App gambling vs desktop gambling is an issue that players and developers alike endure on a daily basis.
For players, the option to choose between wagering on a phone app instead of a desktop browser depends on ease and flexibility. Sometimes you may just want to place an NFL bet in front of the game, and so your phone is the easier option than booting up your computer.
For developers, creating games that are transferable over multiple screen sizes, graphics densities and gameplay dexterity is a constant issue. How do you create a gambling game that is compatible on every device?
There has been a steady rise in app-based betting and casino play over the past decade, as desktop wagering falls away. But that doesn’t mean the days of betting on your computer are gone for good.
In fact, as America slowly opens its doors to online wagering, developers are swiftly beginning to understand our playing habits when it comes to betting and casino play. Not everyone wants to bet on their phones, some like to sit down on an evening and engage with a larger screen; people have different priorities.
The obligation of the games developer in the 2020s is to create a game that everyone can enjoy. The right of the customer is to enjoy it how they want.
And this is leading to players and developers alike wondering if apps are truly the future of online gambling. And so, we’ve taken a look at the state of play in the USA right now…
Online Gambling In America
US online gambling is still in its infancy. It was only in 2018 that federal laws were passed that effectively legalized off-site gambling across the country, although individual states have then had to process their own legislation on activities such as sports betting and casino play.
The result is that roughly half of the country now has access to some form of online wagering. In some states this is full-blown casino play, while for others it’s only sportsbooks.
Statistics show 85% on Americans have gambled at some time in their life. Yet you don’t have to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to stick your dollars on a game of chance anymore.
In fact, 96% of gamblers like to wager at home. It means that game developers need to remain aware that players will gamble on their computers as well as their phones.
But there is evidence that phone gambling is taking over. Even if players are staying at home, it is estimated that more than 70% of online betting revenue across Europe was generated from mobile casinos. And it is a trend that America is likely to soon replicate.
Why Americans Bet On Their Phones
Research shows that the average American checks their phone every 12 minutes, and that 88% of phone time is spent on apps. In fact 61% of US website traffic is generated through mobile devices.
COVID-19 helped accelerate phone gambling further, particularly in sports betting.
Yet the reason more and more Americans are betting on their phones is less to do with the phones themselves, and more about the other options. People use their desktop computers for two main things: work and gaming.
Once the working day is over many people put away their computers. Those that don’t likely switch over to computer games. These gamers need the processing power of a computer to play games like Call of Duty online with other players, and the visualization of these games lends themselves to TV-size computer screens.
Yet gambling games are different. The majority of online casino games and sportsbooks don’t require the crystallized graphic design and mammoth processing power of computer games – and thus don’t need to be played on a computer.
Instead, game developers have realized that an habitual phone checker – as most of us are – is more likely to enjoy the smaller, hand-held screen associated with online gambling. And this is why apps are better suited for the job.
Advantages Of App Gambling Over Browser Gambling
Whether it’s casino gaming or online sports betting, the opportunity to place wagers on an app compared to a desktop browser is far more appealing to players.
The reasons for this include:
- Security – App security is far better than browser security, as developers can provide regular updates for apps that prevent them from external tampering
- Ease of use – You can access a casino app within seconds, while a web page could take minutes to load. This ease of access is one of the core reasons why casino apps are so popular
- Conforms to habit – Indeed, part of the ‘ease of use’ is that we build habits in how we access our phones. It means players quickly access their favorite apps often without realising it
- Desktop not necessary – Some people don’t even bother with a desktop computer these days. Yes, most of us have laptops but it’s even more likely that we’re using our phones to browse the internet or shop online, than use our computers
- No glitches – Apps are far less likely to crash or glitch than browser. Playing on a blackjack app, for example, is much more likely to provide a smooth gaming experience compared to a potentially jumpy browser game
- Dual screening – This is particularly pertinent for sports betting, where punters may be live streaming their sports event on the computer, and betting on their phone
The advantages of gambling apps compared to browser gambling are many. Of course, there are still players who prefer to wager on a desktop or laptop screen.
But there is a growing popularity for app gaming that developers and their bosses are starting to understand. As America’s technological evolution moves away from screens and towards virtual reality, there is likely to be another shift in consumer habits towards the end of this decade.
Will apps stand the test of time, or begin to suffer against VR’s popularity? We shall have to wait and see – but for now casino and sportsbook apps are providing to be the platform of choice for gamblers across the country.
Check out the best iPhone casinos available to US players today!
