Mobile Casinos Ireland

The popularity of new mobile casinos is growing fast in Ireland, just like how the craze has equally hit the rest of the world. Mobile online casinos have significantly increased in usage because of the enhanced availability and use of mobile devices as everyday gadgets, bringing about the possibility of giving the casino player a readily available casino gaming experience. It is now possible to easily access a casino on a mobile device without the need of physically visiting a casino or using a personal computer. With flagship devices now on the market possessing display and processing capabilities equal to, or even greater than that of some computers, there is a greater motivation for one to want to play mobile casinos as the experience is truly remarkable. Statistics in Ireland reveal that casinos playable on mobile devices have gained in usage, just as the global trend, with an equally dropping usage of physical and desktop-style casinos.

In this article, we take a look at the various criteria which can be considered when selecting a mobile gambling site, how to play casinos on mobile and the advantages and disadvantages of playing on mobile. Various methods of depositing and withdrawal into and from the casino are also discussed. Lastly, we answer a set of questions we deem to be commonly asked.

New Mobile Casino Sites Checklist

With multitudes of Ireland mobile casinos to choose from, it becomes important to use defined criteria to select the best casino for using real money. It is even more important for new players who may be overwhelmed by the number of available options whilst in the process looking for the best value casino. We have developed a number of criteria which can be used by the punter in attempting to select a casino on mobile. These include site security certificates and Secure Socket Layer (SSL), money deposit options, device compatibility, choice of games available, casino game software providers, customer support services and casino reputation/reviews.

Security Certificates & Secure Socket Layer (SSL)

As a lot of information is shared between the user and the mobile casino online (such as personal information, credit card information), it is important to establish a secure connection to prevent the risk of loss of information to hackers. As such, it is important for the casino to make use of encryption through the use of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) which allows for communication and sending information through the online mobile casino page in a secured manner. In order to identify a secure webpage, one can look out for a lock which should appear on the left side of the web address. For secure sites, the web address should also start with the prefix https:// rather than the standard site notation of http://. Some modern browsers also indicate that the site is not secure through a notification on the web address bar. This should be the first point of check when accessing a mobile online casino website.

Deposit Options

The smartphone casino should also offer a wide range of deposit options varying from mobile wallets, credit or debit cards, phone bill or cryptocurrency. This allows the customer to use a deposit option that best suits their needs. It would not be ideal to be restricted to just one or a few deposit options. Most best online mobile casinos in Ireland offer such a wide variety of deposit options for the customer.

Device software and screen compatibility

As the number of devices used to access the mobile casino for real cash may be diverse, it is important for the casino to have the adaptability to different sizes of devices and their varying types of operating systems. Most major Ireland mobile casinos online are suitable to adapt to different sizes of different screens of mobile devices, ensuring the user will not face any challenges when accessing the site. The casinos should offer suitability to run on iOS, Android and Windows operating systems, which are the most popular versions of mobile devices. Most major mobile casinos in Ireland offer such capability of running casino applications on iOS and Android platforms.

Selection of available games

It is also very important to choose a casino with a very wide selection of games rather than one with a few options. The wide selection will also meet the gamer’s preference with the capability of selecting different types of games to suit their needs. Most major casinos in Ireland offer a wide selection and variety of games to play. Some casinos however only specialise on a narrow niche of games, and this may suit the player should he be only interested in those games.

Best mobile casino software providers

Software for casino games can be developed by the casino themselves or may be outsourced from third parties which have similar games running in many other casinos across the world. Third-party software developers are quite common, with proven usability of their games over a wide range of casinos. These developers include examples such as NetEnt, Microgaming and others. Most major casinos use reputable developers to ensure a flawless experience on the part of the gambler. It is important to check the developer of the games as some are rigged giving much advantage to the house.

