in terms of their hardware, software, peripherals, and other specifications. For example, casinos have to account for multiple operating systems, such as several generations of Windows computers, multiple Linux-based systems, and so on. Next, they have to account for the differences in hardware, the multiple types of popular internet browsers, and all sorts of screen resolutions and similar details.
In other words, a good desktop casino is able to run well on all sorts of machines, regardless of their age and specs. The last thing you want is to register for a casino only to find that its UI doesn’t work as intended on your favourite internet browser. As such, compatibility is a big concern for PC gamers, and an important part of our casino testing.
Performance on Desktop
While most casinos indeed run on desktops, the question of how well they run is a different matter entirely. Ideally, a site or desktop gambling platform always runs well with no stuttering or lagging, has no bugs or glitches, and never runs into any technical issues.
As we all know, things are rarely ideal with any sort of product or service, and casinos are no different. However, players should still have high expectations when it comes to the technical aspects of their gaming platforms. A well-made gaming site will save its users a lot of headaches, especially in the long run.
Of course, evaluating a casino’s performance on PC can be difficult for the average user. Most people can easily see that a web page is fast and responsive. However, finding out how it will perform in different times or under different circumstances takes a lot of rigorous testing and attention to detail. For example, periods with high traffic and unexpected spikes in player counts are where high-performing sites will truly shine.
That’s another reason our casino reviews can be valuable to players. We’ll do these tests and compare the results to other respected casinos and brands, offering valuable information that you can rely on while finding the next casino to call home.
Casino Game Compatibility
Most modern online casinos largely feature games that were made by separate companies known as software providers. Much like the casinos themselves, these providers focus on different areas and make products of varying quality. As a result, some games look and play better on PC than they do on other platforms.
These days, casino game providers are very quick to describe themselves as “mobile-first.” This is due to recent trends in the industry where a lot of new players prefer Android and iOS devices compared to the trusty old desktop. As a result, some games like online slots offer inferior experiences when played over PCs – especially when compared to providers that openly focus on desktop games.
Obviously, the best desktop casinos offer games from providers who put PC users first and foremost. This is often reflected in several ways, namely better UI and more comfortable control schemes for mouse-and-keyboard controls. Moreover, desktop casino games are better able to leverage the relatively large screens and superior audio-visual experiences that the computer can offer when compared to phones or tablets.
Design and Features
When it comes down to it, the number one difference between a desktop casino and a mobile casino is its interface. As you probably know by now, most websites these days use separate versions for mobile devices than they do for computers. For better or worse, this also means that some casinos offer a better user experience on desktop than they do on other platforms (or vice-versa).
In practice, desktop casinos have larger interfaces that hold more information and potentially more features. However, this also sometimes has the unintended effect of producing overly complicated, cluttered sites that are a nightmare to navigate.
A well-made desktop casino uses the screen size, mouse controls, and other characteristics of the platform to make everyday use easier. This often translates into innovative features for navigating casinos and intuitive site designs that make you feel like all options are easily accessible at all times.
In some ways, a well-designed site is the difference between a top-ranking desktop casino and a site that merely works on desktop.
Desktop-friendly Payments
Another way in which some casinos specialize is through the available payment methods.
Much like casinos and betting games, some online payment services were made to be mobile-first. Others are still mainly used via desktop, and there are usually reasons behind this fact. In most cases, it comes down to convenience, speed, and ease of use. Other times it’s all about the payment method’s target audience – some are simply designed to only be used on smartphones.
Top desktop casinos offer a solid range of deposit options that are preferable for PC users. Naturally, these payments also have to be a strong offer in terms of limits, playthrough requirements, withdrawal waiting times, and other important details. However, if you keep your platform in mind while picking a casino, you’re likely to end up with more available methods that suit your needs as a player.
Desktop Casino Bonuses
A good casino has to offer a strong collection of bonuses and promotions both to entice new players and to reward loyal customers.
If you’re thinking that most casinos offer the same bonuses on all platforms, you’re mostly right. However, that’s sadly not always the case, and it’s often desktop players who miss out on special promotions.
