The growth in popularity of mobile casino apps has rocketed in the last few years. Driven by a number of factors, players are now enjoying their favourite casino games from the comfort of their own homes.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the history of mobile casinos, what they’ve evolved into, and what the future may hold.
The history of mobile casino apps
Mobile casino apps spawned out of online casinos. Back before mobile phones and similar devices had the computing power to run apps, all online casinos were run through the likes of desktop computers and laptops.
The first types of mobile casino apps were launched over slow mobile networks, making the experience unenjoyable.
However, when the Apple App and Google Play stores were launched for their more modern mobile phones, developers began to invest in mobile casino apps, and they’ve continuously improved over time.
However, another challenge that gambling companies faced (and continue to do) was the rules and regulations surrounding mobile casino apps. Indeed, online gambling as a whole took the world by storm, such that lawmakers didn’t know how to properly respond.
In some countries, like Canada, it’s illegal to operate an online casino without a license, but Canadians can play at any online casino that’s based offshore.
The US also has stringent laws surrounding online casinos. In fact, only six states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, allow online gambling.
This is contrast to the UK, where online gambling is legal in all forms and is regulated by the Gambling Commission. There’s a wide range of online casino apps available, some of which you can check out if you go to bestcasino.co.uk.
The latest features
Since those early incarnations, mobile casino apps have developed into platforms that people enjoy just as much as brick and mortar casinos.
Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best features to have been developed in recent years.
Live tables
One feature that has helped mobile casino apps to transition into the modern era is live table games.
The idea behind these games is simple – they’re casino games, such as blackjack and roulette, that you can play online in real-time.
When you join a live table, your mobile device receives a stream directly from a real casino table, allowing you to play along against other people who may be sitting at the table. You can even take part in tournaments, all from the comfort of your home, saving you from having to travel to the likes of Las Vegas.
If you’re someone who enjoys the live casino experience, this is as close as you can get with a mobile device. It has its other perks too, like not having to queue to sit at a table.
Range of slot machines
One of the big offerings of many online casino apps is the range of games available – way more than most brick and mortar casinos, which have a physical limitation on space.
Some online casinos offer hundreds – if not thousands – of different slot machine games. These popular games are simple to play and casinos have invested heavily in developing some interesting and attractive editions.
They’ve even gone as far as to work with major computer game developers such as Konami to produce the best games possible.
This development in the range of games available is undoubtedly a key factor in helping mobile casinos evolve and thrive.
Welcome bonuses
A big factor in the evolution of online casinos is the offering of welcome bonuses and deals. The promise of winning extra money, or utilising free spins, has helped betting companies draw in customers.
However, the trick with mobile casinos is to keep people playing after they’ve been offered the bonus or deal. That only happens if the product that has been created is enjoyable and provides a positive user experience, which isn’t always the case.
What the future has in store for mobile casino apps
To get an idea of what the future has in store for online casinos, we can look at the mobile gaming industry as a whole.
Something that’s grabbed attention is virtual reality (VR). As this technology develops and becomes more accessible to the likes of iPhones and Android phones, mobile casinos may take their immersiveness to a new level by introducing VR games, live tables and more.
Live dealer tables could evolve to introduce more interaction between players and the dealer too. The future certainly looks interesting for mobile casino apps.