Customer Support

Customer support provides an essential contact point with the casino should the player wish to get some help. It would be ideal to be able to access live chat at any time, or at least for the greater part of the day. Live customer chat would be important to use in case of disputes, clarification or seeking assistance. Customer support may also be contacted via email or phone. Most major Ireland casinos offer good customer support services.

Reputation of the casino

It would also be worthwhile to consider the reputation of the mobile casino real money before playing any games with them. Most reputable casinos for mobile phones have established brand and have a good reputation over the internet. Reviews from previous customers may also be available on common casino review sites.

How to Play Mobile Casinos for Real Money

In order to play games in Ireland with a real money mobile casino, there are two options which can be utilised. The first option is to access the mobile casino Ireland by using a mobile device internet browser, whilst an alternative would be to make use of mobile device applications for Android, iOS and Windows operating system devices. Some mobile casinos, however, do not offer such applications, and the casino experience would be limited only to access through the browser. How then can one play games on mobile casinos with real money? The following outlines the major steps/requirements needed to be able to play one.

Internet connection

It is essential to have an internet connection in order to play mobile casino via a browser or using the app as the internet is required to play the games. Where possible, internet via a WiFi connection would be recommended in view of some excessive consumption of data when playing some games on smartphone casinos which have well-defined graphics. In areas outside WiFi coverage, it becomes necessary to make use of mobile phone data. It is recommended to have an optimised data plan with the network provider to ensure a true mobile casino real money experience when outside WiFi. Mobile data costs have also been observed to be decreasing with the years, which is a plus for the player.

Choose a casino

As earlier mentioned, there are various criteria which should be used to select the best casino according to personal preference. The mobile casino for real money should be secure to prevent the loss of sensitive data to unintended users, offering a number of deposit/withdrawal options that suit the requirements of the punter. It is also essential to consider the types of games available with a particular casino, the compatibility of mobile casinos, game software providers/developers and availability and response of customer support. It may also be good to check some frank reviews of the casino done on trusted sites such as AskGamblers and Trustpilot.

Sign Up and Claim Bonus

After the selection of the mobile casino has been done, the next step would be to open an account with the selected casino(s). This is done by clicking on the “Register” button mostly found on the landing page of the casino website. It is important to enter real personal data such as Name, Surname, Date of Birth, Mobile Number and Address in some instances, otherwise, it may not be possible to withdraw any funds from the casino without verification. The bonus, depending on the type, can then be claimed once the account opening process has been completed. In some instances, bonuses such as the welcome bonus can be claimed only when the first deposit has been done.

Deposit into the casino

Deposit into the account is the next step once the registration process has been completed. The deposit process can be completed using various methods as provided by the casino. With the exception of a bank transfer, most deposit options such as the use of E-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and Mastercard and VISA enables cards allow for the instant upload of funds into the newly created casino account. Some online casinos mobile required the verification of customer details before the first deposit is done. These verification documents may include proof of identity, residence, and in some instances a proof of source of funds. Deposit limits per day are usually set by the casino but may also be set by the punter as part of responsible gambling.

Play from browser or app

Now that registration and deposit have been completed, the next stage is the actual process of playing the casino games. There are two options of playing mobile casino games – through the web page and through mobile applications. Some mobile casino web pages may be optimised for some common browsers such as Google Chrome and Safari, so it is recommended to make use of these. For ease of access of the casino, the casino landing page may be bookmarked on the device or saved to the home screen, which quickens up the opening process when one decides to start the gambling. As an alternative, one may also make use mobile applications for Apple and Android devices if they are provided by the casino. Whilst most major Ireland Casinos offer these applications, some casinos may not have the privilege of using such.

Mobile Casinos Pros and Cons

As with any other gaming platform, mobile casinos have their advantages and disadvantages which a player should be aware of. We, however, think the advantages favour mobile casinos quite well, and therefore should be a method of choice should one want to play casino games. The major advantages and disadvantages are discussed below:

Advantages

Ability to play casino games at any place and time

The biggest advantage of mobile casinos is that they offer a truly mobile experience, with capability to play any game from any location as long as there is an internet connection. It becomes possible to play games on a casino at work, when travelling, or when trying to kill time in a shopping mall, in a queue or similar location. Games can also be played at any time, which offers a superior advantage to brick and wall casinos which have fixed operating hours. This also ensures the player can have a greater opportunity to have more gameplay and improve their skills to enhance their potential of winning in the long term.

Speed

The mobile casino also offers a truly remarkable fast user experience when navigating between pages and playing games on the mobile website or mobile application. Most of the mobile casino platforms have been optimised to offer a seamless experience when playing games using mobile devices. Additionally, some of the new mobile devices on the market, such as the high-end Apple and Samsung phones and tablets, offer very fast processors which enhances the whole speed of gaming.

Mobile casinos are safe and secure

Mobile casinos are very safe and offer a secure means of playing mobile casino games as long as the site is secured via SSL mentioned earlier. Personal and credit card information is safely secured on such sites, and there is no risk of losing information to unintended parties. Of course, this will be subject to playing on a reputable casino selected using the criteria mentioned earlier. Caution should, however, be practiced when using public location WiFi as these are vulnerable to hacking.

Promotions and Notifications

Another great feature of mobile casinos which can be experienced when using the mobile application is the provision of push notifications to the mobile device. This includes notifications on promotions, free spins, bonuses or any information in connection to the punters account. We find this provision of notifications to be better than use of email, as some casino notifications sent via email may report to the spam folder or may not be viewed at all. Mobile casinos also tend to have more promotions than desktop or brick and wall ones.

Disadvantages

Greatly affected by poor internet connectivity

Whilst one significant advantage of mobile casinos is the potential to be played at any location, an equally major disadvantage is that the games become difficult or impossible to play in the event of poor internet connectivity. The games will generally require a good internet connection through WiFi and mobile internet, with usually a minimum of 3G or better preferred for the latter. A game session may be terminated midway when the internet connection is abruptly lost which may affect the player’s strategy. Data consumption is also high, and the user would need to be adequately covered by an appropriate plan when using mobile data.

Display of some applications is not good

Sadly, another drawback of mobile casinos is the aesthetics of some applications. This is predominant with tablet devices especially on the Android platforms as there are a number of varying device sizes which affect the quality of the display of the application. Some mobile phones may also be affected as well as mobile casino features are not as well developed as desktop casinos in some cases. This may result in some of the features being unusable possibly causing frustration on the punter.

Mobile casinos may not be compatible with some old devices

Not all mobile devices are compatible with mobile casino applications. Some old tablets and mobile phones, unfortunately, have no capability to support mobile casino applications. Some operating systems other than Android and iOS do not have developed mobile casino applications, and therefore the users of such devices will be excluded from using the mobile casinos. From this perspective, mobile casinos do not truly cater to all potential customers regardless of their mobile device type or operating system. Should one have an incompatible device, they may only be able to use desktop versions or physical casinos.

Classic casino games may not be available

If you are a favourite of classical games, then this may be not so good news for you. Some classic games may not be available for playing on a mobile device. This will limit some player’s options should they have a preference for playing certain mobile casino games. This is also even true for even some modern games as they may also be unavailable from mobile games. Whilst developers are continuously working on producing more applications for mobile games, one will need to wait until their favourite game’s application has been available via their respective stores.

Players can easily get addicted

If gambling is not managed properly, playing games through a mobile casino may result in gambling addiction as games are easily available through a phone or tablet as the devices are readily available 24/7. Players will need to follow responsible gambling guidelines. Contact details of help centres for gambling addiction are usually available on the casino website.

Main devices for playing mobile casino games

Mobile casinos can be playing using the most common mobile devices such as Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Android and Windows-powered devices. However, some upcoming devices such as those running on Kai-OS do not have a significant number of developed applications for mobile casino betting.

iPhone

iPhone users account for approximately 41.73 % of the mobile phone market in Ireland according to recent surveys conducted in July 2019 This is quite a high market share proving the popularity of the devices. The iPhone devices are powered by the iOS software, and developed applications are available on the Apple Store. The devices are renowned for their high quality, fast processing speed, security on information stored and the capability to wipe out data if it lost/stolen to prevent any access or loss of data to another party. Most mobile casinos, even the simplest, will be offered in HD on the iPhone, and this brings highly remarkable user experience to the punter. Most iOS applications are well developed, and this will be a plus to the user.

In addition, the choice of mobile casino games through the use of applications is very wide and most mobile casino games are offered for iPhone devices. Mobile casino game developers have put a lot of effort in developing excellent applications, making maximum use of the cutting-edge technology used by Apple on the iPhone.

Android devices

Android-powered devices are the most popular type of phones in Ireland, occupying a market share of 57.98 %. These are various types of devices manufactured by Samsung, HTC, LG, Google, Huawei (developing their own OS) and others running on the Android operating system developed by Google. The devices offer a user-friendly and simple to operate user interface. Android phones are widely considered to be cost-effective and cater for a wide range of customers with varying affordability. As such, any type of gambler can access mobile casinos with this type of devices. The popularity also ensures upgrades and applications are continuously available on the market.

As the quality of devices running on the Android operating system also varies, the use of mobile casino apps may also result in varying user experience unlike the flawless experience when using iOS devices. However, recently there have been a number of high-end Android devices which have an equally powerful processing speed and display capability similar to iPhone. The user experience with such a phone will be generally better and close, if nor equal to the iPhone.

iPad

iPads occupy a market share of 74.72 % of the total tablet device market in Ireland. This is by far the most popular tablet device, with a superior user experience similar to the iPhone. The operating system, iOS, is well developed and offers a very fast processing speed and excellent navigation experience. The secure mobile casino applications for iPads can be downloaded from the Apple store just like with the iPhone devices, and since the two devices run on similar operating systems, similar wide coverage of mobile casinos is also available on the iPad. Most of the games run on the iPad, even the simplest, will be available in HD which remarkably increases the user experience, making mobile casino betting on such a device more enjoyable and fun.

The mobile casino applications will also run smoothly since the iPad has superior processing speed and well-developed display graphics. Additionally, as with the iPhone, the devices are quite secure for the storage of personal information, as are the casino online mobile applications in order to meet Apple Store requirements.

Windows Phone

The Windows Phone is powered by the Windows Operating system, although now no longer very popular and occupying only 0.13 % of the available market share in Ireland. Production of newer device versions running on Windows was discontinued since 2015. However, playing mobile casinos on the windows phones is very safe and secure. The mobile casinos can be played through downloading the app or playing through the browser. Newer versions of the Windows phones before the program was discontinued offer a better experience compared to the first-generation windows phones to enter into the market.

Browser mobile casino vs mobile applications

There are two main options of gambling on mobile casinos – through the direct access of the casino webpage via a browser on the mobile device or by using a downloaded mobile device application.

Mobile casino through a mobile website

This is an option of betting on the mobile casino by accessing the casino webpage through the device’s browser or internet application. Some mobile casino websites may be optimised for major browsers such as Google Chrome and Safari, and it may be essential to have one such browser. Accessing through an internet browser normally results in the redirection to an optimised webpage with similarities to a desktop page, except for fonts and spacing which become smaller on mobile devices. In order to prevent the continuous search for the casino web address each time one intends to play a mobile casino game, the page may be bookmarked in the browser to speed up the access process.

Mobile casino through a mobile app

This method of gambling on mobile casinos involves the downloading of a mobile application that can be used to access the casino. On the bright side, most mobile applications, especially running on iOS systems are optimised to run at high speed and offer HD capability, which greatly improves the user experience. There is also the capability to receive push notifications for quickly alerting the user of any promotions, bonuses and free spins should any arise.

