The innovation and growth in the mobile phone industry over the last decade is no secret – we use our smartphones for so much more than making calls and sending texts. From watching videos on YouTube to doing your weekly shop, you’d be hard-pressed to find a task that can’t be completed on your phone or tablet. It should come as no surprise then, that millions prefer to gamble on the go at mobile casinos using nothing but a casino mobile app.
Most top online casinos allow users to choose between a web app and a native app. When you think of mobile apps, native apps are probably the first to come to mind. As the name suggests, native apps are developed to be ‘native’ to a specific platform, such as Apple or Android. You’ll have to install natives app from an app store, whereas web apps are simply mobile-optimised web pages. Both app variants look and work much the same way. However, there are a few important differences between the two, and understanding them is key to deciding which type of mobile casino app is right for you.
Before you read on: Sure you want mobile casino? We also have pages on betting apps and bingo on mobile.
How we find the best casino apps
It’s a crowded market out there, so how can you work out which is the best mobile casino for you? Our expert team at Compare.bet makes it much easier to decide, because we review and recommend the top sites available right now. So how do we pick out the ones worthy of our list? There are several elements we factor into our decisions, and these include:
- How good the user interface is
- The number and variety of games on offer
- Whether there’s a strong spread of live dealer games
- What the loyalty and VIP schemes are like
- How generous the welcome bonuses are
- How strong the customer service is
- What kinds of terms and conditions are attached to bonuses
Native apps vs web apps
If you’re fairly new to mobile casinos, you might wonder what the difference is between the kinds of apps on offer. Let’s break it down.
First up: web apps. These are basically the mobile sites of the casinos in question. So, if you open up the browser on your device – Chrome, Firefox or Safari, for example – and sign in to your chosen casino site, you’ll be playing through the casino’s web app.
Then there are native apps. These are downloaded onto your device, for example through the App Store or Google Play, and exist completely separately from the browser sites.
Using web apps saves storage space on your phone, as you don’t have to download anything onto your device. On the other hand, native apps do come with some serious perks. Let’s take a closer look.
Convenience
It might only save seconds, but when presented with a choice, it’s only natural to go for the easiest option. Instead of having to visit your online casino via web browser, entering the mobile casino site’s URL and then signing in whenever you want to enjoy a gambling session, you simply open the native app on your device and start betting straight away.
Personalisation
Sure, you could enjoy the same collection of games at both web and native apps, but for a more personalised experience, native apps are undoubtedly your best bet. Casino operators can use native apps to track your activity and offer custom recommendations and updates. These apps also let you set preferences to your liking, treating you to a tailored online casino experience.
Speed
You want to get to the good stuff as soon as possible, right? Well, a good native casino mobile app can perform actions quicker than a mobile web app. Native apps usually store their data locally on mobile devices, whereas web apps use web servers. This results in faster data retrieval for native apps. Of course, this all happens in the background – all you need to know is that mobile casino apps are your best bet when it comes to gambling on the small screen.
Notifications
Have you ever logged on to your favourite online casino site only to notice that you’ve missed out on an amazing promotion by just a few days? You’ll never miss out again with casino mobile apps. Most native apps feature push notifications that are delivered directly to your phone. You’ll get alerts to keep you in the loop with your casino’s newest games, promotions and loyalty rewards. For those of you that don’t fancy getting these alerts, you’ll be glad to know you can turn them off in your phone’s settings.
Security
In most cases, mobile casino apps are no less secure than their desktop counterparts. To avoid any uncertainty, play at one of the online casinos on our list – they’re all fully licensed, vetted by our team of experts and can be trusted to offer fair gameplay that’s protected by industry-standard encryption protocols.
How do I get started using a casino mobile app?
You can start playing online casino games on dedicated, downloadable mobile phone apps in just a few simple steps:
- Choose a casino.
We’ve scoured the internet for the best mobile casino apps and compiled a list of only the very best. All you need to do is compare and pick one! Can’t make your mind up? Our expert reviews are sure to point you in the right direction.
- Sign up.
You can register an account in a matter of minutes. All you’ll need to do is provide is a few personal details.
