Mobile casinos offer the same game types as desktop casinos, rebuilt for touch screens: slots, table games, video poker, live dealer games and specialty games such as scratch cards, crash and instant games. Each type plays differently and has a different house edge, so it pays to know what you are choosing. This guide covers each one and ends with ten tips for picking games on your phone.
1. Slots
Slots are the most played games at mobile casinos, and they suit a phone well: one stake, one tap per spin. They come in three main kinds:
- Classic slots: usually three reels and a small number of paylines. A simple starting point if you are new.
- Video slots: five or more reels with animations, themes and bonus features such as free spins and bonus rounds.
- Progressive jackpot slots: part of every bet goes into a jackpot that grows across a network of players until someone wins it.
Our guide to the attributes of a mobile slot explains what to look for.
2. Table games
Table games bring classic casino games to your phone, with buttons for each bet or decision:
- Blackjack: you aim for a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's without going over. Your decisions (hit, stand, double, split) affect the result, and basic strategy lowers the house edge. See our guide to mobile blackjack variations.
- Roulette: you bet on where the ball lands, from a single number to red or black. European roulette, with one zero, has a lower house edge than American roulette, with two. Our guide on how to play mobile roulette covers the bets.
- Baccarat: you bet on the player hand, the banker hand or a tie. There are no decisions to make after the bet, which makes it simple to play on a small screen.
3. Video poker
Video poker mixes five-card draw poker with a slot-style machine. You are dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and draw replacements. Your choices affect the result, so strategy matters.
- Jacks or Better: the most common variant. You need at least a pair of jacks to win.
- Deuces Wild: every two is a wild card, which makes strong hands more frequent; the paytable is adjusted to match.
Our video poker strategy guide explains which cards to hold.
4. Live dealer games
Live dealer games stream a real dealer from a studio to your phone. You place bets through on-screen buttons while the dealer runs the game with real cards or a real wheel, and you can chat with the dealer and other players.
- Live blackjack: a dealer deals real cards to you and the other players at the table.
- Live roulette: a real wheel is spun on camera, and you bet before the ball is dropped.
- Live baccarat: a dealer plays out the player and banker hands with real cards.
Live streams use more data and battery than other games, so play on Wi-Fi where you can.
5. Specialty games
Specialty games cover everything outside the main categories. They are usually quick, simple and built with phones in mind:
- Scratch cards: swipe to reveal symbols and see at once if you have won.
- Keno: pick numbers and see how many match the draw.
- Crash games: a multiplier climbs, and you cash out before it crashes.
- Instant games: games such as Plinko, Mines and Dice, settled in a second or two.
- Arcade games and virtual sports: shooting games, fishing games and simulated sports events to bet on.
Tips for choosing mobile casino games
- Check compatibility. Make sure the game runs on your phone's operating system, whether that is iOS or Android, and in your browser or the casino's app.
- Read reviews. Player reviews and ratings point out bugs, slow loading and other problems.
- Choose a casino with variety. A casino that offers a wide range of games lets you try slots, blackjack, roulette and poker in one account.
- Start with free games. Demo modes and free games let you learn the rules without risking money.
- Know the house edge. Blackjack with basic strategy and video poker with correct holds usually cost less than slots. Our house edge guide has the figures.
- Read bonus terms. Many mobile casinos offer welcome bonuses, free spins and loyalty rewards. Check the wagering requirements and which games count towards them.
- Put security first. Play only at licensed casinos that encrypt your data.
- Test customer support. Ask customer support a question before you deposit and note how fast and how well they answer.
- Manage your bankroll. Set a budget for each session and stop when you reach it. Our responsible gaming page lists the tools that help.
- Prefer games that are kept up to date. Regular updates bring bug fixes and security improvements.
