Mobile Casino

With the latest advances in technology, the gambling industry has witnessed an extraordinary revolution in recent years. As well as the online casinos, sportsbooks, poker sites and live dealer casinos, many of the big names in the industry are now offering mobile casino games – free for you to play anywhere and at anytime you choose.

The mobile casino craze has led to a hotly-contested battle between the biggest sites, who are all looking to maximise their player base – this, of course, means there is a wealth of incentives and bonuses for mobile casino players.

Although there is currently less mobile games provided when compared to the variety online, some analysts believe that, with the advent of mobile gaming, the industry will see will be a total revenue increase of 900% over the next three years. Juniper Research – a company specialising in research of the media and telecom sectors – has predicted that mobile casino wagers could increase to $23 billion per year by 2011.

How does it all Work?

Playing games on you mobile phone or PDA couldn't be easier and the software operates just as it does with an online casino. All phones that support WAP or GPRS (two ways of connecting to the internet via your handset) will allow you to play mobile casino games, but you must check to see that the games provided by the casino will be compatible with your particular model.

With the recent iPhone application phenomenon, many software providers have tried to capitalise in this area. Any users who frequent Apple's App Store will know just how many casino games are out there, but these are currently only available in play-money format; for the real-money games you will have to go to the casinos. Nearly every network provider in Europe – and most in the US – will facilitate the use of mobile casino games.

And for those concerned about security, mobile casino software uses the same 128 Bit SSL encryption technology that is provided online, so you can rest assured that all transactions will be treated with the same precautionary measures.

To get started you will need to register an account at your preferred site. The rest of the procedure is normally very straightforward: simply select which game you want to play and provide the site with your mobile number. A text message will then be sent to your phone, instructing you on how to download your mobile casino game. You won't have to worry about downloading large files, as the software you install on your phone will be a far smaller size than what you would find within the casino's computer platform.

The Mobile Casino Providers

Usually, the companies that provide software for an online casino will also run their mobile games. The games that you download to your handset are basically stripped-down versions of what you would find at a casino's site. Of course, this makes choosing the right mobile casino a lot easier, as once you see that the sites' software is powered by a reputable developer, you can be safe in knowledge that you can rely on their mobile casino games. However, there will be other factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as the choice of games, the promotions offered and the level of security.

Microgaming are one of the most respected names in casino software development and are without doubt one of the major players when it comes to mobile casino games. For their mobile selection, the company works in partnership with Spin 3 – a division of Spiral Solutions Ltd and the first mobile casino provider to receive the eGOGRA Seal of Approval. Their "Gamewire" wireless system boasts an impressive range of mobile casino games and is compatible with a wide range of handsets. Gamewire also comes with a demo-play option as well as the company's trademark "Spinloc" security feature.

Playtech are another familiar name in online casino software, although they do not provide as much game variety as Microgaming/ Spin 3. But for Slots players, Playtech will have the added advantage of hooking you up to one of the largest Progressive Jackpot networks, while the quality of their games is easily up there with the best.

There are other smaller companies, such as Cometa Wireless in the UK (which runs the Arcadia Global Mobile Casino platform), that provide mobile casino games, but the best sites will usually stick to the more well-known providers.

The Mobile Casinos

When it comes to mobile casino gaming, it is always important to look out for which sites are running which software formats, but every online casino will not offer the provider's full roster of games and it's just as necessary to make sure you are signing up to one that will suit your playing requirements. Here is a selection of some of the most recommended mobile casino sites: