Why Your Type of Device or Platform Matters
Not even the best casinos in the world are the best at everything – all of them have their strengths and weaknesses which you should research before registering. As such, some casinos sites are better at certain things than others. Figuring out the best casino for your needs is a matter of finding the site or operator whose strengths and features align with what you’re looking for.
With that in mind, some casinos perform better on certain devices than others. For example, a mobile-first casino offers a superior experience to players looking to play casino games on the go. This can be reflected in features such as better apps, more mobile-friendly games, better controls and navigation on phones, and so on.
On the flip side, a classic gambling site that focuses on desktop users will be a better fit for anyone looking to stay on their trusty PC. Again, this is reflected in perks such as better UI, more convenient payment options, and even easier access to games and gaming products.
In short, you should decide which device you wish to use to play casino games before picking a casino. For most players, this decision is already made – you probably already use a phone or computer for all your gaming needs. However, it’s important to remember that the type of device should play a role in deciding which casino to register for.
Of course, device compatibility is not the only thing you should consider. You should also take stock of the kinds of games you play, bonuses you enjoy, and which payment methods you find the most convenient. However, your choice of device is sill one of the major factors, which is why this page exists in the first place.
Common Types of Devices for Mobile Casinos
Since Best Casinos has already created a database of the best online casinos that are compatible with a variety of devices and operating systems, players don’t have to invest too much time and effort in researching and selecting online casinos on their own. They simply have to choose an online casino from our database and match it with their platform. In order to do this, they need to have some basic knowledge of various platforms.
The majority of devices used for playing online casino games falls into one of three main categories – desktop, phones, and tablets. Additionally, these devices have different operating systems that may also affect their performance on certain gaming sites or apps.
– Desktop casinos specialize in computers, and are the oldest and arguably the most common type of online casino. Nowadays, most such sites are fully browser-based services. In other words, you don’t need to download or install anything – you just head over to the casino using your internet browser. Broadly speaking, playing casino games on desktop offers the best audio-visual experience. Many players also find it easier to navigate them using mouse and keyboard controls, but that’s mostly down to personal preference. On the other hand, computers are by far the least portable type of device. LAptops are mobile to a degree, but nowhere near as much as the average smartphone.
– Mobile casinos priotitize phone users. This is typically achieved either through dedicated casino apps for systems like iOS and Android or simply casino sites optimized for mobile use. Most of the world’s online traffic has been steadily moving towards phones for years now, and casinos are no different. In fact, it’s probably safe to say that phone users make up the majority of online punters these days, which is why such casinos are growing in popularity and success. Mobile casino gaming is the most portable and convenient form of casino play, and downloadable apps often boast advanced features you wouldn’t find anywhere else. However, not everyone enjoys casino games on relatively small phone screens and limiting controls, which is why desktop is still going strong.
– Tablets never became quite as widespread as smartphones, which is why very few casinos can honestly claim to focus on tablet users. However, many sites do focus on offering dedicated apps for Android or iPad devices , which are the two most common types of tablets. Still, there are definitely caisnos that perform better on tablets than others – mostly because some don’t even account for this third type of platform. Tablet casinos stand as a middle-ground between the mobility of phones and the superior user experience of desktop.
Of course, these are just some of the biggest examples. Although devices such as BlackBerrys and Windows Phones have been discontinued, enough of them are still floating around and being used for casino games. If you’re still one of the diehards who use relatively niche devices, no worries; the BestCasinos team has your back.
Matching the Right Casino Site With Your Platform
Our introduction mentions that it’s important for players to match the casino you play on with the device you use. But how exactly do we do that?
There are three main factors you need to keep in mind – the type of your device, its operating system, and whether you want to download apps or play instantly.
Operating Systems: Most personal computers are either Windows-based, Macs, or Linux-based. However, since most desktop online gambling these days is done in browsers, the OS you have does not really matter. However, phone users are probably using either an Android or an iPhone. In this case, the difference definitely matters – Android users don’t have access to all of the same apps and games that iPhone users do, and vice-versa.
Mobile vs Desktop vs Tablet: As discussed above, the size and type of your platform of choice are considerable factors. Each of these devices has its own set of pros and cons, and most players tend to prefer one or the other. However, due to the fundamental differences in how these gadgets are interacted with, it’s arguably a more important question than the operating system. Additionally, some players may want to play on the same casino with multiple devices, in which case they need a casino that’s compatible and usable on multiple platforms.
Browser Play vs Downloadable apps: Browser-based online casinos, also known as instant play online casinos, are usually based on HTML5 technology. These online casinos are compatible with almost every browser under the sun, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. Due to how well they tend to work, downloadable online casinos are generally a relic of the past. However, phone users may want to consider whether they want to download an app or stick to browser-based play. Both are viable options with their pros and cons, so it’s just a matter of personal preference.
Once players have matched their operating system and device with the right online casino, they are ready to enjoy the ultimate casino gaming experience. To do so, players only have to read and compare reviews of the best online casinos in our database.
Why Some Casinos Perform Better on Certain Devices
Many new players don’t even consider the impact their device has on their casino experience, let alone their choice of casino. This begs the question: why are some casinos better for certain platforms than others?
There are a few factors that contribute to our ratings, all of which are equally important. To answer this question, we’ll consider some of these factors and why some casinos do certain things better than others.
– Compitability: The first factor is simply a matter of practicality – does the casino even work on that type of device? Most gambling venues try to accomodate as many players as possible, so they theoretically support all types of devices. However, this is not always the case, which is why we consider compatiblitiy at all.
– Performance: The best casinos run well on all types of devices, regardless of hardware or connectivity. Ideally, everything works smoothly, there are no crashes, bugs, or techical issues. Sadly, though, that’s not always the case. In many cases, the difference between a casino’s mobile and desktop versions comes down to these technical aspects.
– Usability: Navigating a casino through your phone is different than browsing a site on your computer. Both require a specialized approach to UX design and specific features tailored to the device in question. For example, some me casinos do not work well on smaller screens and touchscreen controls – at least not as well as the same operator’s desktop site. As such, your platform of choice also affects how easy and intuitive the casino will be to use.
– Game Selection: In this day and age, most casino software providers strive to make all of their games compatable with most common platforms. However, they don’t always succeed – at least not to the same degree. Moreover, older but still beloved casino games are sometimes incomatable with modern devices. This effectively means that some types of devices (most notably desktop) offer more games overall then their newer counterparts.
– Payment Options: A casino’s range of payment methods can also make it more suitable for some platforms than others. For example, some online payment services are desinged to work well on mobile, others aren’t. It largely works the same as with casinos. As such, a casino that offers more mobile-friendly deposit methods will ultimately be more suitable for mobile users.
Conclusion
If you want to find the best casinos for your personal needs and goals, picking a platform to play on is a great place to start. In fact, you’ve probably already picked one, which makes the whole process easier.
All that’s left is to make sure that the casino you register for accommodates your device type well. This is easier said than done – many technical issues about certain sites aren’t really noticeable until you’ve been using it for months. Moreover, some details take a bit of experience to spot and understand.
That’s why our platform-based lists of top casinos are helpful. They allow you to quickly and easily find top gambling sites that perfectly suit you as a player. All of our reviews and ratings take into account the fact that picking a casino is a personal choice for every player, so you can rest assured that the sites we recommend are the best-in-class for your needs.
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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.