Why Crypto casinos not investing in real Mobile Apps?

[Samlucky O]

I really don’t get it, Crypto casinos have huge budgets for marketing, partnerships, good prize pools… but when it comes for buildin an actual special mobile app, it’s like no one wants to step up.

So why aren’t they doing it? Is it because of App Store and Google Play restrictions,
Or it is legal situation?

What do you think, are we ever going to see optimized crypto casino app, or will everything stay browser website based forever?

According to a little research I made, it shows that they don't use mobile app due to Google's policies and restrictions. And Because of that reason they prefer using a Mobil optimized platform where they can gamble online as a form of app. And it could be that since crypto is not acceptable in many places around the world could be the reason why using it as a regular app is difficult. Apart from this, I don't see any tangible reason why This casino would not be available on app like the normal Local gambling app.

[Wexnident]

~

Browsers generally just provide THAT much freedom. While I don't know the specifics that attack casinos, I do know that releasing an app to Google Play store or Apple play store is a pain in the ass. Most especially so for Apple lol. Plus they can actually just turn thwir web apps into PWAs, which can be used as something like app already (which you pointed out). If it was slow, it's just the app being unoptimized or your phone being THAT slow.

Plus it's generally just more cost for them to maintain lol.

[Shinpako09]

I was wondering about this as well when I was a newbie, but I think it’s unnecessary since there’s already a mobile UI when you access their site. The experience for gamblers would be the same. The house earnings would probably be the same too, but having an app, whether mobile or PC, would be an additional cost. If I were the owner, I’d rather use the funds for promotion. There are local online gambling sites in our country that have mobile apps you can download directly from their site, but I don’t use them.

[maydna]

That may be because Google Play restricts casinos from adding their apps to that list. But casinos add the app to their sites so members can download and install it directly from there. It will bypass Google's restrictions because people can download directly from the site.

I think crypto casinos will optimize their apps but they may not want to add them to the Google PlayStore. You can visit some crypto casinos and find their app there. But playing gambling through a browser is more convenient for users so they still choose this if casinos don't have mobile apps.

[joniboini]

But like, is there a huge demand from their players? As far as my observation goes, most of them want a better experience and customer service. I haven't seen someone open a thread to complain that a casino doesn't have a mobile app, and they leave because of it. Maybe I just missed it. But I'm certain we have had similar discussion in the past, and the status quo doesn't seem to change that much, as OP mentioned.

Even other services like privacy tools don't provide or update mobile apps regularly (though it's probably related to security concerns).

[Charles-Tim]

I wonder how the casino will pay the App Store? It seems that the App Store has 30% of the amount of internal in-app purchases. How to count? From the amount of deposits or from the amount of deposits minus the amount of withdrawals? Is it profitable for a casino to lose a third of its profits just for having an app in the App Store? Well, that is, whether the number of customers will increase significantly, and whether it is cost-effective. Judging by the situation with the applications, the answer is no.

I do not know about this but I know that if gambling sites mean it, their business is profitable enough to get their apps listed on the application stores, both Playstore and App store.

The problem is that these application stores does not allow gambling apps. If they allow gambling apps and gambling sites see it having positive effect on their site, they will go for it.

[Die_empty]

I think maybe the answer is that the apps are just unprofitable. They increase operational cost which will not make sense for the business in the long run. Besides their target customers who are older adults may not actually be interested in downloading an app before they play. On the other hand, I think that nothing for now has necessitated it being a trendy thing for others to copy.

Maybe the cost of maintaining two platforms might be the cause. The casinos just stick to the platform that has higher demand. Since web-based platforms satisfy both the older and younger generations, they focus on it to reduce costs.

Regulatory restrictions might also be another reason. Countries that control the gambling business might not want Google Play and others to list crypto apps in their jurisdiction. I don't think I would like to have a crypto gambling app on my phone since the use of cryptocurrencies is highly regulated in my country. This might also be why the demand for crypto apps is not high. Many gamblers might want to keep their activities secret. 

