Smartphones have made it possible for users to be connected to the Internet 24 x 7 making it imperative for bookmakers to provide easy access to online betting services. This can be done by either providing mobile betting apps or by creating a mobile site accessible through all smartphones.
It is very easy to find out if your bookmaker is providing mobile gambling services.
This is generally displayed on the homepage or through a ‘Mobile‘ link on the homepage or in the Frequently Asked Questions page. Betting using mobile apps is similar to betting using a desktop site. You will need to log in with a username and password which will ensure that the data transfer on your mobile app will be encrypted to prevent theft or loss of information.
The bets you place will be binding just as it would be if you wagered using the desktop site. These days most mobile apps come with functionalities like Live Betting. There might be few cases where mobile apps restrict you from placing certain bets that a desktop version will allow, i.e. betting options might be fewer in some mobile apps. Editing user information and conducting financial transactions are also allowed by mobile betting apps.
Some of the most popular mobile betting apps are listed below with a brief review on their offerings and overall performance.
William Hill: William Hill’s betting app is available for Android and iOS based devices. The main page features a list of ‘top bets’, ‘in-play’ bets and ‘highlights’. On the top of the main page, the icons of individual sports are displayed and are horizontally scrollable. Selecting any sport will list the top bets and highlights related to bets on that sport. By clicking and following through, users will be able to place a bet on the sport of their choice.
The company allows account management and support features through the mobile app, but does not provide the list chat customer support option. The available balance for a user is displayed at the top right corner of the screen. A bet slip option also available at the top right corner, next to the available balance allows you to review your bets that you have placed.
The mobile app is user friendly and offers some great features making it very simple for users to place bets on the William Hill platform. eSports games are also available on the William Hill app.
Ladbrokes: The Ladbrokes mobile betting app is available for iOS enabled devices and can be downloaded from the App store. For Android phones, the company provides a mobile betting site. The company has game centric apps and mobile sites i.e. for sports they have a different app, for casino and poker they have different apps available.
The sports app covers almost all the sports markets. The main page of the app displays three options; ‘highlights’, ‘next’ or upcoming races and ‘in-play’ games. From the main menu at the top left corner you can select a sport on which you want to bet. On selecting a sport, matches get sorted by leagues or competitions and are then displayed. The Bet Slip is featured at the top right corner and gives bettors information on their bets. Bettors can register their credit card and e-wallet accounts and conduct financial transactions through the mobile site itself. eSports games are also available on the Ladbrokes app.
Pinnacle Sports: Pinnacle has so far not developed any mobile betting apps and only offers a mobile website for betting through a smartphone. The company has decided not to invest in mobile betting apps for now in order to cut costs and give more to its customers betting margins and higher odds. The technology that the company uses allows it to offer significantly higher odds to bettors.
The home page lists the featured games which will be played for the day and in the near future. Bettors can also select their sport from a drop down menu on the home page and view different bets offered for that game. Multiple types of bets offered on the mobile version include accumulator bets and betting with a handicap. The site also offers live games and allows bettors to track a games progress. A new user can sign-up to create an account through the mobile site also. Other features offered by the site include adding funds to your account and placing bets without being logged in. eSports games are also available on the mobile version of the Pinnacle Sports website.
Betway: The Betway app is available for both iOS and Android phones. The Betway app allows users to bet either on sports or play casino games. A new feature added to the app is the in-play feature which lists all the events currently taking place or scheduled to take place. Live streaming functionality is also available for some games. A ‘useful stats’ feature complements the in-play functionality. Important stats like past results, data analysis and team news is displayed in a matrix format. Another important feature is the search functionality which makes it easy for users to navigate and find their events.
Bettors can select a sport by tapping on the respective sports icon. Bettors who like the odds listed for their fixture, can tap on the odds and add it to their betslip. The app also allows online transactions through credit cards and online payment wallets. The site allows multiple types of bets to be placed including accumulators or parlays. eSports games are also available on the Betway app.
Bet365: The Bet365 app is available for download on both iOS and Android phones. The app has some excellent features such as the in-game feature, in-game reports and live streaming which get updated extremely fast. Live streaming is possible if you have money in your account or have placed a bet on the game within the past 24 hours. However not all games allow live streaming. The home page has icons of various sports which users can tap on and follow.
The home page also lists the in-play fixtures. Multiple bets including single and parlays are allowed through the app itself. A bore-draw bet is also available for select markets where your stake is refunded if the match ends in a 0-0 draw. eSports games are also available on the Bet365 app.
Mobile Betting Apps: Conclusion
The above mobile betting apps and the mobile sites have simple layouts, are easy to use and come power packed with numerous functionalities. The mobile betting market has grown significantly during the past few years as bettors have found it more convenient to use a mobile betting app to place bets and track their games. Mobile gambling is expected to become a $100 billion industry by 2018 with a global demographic of around 164 million people. Gambling operators will continue to focus on developing and improving their mobile betting apps and mobile websites to ensure they stay upto date with the latest technology and also add new options such as eSports games.