It will be important to check first if the preferred casino offers such an app as some of them do not offer an app at all, which is one of the advantages. A disadvantage of downloading the application is that some of the apps take a huge amount of space especially for lower-end devices which have only limited space available on them. There is also a possibility of excessive consumption of data should the applications be allowed to access background data.

Mobile Casino Games

There is a wide selection of games to choose from when gambling on mobile casinos. The most popular ones are discussed below:

Online Slots

Online slots is a very popular casino game which can be played on mobile casinos. It is a fast-moving game, with even a possibility of engaging a turbo/fast mode, speeding up the game process. We find this an important feature as it increases the general thrill of the game. The game involves reels of letters, patterns, shapes or symbols which need to spin to match a certain predefined pattern for the gambler to win. There is potential to win huge payouts should the patterns be correctly predicted. Bankroll management can be done by managing stakes-placed per each spin or pay line. Autoplay functions can also be used for a pre-set number of spins at a time, allowing the punter to enjoy the experience whilst watching the spins running automatically.

BlackJack

Blackjack is another very popular cards game playable through mobile casinos using a standard card deck of 52 cards. In order to win, it is essential to have a hand with cards of value as close as possible to 21 at the end of the card draw process. Face cards have a value of 10, whilst Ace cards have a value of 1 or 11. Number cards have a value equivalent to the number on the card. Mobile Blackjack offers a very good user experience with the possibility of big winning payouts.

Roulette

Mobile roulette is a classic game offered by mobile casinos involving a rotating wheel containing a ball and 37 numbers starting from 0 to 36. The game is played by predicting the position of the ball when the wheel comes to rest after completion of the rotation. There are various types of bets which can be placed, including colour of number, odd/even number amongst others. With a proper strategy, there is a possibility to make good winnings as the odds of some selections are quite high. Various types of roulette including European, French and American Roulette are offered in the mobile casino to suit the gambler’s preference. Since Roulette games are quite popular, the mobile casino Roulette has a well-developed user interface and graphics which also enhance the overall experience. In addition, the game can be placed in turbo/fast mode to increase the speed of spins ensuring the gambler can go through a number of games in a short space of time unlike in the case of real-life roulette.

Video Poker

Mobile Video Poker is an online game which offers a lot of similarities with the traditional poker game. It involves a player competing against the Dealer instead of real-life players. Similar betting combinations/markets are available as in real life poker. The mobile version is a quite fast pace and is, therefore, better when compared to the real-life version. For the punter who prefers to enjoy the game of poker at a fast pace, this would be the ideal game.

Baccarat

Mobile Baccarat is a fairly simple cards game involving the play between two parties – the player and the Banker. The game is played with an objective of achieving a total score equal, or as close as possible, to 9. A total of 2 cards each are drawn to each party, with the Player getting the first preference of bets. At the end of the draw process, the party with the highest total closest to nine is considered a winner. For punters who prefer a simple, yet fast-moving game, mobile baccarat may prove to be quite attractive.

Scratch Cards

Scratch cards is another popular and simple game offered in mobile casinos. The objective is to reveal and match certain patterns in the game. It replaces the old need of having to physically buy scratch cards. There are also some bonuses associated with some scratch games, offering the punter a possibility of winning even bigger money. There are also chances to win big prizes, so the gambler who prefers a simple yet high odd game, scratch cards offer such.

Craps

Mobile Craps is another game available on the mobile betting platform. The game is quite popular with a lot of rich history. The game is offered without variations from the commonly known forms of the game. The game involves placing bets on the predicted outcome of rolling two dices. The bets can be placed at a fraction of the traditional minimum wagering amount in a traditional casino. There are of course variations of minimum stakes and animation depending on the game developer.