[Kagaru]

That may be because Google Play restricts casinos from adding their apps to that list. But casinos add the app to their sites so members can download and install it directly from there. It will bypass Google's restrictions because people can download directly from the site.

I think crypto casinos will optimize their apps but they may not want to add them to the Google PlayStore. You can visit some crypto casinos and find their app there. But playing gambling through a browser is more convenient for users so they still choose this if casinos don't have mobile apps.

Crypto casinos don't want to come to the Play Store just to avoid Google's rules but they want to provide updates independently and control access in their own way by region. In many countries, the app will be blocked directly if you go to the Play Store and if you offer the app from your own site they at least keep that control in their own hands. Another thing is that the user doesn't always need the app, mobile browsers have now reached a point where they offer an experience almost close to the app. So many players feel that there is no need to install anything separately.

Overall, I think casinos make apps mainly for the convenience of those who want them but the browser remains the main platform.

[Charles-Tim]

Maybe the cost of maintaining two platforms might be the cause. The casinos just stick to the platform that has higher demand. Since web-based platforms satisfy both the older and younger generations, they focus on it to reduce costs.

Regulatory restrictions might also be another reason. Countries that control the gambling business might not want Google Play and others to list crypto apps in their jurisdiction. I don't think I would like to have a crypto gambling app on my phone since the use of cryptocurrencies is highly regulated in my country. This might also be why the demand for crypto apps is not high. Many gamblers might want to keep their activities secret. 

Maintenance is not the problem, there are very big gambling sites that does not have mobile apps. Especially crypto gambling sites do not have mobile apps at all. They have the money but they do not have it. If their customers are requesting for a mobile app, they will give them one.

Restrictions is also not the reason. The main reason is that people do not see the need to request for mobile app as they like it on the browser. High request from customers will make the gambling sites build app.

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

What do you think, are we ever going to see optimized crypto casino app, or will everything stay browser website based forever?

One of the reason I guess is that gambling will be more fast on web than having an app that could come with too much load, I don't know about a specific reason why the crypto casino do not create a mobile standard application, even if it will be banned from google app store, there could be another app store to download it from but they just seem not to even have interest to develop mobile app apart webapp.

[davis196]

So why aren’t they doing it? Is it because of App Store and Google Play restrictions,
Or it is legal situation?

Personally, I feel crypto casinos are missing a big opportunity here. A smooth app could attract a whole new wave of players and give them a real advantage over the competition, especially on App store IOS or Android…

Real gambling apps on the App Store and Google Play? This would never happen. Crypto gambling(or fiat gambling) would never be allowed on those platforms. You are basically answering your own question here. Building a gambling mobile app is pretty much pointless, since the app won't get listed on a big App marketplace like Apple App store and Google Play. Having a mobile friendly casino/bookmaker website is more than enough. I know that big poker platforms like GGPoker have mobile apps, but they've done the marketing and have built a huge following before the creation of a mobile app.

[$crypto$]

Restrictions are not the only reason, but reading an article where the Play Store changed the rules and allowed gambling apps in some countries and this is only limited.
- https://crustlab.com/blog/google-allows-gambling-apps-in-multiple-countries/

So the exact reasons are actually many including development which costs money not to mention the resources they have to spend, it is possible that because the play store allows some countries for casinos to make these apps will not be efficient, given the rules of the Play Store.

Still the best option for casinos is web-based play.

[Myleschetty]

Long time ago when I started wondering why almost all crypto casinos avoid building real mobile Apps for iOS or Android, and to this day, I didn’t see any good Mobile App or I am missing something? Most of them only offer apps that are basically website based to install from the browser, I mean just the same site put inside an app. And honestly, it becomes slow and nowhere close to the experience we get with platforms like 365bet or other traditional betting Apps.

The casino you mentioned is unknown to me. However, I think that the majority of casinos don't have a mobile app due to the expense of developing and maintaining them, while some attribute this to the development that happened to HTML, since any well designed website built with HTML5 will work flawlessly on desktop and mobile devices.
As an illustration, this forum, when mobile was disregarded when it was suggested because this forum functions well on both desktop and mobile devices.