For one reason or another, gambling platforms sometimes limit bonuses in certain ways. Limitations are mostly imposed on game types or payment methods. However, some bonuses are only offered if you access the casino from a certain platform. A common example would be bonuses offered as incentives for players to download Android or iOS casino apps.
Naturally, the best-performing desktop casinos allow players to collect all bonuses and perks using their platform of choice. The better, more interesting, and more rewarding these bonuses are, the better the casino will rank on our list.
Desktop vs. Mobile Casinos – Which is Better?
For most players, the main choice of platform for online gambling comes down to picking between desktop and mobile.
The advantages of playing on desktop PCs are many. For starters, players have access to a wider range of games. Second, the screen size is bigger, enabling players to enjoy better game graphics and audio effects. Third, PCs have ample space and are capable of accommodating the casino gaming software. The additional screen space also makes it easier to use advanced features such as multi-play.
The biggest disadvantage of PC casinos is that players cannot carry their computers around. Although playing on the go might not be your thing, you should also keep in mind that you may want to travel in the future. Laptop computers solve this issue to a degree, but they’re still nowhere near as mobile as phones.
If players want to carry their online casino in their pockets, they have to sign up at a mobile casino. Some mobile casinos require players to download a native mobile casino gaming app, but the latest mobile casinos allow players to play right on their browsers through a web app that requires no download.
On the downside, the number of mobile games is smaller than the number of PC games. Since the screen size of smartphones and tablets is smaller than that of a PC, the gaming experience can get cramped and uncomfortable. Smaller devices also lack the space required for casino gaming apps.
We strongly recommend playing at PC casinos that are compatible with mobile devices. As long as players have access to their desktops, they can play at their desktop casino. And whenever they are travelling, they can play on their smartphones or tablets. However, you should still pick your casino based on your preferred platform, so it’s best to choose your number one platform before picking a casino.
Instant Play vs. Download – What is the Difference?
Decades ago, most online casinos were programs that you had to download and install on your device. You would then use this program to access games, payments, and everything else that constitutes a gambling service.
However, as the years went by and technology improved, most casinos switched to being fully web-based services. This means that the casino and everything it offers can be accessed from a simple website. That’s probably the format of desktop casinos that most players are familiar with.
This effectively created a distinction between downloadable and web-based casinos, which were initially referred to as Instant Play casinos.
Nowadays, the distinction is largely irrelevant because downloadable PC casino applications are a thing of the past. Almost all desktop casinos now are Instant Play, and we haven’t seen an alternative in decades. Frankly, there are very few advantages to downloadable software compared to gambling sites, which is why they died out in the first place
Pros & Cons of Playing Casino Games on Desktop
There’s a reason so many players still prefer desktop as their gaming platform of choice. In fact, there are many reasons, and we’ll highlight some of them below.
If you’re wondering whether desktop casinos are the right choice for you, consider some of the pros and cons when compared to other platforms.
Conclusion
Due to several trends both inside and outside the gambling industry, some believe that desktop gaming is a thing of the past, and that it will be entirely replaced by the more portable and accessible smartphone. Make no mistake, though, this movement of players away from PCs is slowing down, and computers will always be the go-to platform for thousands of punters worldwide. The efficient controls, improved visuals, and overall stability of desktop computers compared to handheld devices will ensure that there will always be a dedicated player base on this platform.
However, this means that if you intend to play casino games on a desktop, you should pick a desktop casino. Gambling operators who focus on this platform often provide a superior experience in many ways, ranging from a bigger selection of games to improved UI elements and advanced features that would never really work on other devices.
Top-ranking desktop casinos are also better able to accommodate PC users through desktop-focused payment options, exciting bonus offers, and a variety of other perks. If you’re not sure which casinos are best on PC, the list we provided above can point you in the right direction.
However, we also encourage you to check out the pros and cons of other platforms. Either way, make sure to pick a casino based on your needs and preferences as a player. Keep those preferences in mind, and our top lists can help you find the best new venue for any future betting.
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Milos Markovic is the creative mind behind the content you see on the site. As the head of MM Editing – a digital agency in charge of content for BestCasinos - Milos works closely with his team to deliver high-quality, informative, and SEO-friendly content that makes online casino games easier (and more fun) to explore. From big-picture strategy to the final word on a review, he's involved every step of the way.