- Deposit & claim your welcome bonus.
Most top online casinos offer a good range of deposit options, from standard methods like credit and debit cards to e-wallets like PayPal and Neteller. Unless you’ve chosen a no deposit bonus, you’ll be credited with your bonus funds almost instantly after making your first deposit.
- Mobile web or casino app?
Once you’re all signed up, you’ll be able to continue using mobile-friendly sites to play your favourite online casino games. You’ll also have the option to download a native online casino app from an application store. These are specific to the platform you’re using. iOS users should visit the App Store, Android users can visit the Google Play Store and Windows Phone users can visit the Windows Store.
- Play.
Now for the fun part. Simply tap on the app and enjoy playing the best mobile casino games!
Spin and win on the go
Slots games are incredibly popular with users of mobile casinos, and it’s easy to see why. The gameplay is always simple, with very little player interaction required, and that makes slots games ideal for when you’re on the go and just fancy a flutter without having to invest a lot of brainpower in gaming strategies. Plus, the best mobile casino sites offer a vast range of colourful slots games on all kinds of exciting themes, from Ancient Egypt to blockbuster films and hit TV shows, so there’s always something new to discover.
Play roulette on your mobile
Roulette is one of the all-time great table games, and the beauty of the mobile device revolution is you can now get that classic casino experience wherever you are. The best mobile casino apps have a range of roulette variations on offer, and whatever flavour you choose, you’ll soon be ready to throw down those virtual chips – whether you like to bet big on individual numbers, or play it safer with outside bets on colours or groups of numbers.
Play to 21 on a casino app
Is blackjack the ultimate casino card game? Well, that’s something people can argue among themselves, but the good news is that you can play it any time you want thanks to mobile casino apps. As with roulette, you’re likely to find different variations of the classic 21-chasing game, so even the most seasoned players will find something to intrigue them. The fact that the rules of blackjack are always pretty straightforward make it a perfect game to dip into when you’re killing time on the move.
Claim a mobile casino bonus
When it comes to deciding which mobile app to sign up for, welcome offers can make all the difference. If you’re a slots supremo, you’ll probably look out for free spins bonuses, which let you hit the reels without risking any of your own cash.
Then there are the time-honoured deposit bonuses, where the mobile casino operator will match your initial deposit up to a certain percentage. You might also find some sites offering no deposit bonuses, where your account will be credited when you sign up, without any money required from you.
Just remember to check the terms and conditions, as the overwhelming majority of bonuses come with wagering requirements, meaning you’ll have to bet a set a number of times before being able to withdraw any winnings on your bonus bets.
Pay and play from the palm of your hand
Mobile casino sites make it easy to deposit and withdraw money. Popular methods include:
- Visa and MasterCard debit card transfers
- Bank transfers
- Transfers via e-wallets like PayPal and Neteller
The convenience factor is ramped up if you also have the bank or e-wallet apps on your mobile device. This way, you can tap between the casino app and your bank or e-wallet app to keep track of transactions as they’re made.
Compare and play
Now that you’re all clued up, you’re probably eager to start playing some of the best titles available on mobile. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of New Zealand’s top mobile casinos – we’ve scoured the web to find the cream of the crop. Our casinos have the best games, promos and mobile-exclusive bonuses. All you need to do is compare and pick your favourite!
Your Questions Answered
Yes, you can still play online casino games on your mobile. Most top casinos have mobile web versions of their site which you can visit using your mobile web browser.
Of course! As long as you aren’t playing a free demo version of your chosen game, you’ll be able to play for real money, just like you would on your desktop online casino.
In most cases, mobile casino apps are no less secure than their desktop counterparts. To avoid any uncertainty, play at one of the online casinos on our list – they’re all fully licensed, vetted by our team of experts and can be trusted to offer fair gameplay.
Yes. Many of New Zealand’s casinos have taken advantage of the faster, easier method of QR codes. Simply scan the code and you’ll be directed to the app download page. You can also download via SMS. All you’ll need to do is provide your mobile number and within seconds of requesting, you’ll receive an SMS with a link to the mobile casino app download.