Mobile Casino Payment Options

It would be important as well to consider the deposit and withdrawal which are possible with mobile casinos as these allow the player to securely fund the account and withdraw any winnings made. The options available with mobile casinos are as follows:

Mobile Phone Billing

It is possible to deposit into the casino by including the deposit amount into your phone bill. This has been fast becoming an option used by many gamblers in for Ireland mobile casinos. This option can be selected via deposit options and the personal details such as phone number, name and address are input. There will be prompts which the user will need to follow to complete the deposit process. The main advantages are that the deposit process is not complicated, there is little sensitive data input into the website such as credit/debit card information. This method is very secure with no risk of losing personal information.

The main disadvantages are the limits imposed through the use of this method, which can be as little as 30 pounds. Additionally, this method does not offer a withdrawal option from the casino. There are also bonus limitations/unavailability when using this method. Some casinos do not offer this deposit method as well.

Mobile-Friendly E-Wallets

An alternative method would be the use of mobile e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, Paypal casino payment, ecoPayz and others. Funds are available immediately once a deposit has been done. The e-wallets can be funded by the user through credit/debit cards ensuring that such card data would not need to be entered on the casino website, and therefore enhancing safety. These e-wallets are also universally accepted and therefore are offered as a deposit option in many casinos. Withdrawal can also be done using these wallets, and the funds will be immediately available on the customers side once processed.

Google Pay

Google Pay is a mobile wallet system available on devices running the Android Operating System. The credit card information is stored inside the payment system of Google Pay and will not need to be directly used when making a payment on the mobile casino. There is a possibility of authenticating a transaction via a password or fingerprint sensing, and the payment information stored can be available over a number of devices running with the same Android software. Major credit/debit cards are supported.

Apple Pay

Similar to Google Pay, Apple Pay is offered on iOS devices with similar functionality. Credit card of bank account information is stored inside the application system and would not need to be re-entered when making a payment on the mobile casino. The payments are secured through authentication steps. Payments are also very simple to make through a few taps on the screen. With the popularity of iOS devices when playing mobile casinos, this proves to be a formidable option.

Credit and debit cards

Another deposit option would be the use of debit or credit cards with Mastercard, VISA or Maestro labels on them. This method would need to be done on secure casinos to safeguard against the loss of personal information. Funds will be available immediately after completing the deposit process.

Mobile Phone Casino Bonuses

Various types of bonuses are offered for mobile casinos to stimulate the player to explore more. Bonuses are more dominant when a new customer opens an account in order to entice them to perform long term betting with a particular type of casino.

Welcome Bonus

This type of bonus is offered for first-time deposits for new customers. The values of welcome bonuses are often high, which often proves to be a major attraction for new customers. Welcome bonuses can go up to 100 % of the deposit amount up to a certain limit as specified by the mobile casino in their terms and conditions. These terms should be well analysed by the customer before taking up such an offer as withdrawal of wins may not be possible until conditions are satisfied.

Welcome Bonuses are normally the highest type of any bonuses, and terms may be favourable as various mobile casinos try to differentiate themselves. A bonus code may be required during the process of redeeming this welcome bonus.

No Deposit Bonus

Some casinos also offer deposit free bonuses once an account has been opened. This is an enticing offer of risk-free gambling without any form of investment or deposit into the casino. These bonuses may be good to the punter to find his way around the casino and see its several merits before the actual deposit of real funds. No Deposit Bonuses may often be capped with limits, and accompanying terms and conditions, so the punter has to find out these before proceeding.

Free Spin bonuses

Ireland mobile casinos also offer free spins bonuses which involve the punter receiving a defined number of spins on some selected slot games. Free spin bonuses are also associated with stricter terms and conditions for wagering the spins in order for the bonus to be withdrawable. Free spins are normally offered as a form of promotion

Loyalty bonuses

Some mobile casinos also offer loyalty or rewards programmes for gamblers who stake a lot. The stakes contribute towards rewards/loyalty points which can be later redeemed for prizes such as holidays and wagering for more casino mobile bets.