How to Gamble for Real Money from Your Mobile Device
The ability to play your favorite gambling games while on the go has exploded in popularity.
Called mobile gaming, you can take a spin on a popular slot machine, play a hand of blackjack, or spin the roulette wheel from anywhere you can find an Internet connection.
I’ve put together a quick overview of mobile gambling including the different types of devices, games, and popular companies.
These are all things you need to know to find the best mobile gambling sites.
How Mobile Gaming Works
If you want to play your favorite casino games on the go it helps if you have an understanding of how the technology works.
Don’t worry, this is just an overview. You don’t have to learn why a cell phone works or the names of all the parts to your tablet computer.
The first thing you need is a mobile device like a phone or tablet. Then the casino software companies offer a solution that works with the operating system on the device. For example, Mac devices use an operating system called iOS.
A casino develops or buys a software platform that lets them offer casino games that work with the iOS operating system. The software systems interface in a way that connects the user (you) to the casino so you can play games, deposit or withdraw money, and basically take your online casino with you.
Devices
Mobile gambling devices include anything you can take with you when you leave your house or apartment to access an online casino.
The first devices most people think about are mobile phones and tablets. Some players also consider their lap top computer a mobile gaming device. Of course the line between a traditional lap top and a tablet has been getting blurred for quite some time now.
Many companies offer cell phones and tablets, but the operating system is what mobile gaming companies depend on to offer their games.
Mac
Macintosh, shortened to Mac by players around the world, is one of the leading mobile device and service providers in the world. Through their popular iPad and iPhone products, they have a large share of the mobile market.
Mobile gambling companies know how much market share Macintosh has and offer many solutions for Mac mobile device owners. Not all gambling sites work with all of the possible platforms, so make sure you look for a site that specifically says it works for iPads, iPhones, and other Mac devices.
Android
Android operated devices are also popular in the mobile gambling space. Android and Mac devices dominate the market to the point that many mobile gambling sites only focus on owners of these devices. Estimates are all over the place, and it’s hard to find ones that compare apples to apples, but most metrics show that Android and Mac devices control between 80 and 90% of the mobile market.
Unlike Mac, Android is a system used on a wide range of phones and tablets. Devices made by a wide range of companies use Android systems to power their systems. You might use a Motorola, or HTC, or Nokia, or an LG, that all use an Android system.
Blackberry
At one time Blackberry had a strong share of the mobile market, but over the years they’ve seen their advantages diminish along with their market share. You can still find mobile gambling sites developed for Blackberry products, but they’re harder to find than Android and Mac solutions.
This is simply a numbers game. Blackberry has less than 10% of the market so gambling companies don’t dedicate as much of their resources to the market as they do to the ones that control over 80%.
Windows
Like Blackberry, Windows has less than 10% of the market share so players have fewer options.
Microsoft is a huge company with plenty of cash, so don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re going to let their mobile division die without a fight. While they continue struggling to gain market share, they do have the opportunity to continue growing simply because of the size and power of the parent company.
Mobile Games
Most mobile casinos and gambling platforms don’t offer as many games as traditional online casinos. You can find popular games like slots, poker, video poker, blackjack, and roulette, but many less popular table games aren’t always available.
If you want to play one of the popular games listed above you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a mobile gaming site that offers what you want. But if you enjoy a less popular game you may have a harder time finding a mobile option.
One possibility is using a tablet that has a large enough screen to play a flash version of a real money casino instead of the mobile version. Flash versions are often available for desktop and lap top computer play and some tablets have big enough screens that you can play full casino versions on them.
Finding Mobile Sites
When you start trying to find real money mobile gambling sites keep everything you just learned in mind.
Look for ones that support your mobile device and who offer the games you want to play.
If you want some tips to help you find safe mobile casinos follow the advice on the safe casino sites page. The step by step guide there is a good one to follow to learn more about mobile sites too.
The easiest way to find mobile gambling sites is read reviews on trusted sites like this one and look for the mobile sections on casino web sites. Some online casinos list their mobile platforms on the main page of their web site. Look for the Android symbol or Mac emblem.
Conclusion
Mobile gambling continues to grow and looks like it will keep going for a long time. As more and or people use mobile phones and tablets in their everyday life the market will continue expanding.
Odds are you already have a phone that you can use for a mobile gambling site, but if you don’t take a look at your options the next time you upgrade or get a new phone. If you’re into serious gaming, look for a tablet mobile option where you can enjoy better picture quality and size.