80% of Players Now Bet on Mobile Devices
Marketing intelligence platform Demandsage has been compiling some research and has reported that nearly a whopping 80% of online gamblers use smartphones as their primary device. This reflects a major shift from gaming on desktops to gaming on mobile devices, which has taken place with good reason. Mobile gambling offers convenience and flexibility by allowing people to play whenever they want and wherever they are, if they have internet access. Below is an overview of the impact smartphones have had on gambling, and will focus on how operators serve players on mobile and how players’ behavior has changed.
Improved access
The arrival of mobile devices has had a massive impact on online gambling. Mobile devices have become a huge part of everyday life, and many people use them to access the internet. That includes using them to access casino gaming.
Before the internet, people had to plan visits to casinos in line with their own timetables and the local casino’s opening hours. Then the internet arrived, and people could play casino games online at their desktop computers. Now, players can game on the go, thanks to the availability of online casino gaming on their devices, and can do so any time, anywhere.
The mobile offering
Online casinos have capitalized on the popularity of mobile devices and adopted a mobile-first approach by making their websites responsive so that they render well on mobile devices, and/or creating mobile apps. They know they’ll get left behind in the industry if they don’t.
These platforms have interfaces specially designed for mobile. The font is legible, the buttons are larger, and the general layout is less cluttered, so that players can navigate the site easily. The platforms are scrollable vertically and load fast. Players can play on a mobile browser as if they were playing on a mobile app.
Payment is also faster, especially as online casinos accept forms of payment already available to use on mobile, such as digital wallets. Changes in regulation to accommodate mobile casino gaming have made it mandatory to make mobile casino gaming more secure.
Facing challenges
The preference for mobile has created challenges for online casinos and game developers, who must optimize for multiple platforms but offer a consistent experience across them all. They must worry about slow loading times, lag, and crashing, which can harm the players’ experience, and whether the site or game will adjust on mobile devices, no matter what the screen size.
The constant availability of online casino gaming services has created safety challenges. Legislators, regulators, and online casino operators are all working harder to protect players. Having online casino services at their fingertips means players can easily start playing too often, so lawmakers are adapting and expanding legislation to make online casino gaming safer. Operators must offer a variety of responsible gaming tools to support players who are starting to lose control of their gaming. They must also make it safe for players to make payments when visiting online casinos on their mobile devices.
One way that players can stay safe when mobile gaming is by visiting trustworthy review sites, where they’ll find the best operators and offers. Casino Guru is one such site and informs players about new USA online casinos as well as details on the biggest names already thriving. The site’s Safety Index rates payout speed, fairness, and reliability, so that players can make decisions about the best casinos to visit.
A change in player behaviors
The shift in preferences towards mobile gaming shows that players are looking for simple games that are easy to use. They want the rules to be straightforward, and they don’t want any hassle when it comes to accessing the game. Even so, they still want to strategize and make decisions. That’s why they still play electronic casino games and slots, and even live casino games, where they can interact with human dealers.
The move towards mobile gaming has also illustrated that players don’t want to spend hours behind a desktop computer. Instead, they want convenience, and mobile casino gaming is facilitating the shorter but more frequent sessions they’re engaging in. Making use of bonuses and promotions is one way they’re pursuing this engagement.
As operators strive to accommodate players who prefer mobile casino gaming over desktop gaming, players themselves are expecting more personalization by operators. The powers of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have become clear, and consumers are aware of them. Online casinos that don’t tailor their offerings to players, whether it’s in the form of bonuses and promotions, or the games they offer or suggest to players, look like they’re choosing not to.
If a player is going to play online casino games, they’ll likely reach for their smartphone first. It’s convenient, and operators are working hard to accommodate smartphone users and offer a mobile casino gaming experience equal to playing on a desktop computer. Even though operators are working hard to make online casino gaming safe and enjoyable, always do some research before playing at a site to confirm it’s safe and reliable.
The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Casinocenter.com do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine’s management. All content is intended solely for entertainment and informational purposes. Gambling may be illegal in some jurisdictions—it is the responsibility of each visitor to check and comply with local laws before participating in online gaming. Always read the terms and conditions, and gamble responsibly.
