The idea of truly being able to play on the go is not actually all that new. Nintendo’s Game & Watch series came out in the early 1980s, for instance. And, with the Game Boy and its Sega rival, the Game Gear, being key players in the console wars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, people have been gaming as they move for a long time.
That said, other forms of playing, such as gambling, had to wait until the smartphone revolution to catch up with more traditional video games.
That said, it did plenty of catching up, with more and more people in more and more parts of the world taking the chance to play casino games on mobile devices. In fact, you could say that mobile gambling is the best form of gambling. Here are some of the reasons why that just might well be the case.
Accessible Anywhere
It wasn’t that long ago that, if you wanted to gamble, you had to get to a physical casino. If there wasn’t one near where you lived, then you had to take time out from your schedule, book a flight, and get a room in a hotel.
This meant you were spending a pretty considerable sum of money before you even got to the card table, roulette wheel, or slot machine of your choice. Now, though, you don’t have to do any of that.
A Wide Choice
With more than 4,600 online casinos worldwide, according to statistics firm IBISWorld, you can just click and go. Indeed, you might make use of one of many gambling apps on your phone to play whenever and wherever you want.
The chances are that you’ll always have your mobile phone with you, so you can have a flutter at any time. Unlike playing on a desktop, you can get almost instant access, and with smartphones becoming cheaper, people from across the world can play, too.
An app can send you notifications, too, so you can become aware right away of whether there are any new games you’d like to play or if there are any offers you can take advantage of.
Innovations Are Common
What makes mobile phone iGaming stand out from other forms of gambling is the way that it, by its very nature, promotes innovation.
Mobile phones have only just moved away from the stage where, by necessity, you had to upgrade your device as soon as the contract ran out as a matter of course.
This means that there is more of a level playing field for developers, who know they are more likely to have a bit more time to perfect their games than before. And with online gambling such a crowded market, there is a real motivation for sites to offer players something different.
A Personal Touch
For instance, some games offer personalization options. This means that they can track your play history and preferences to recommend games you might enjoy. Likewise, a site might automatically change its difficulty level based on your skill, or lack thereof, in a game.
With smartphones operating on a touch-screen basis, this can make the very act of playing a game much simpler, too, and a platform that is looking to innovate can play around with that to create something different and, crucially, more engaging. Also, data analytics can help keep what the site does relevant for each player.
Play With Friends
It can be very enjoyable to play by yourself, but one of the things that people like about both regular gaming and the online world is the social element. A study, reported by the American Survey Center, found that 39 per cent of Americans had friends who they only interacted with online.
If you and your online friendship circle have gambling as a shared interest, then mobile iGaming can be a big winner for all of you. It is a lot easier to log in to one site than trying to get everybody together in one physical place at a particular time.
Getting Social
With mobile gambling, it isn’t just about people you already know and interact with. There are competitive leagues, and people from all across the world are trying to have fun and maybe even win some money.
Many games have chat and messaging features, which can help spice things up, while social media integration can help motivate people to play at their best and share their results, too.
Safe And Secure
What can give online gambling an edge over traditional gambling is the element of safety. You know that your money is going to be secure, because your site should be licensed by a relevant gambling authority.
You also know that you should get fair warning in the unlikely event of a problem with the site, too. And there should also be a customer service chatbot, email, or phone number that you can get hold of around the clock, too.
Mobile Security
That said, there are some things that mobile iGaming can do that desktop iGaming can’t. For instance, many mobile apps use fingerprint scans or facial recognition software to help confirm your identity before logging in.
They will also feature some strong encryption procedures, such as SSL/TLS to keep your financial data and personal information safe and secure from hackers. If there are irregular deposits or bets, then the app will often be able to step in and check whether or not you have made them, too.
All in all, there are a lot of positive things that can give mobile gambling an edge. Whether it’s the social element, accessibility, ease of use, or security, there are many reasons why a gambler who hasn’t gone mobile might well want to do so.