Choosing A Mobile Casino Checklist

Gone are the days when you had to wait for the holidays or take a weekend off to enjoy gambling at a casino resort. With the advent of online casino technologies, you can carry a Vegas casino’s worth of games and slots right inside your pocket – welcome to the wonderful world of mobile casinos.

As a rule, almost all online casinos offer mobile gaming in 2021. It makes sense – more folks own mobiles than PCs. And modern smartphones are powerhouses – even budget devices are capable of running games.

But picking a mobile casino isn’t easy. There are far too many online casinos out there – a classic case of “problem of plenty.” And picking one out of random is not an option as there are many rogue casinos and scam operators out there.

Use the following checklist to avoid the bad apples and pick the ideal mobile casino for you:

1. Safety – Licensing and Reputation

Online gambling is an established industry in many parts of the world. The hotspots are mainly in the UK, European Union, and North America. Governments in these parts have passed laws to protect the players. In all countries with regulated gambling, a casino has to apply for a license.

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) are examples of established online and mobile casino regulators. If any casino carries one of these licenses, it can be considered a safe casino.

If you are a resident of a country or state with legal online gambling laws, try to pick a casino that carries the local license. That way, you will be protected from any kind of fraud or unfair actions. But if your area does not have any laws on gambling online, pick a casino that is licensed by a reputed authority like UKGC, Malta, or even Curacao eGaming.

It is also wise to check the online user rating and reputation of a particular mobile casino. There is no hiding place on the internet – if the casino treats its players in a bad way, somebody will report it online. This will give you a good idea about casinos to avoid the plague.

2. Device Compatibility

In 2021, this is only an issue if you absolutely need a casino app for your mobile. If that is an important factor, do check if the casino has dedicated apps for iOS and Android. Developing and maintaining secure apps for both platforms is an expensive endeavor – only big brands like William Hill, Golden Nugget, and Betfair have that kind of budget.

For many smaller online casinos, having an app is more of an avoidable expense. These days, the entire online gambling industry uses a format called “instant online play.” It refers to a casino website that is playable on mobile, using browser apps like Chrome, Firefox, and Safar (on iOS).

In this mode, to play the mobile casino, you have to open your mobile browser and visit the website. It has several advantages – you don’t have both downloading and updating another app on your device. It does not leave any tell-tale traces on your mobile (if you are a private person and don’t want others to find out your “hobby”).

3. Games and Software Vendors

Mobile casinos get their games from companies called “software vendors.” There are over 60 different vendors in the industry these days, ranging in size from titans to obscure game studios. Typically, a casino will carry games from 1-40+ software vendors.

Unfortunately, many of these vendors create sub-standard, copycat versions of slots created by the big brands. If you want the best gaming experience, with superb graphics and design, innovative themes, and bonus features, look for vendors like Netent, Microgaming, Playtech, IGT, and Betsoft.

4. Bonuses and Bonus Terms

When you visit a Vegas casino resort, you try to get “comps” – free show tickets, meals, drinks, free room stay, and so on. When you play at a mobile casino, you get casino bonuses – free spins, bonus cash, cashback, etc.

The first bonus you will probably claim at a mobile casino is a Welcome Bonus – the casino will match your initial deposit by anywhere from 100% – 300%, doubling or tripling the amount of money you have to play with! Many even throw in a lot of free spins on slots.

New players often rush to a mobile casino that offers the biggest bonuses. This is not a wise move – bonuses come with a catch – rules like wagering requirements, cashout limits, and betting limits can ruin your experience. It is important to manually check the bonus rules to see if they are fair – alternatively, you can find the best of the best mobile casino bonuses by heading to NoDepositWorld’s list.

5. Payment Methods, Customer Service

There is no point in joining a mobile casino that does not give the option to choose a banking method that you own. Check the deposits and withdrawals section of the casino and see if it has your preferred payment methods.

Modern options include credit cards, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), prepaid cards for deposit only (Neosurf), and bank transfers. A few casinos also support cryptocurrencies. Also, make it a point to check the withdrawal limits – some casinos have restrictions that may be too low to some high rollers.

Last but not least, there is also the customer care angle to be considered. The best option is a mobile casino that has a toll-free phone and live chat support. Sadly, this may not be an option if you have to deal exclusively with offshore casinos located halfway around the globe.

In that case, look for ones that have instant live chat and email support, preferably available round the clock. Casino rules and mechanisms can be challenging to newcomers. Having a friendly and responsive customer support team will make your life a lot easier!