If you want to play casino games like roulette or blackjack, or even just play slots, until recently you were mostly limited to either going to a land-based casino in person (not very practical for a lot of people) or sitting there playing a clunky, unrealistic version on your desktop computer that you might not have been too sure was fair or even legal.
Things have since progressed to the point where not only are the games better quality and provably fair (more on that in a minute) but you can play them pretty much wherever and whenever you want because, with the right app and the mobile device of your choice, you can have an online casino in the palm of your hand.
However, even with these huge steps forward, the experience and quality can vary depending on where you go and what you do, but these few quick checks can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that you might unwittingly fall victim to.
Only download apps from reliable sources
It doesn’t matter if you have an Android or Apple device, it is not advised that you download anything from anywhere other than a legitimate source. This is typically Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS devices, but there are other certified places you can use.
It was the case that gambling apps weren’t available on these platforms, but you could ‘sideload’ the apps from other sites. The problem here was that while this was sometimes OK, some of the sites were taking the opportunity to take advantage of the situation. With most apps now available from legitimate sources, this should no longer be a problem.
Find the best games
It’s a sad fact that some games, especially old favorites, don’t work so well on mobile devices. it’s not a technology thing, it’s a simple fact that games originally designed to be played on a desktop monitor or 14” laptop screen aren’t so legible on a smaller phone screen.
This doesn’t have to be a problem as many of the newer games are designed for mobile devices and these typically offer more and better features than the games you might have played before. You will, however, need to see how much data any of the games you are playing are using up.
Find the right online casino
It might seem like an obvious thing to say, but people sometimes overlook this one important point. You’ll need to find a casino that is fully legal and licensed to operate where you are, which is something you can check on the operator’s website. If you can’t find those details, just ask one of their customer service representatives using the live chat option.
Alternatively, you could use online resources to do the work for you and help you find the best gambling apps available. Using these can fill some gaps in your knowledge and make the whole process a bit swifter, especially if you are new to all of this.
Playing on the move
As well as an improved gaming experience, the other advantage of having an online casino in your pocket is that you can play anywhere you want. However, this does come with its own list of dos and don’ts. Right at the top of that list is to make sure that if you are playing on the way to work, or in a coffee shop while you are waiting for somebody, that your connection to the internet won’t drop out mid-game. Many online casinos have a contingency for this, so you might not lose out, but it is still frustrating for you. So doing a dry run to check the first time you make the journey is a good plan so you don’t end up disappointed.
Using public Wi-Fi
If you were thinking that the best answer here was to use the public Wi-Fi wherever you happened to be, the easy answer to that is – don’t. While you know that the local coffee shop does all they can to keep you safe, they are probably no match for somebody with malicious intent, so only play using your mobile data allowance.
In Summary
Having an online casino in the palm of your hand, filled with immersive games containing realistic gameplay and incredible graphics would have seemed laughable just a few years ago. However, even though this has become a reality there are still some simple steps you need to take to get the best experience possible. So, by finding the right app, with the right games, and following a few rules to stay safe while playing on the move you can make the most of turning your phone into its own casino.