[asriloni]

The reason is too many requirements. The fact that Apple and Google are not disallowing gambling apps to exist on their store. However, there are bunches of requirements need to be fully complied started with license, age gating, geo gating, and many more. Unable to meet one of their req will lead into the violation in result getting banned from the store.

That's the reason mostly of gambling site prefer to develop a mobile UI instead of developing an app to be used by its users. It's much more cheaper, and have no risk to be banned from the store.

[Cantsay]

The reason is too many requirements. The fact that Apple and Google are not disallowing gambling apps to exist on their store. However, there are bunches of requirements need to be fully complied started with license, age gating, geo gating, and many more. Unable to meet one of their req will lead into the violation in result getting banned from the store.

That's the reason mostly of gambling site prefer to develop a mobile UI instead of developing an app to be used by its users. It's much more cheaper, and have no risk to be banned from the store.

Initially I was about to respond to the Op about how the whole thing boils down to Apple Store and playstore not allowing gambling apps there because that’s what I saw online, but after reading your comment I just realized that I’ve been moving around with wrong information all this time.

I remember downloading a few local gambling apps from Apple Store and playstore but never have I been able to download one that’s being used globally and now I’m starting to see the reason behind it.

Some of them might just tell you to save the site to your homepage and just use it like that, as if it’s an app but don’t want to create an official app, but now that I see the whole requirements needed I think that might just be the best thing to do.

[Wapfika]

The reason is too many requirements. The fact that Apple and Google are not disallowing gambling apps to exist on their store. However, there are bunches of requirements need to be fully complied started with license, age gating, geo gating, and many more. Unable to meet one of their req will lead into the violation in result getting banned from the store.

That's the reason mostly of gambling site prefer to develop a mobile UI instead of developing an app to be used by its users. It's much more cheaper, and have no risk to be banned from the store.

I think you mean allowing. And casino is not necessarily needed to upload the mobile apps on the app store or playstore since they can just upload the mobile apps on the website and let user download it there.

There’s an option to install app from unknown provider on android while I’m not sure if this is available on ios user.

However, casino web version is almost compatible to mobile devices that’s why casino doesn’t invest anymore on mobile apps if the experience is just the same on web version.

[uneng]

What casinos specifically are you talking about? I can find many betting houses on PlayStore available for download. It's not a coincidence they are the same betting platforms which sponsor national soccer championship, so it must have something to do with regulations. Platforms which are legalized and allowed to operate in the country appear on the list, while the ones which aren't don't appear there.

I suspect there is a chance you may see a betting platform on your PlayStore I don't have access through mine, due to territory's restrictions. Or am I wrong about it?

[freedomgo]

Why would they still make an app when the app store will take a cut? That’s another expense. I’m also a mobile user when I’m betting, and I’m already satisfied with my experience playing slots and doing sports betting on the browser. Maybe Bet365 has an app because it’s a huge company, they can afford it, and they operate only in a few jurisdictions. But for most gambling sites here in the forum, they’re playable in different parts of the world, and another thing is the restrictions in some countries. It’s easier for an app to get blocked through the app store, and that’s something they want to avoid.

I’ll give an example, but this one is an exchange. Binance is banned in our country, and we use workarounds like DNS tricks to access it on the browser, but on the app, you can’t access it at all.

[Nwada001]

Crypto casinos are still newer and an upgrade from the regular fiat gambling platforms and although they include normal cash for staking too, they mostly still prefer to use the mobile optimized web apps maybe due to reasons of licensing and regulatory policies in that country or region and since gamblers are still getting used to them, the cost of development and managing a website may be an issue that can cause lapses in the casino operation.

Crypto casinos are no longer new; if they want to get a good functioning app, they can get it. They have the money. They are not just putting much attention into it for reasons that are best known to them. As for licensing, I doubt that could be the case, as I have never seen any service licensing that would want to prevent business owners from giving their customers the best.

[Cookdata]

I really don’t get it, Crypto casinos have huge budgets for marketing, partnerships, good prize pools… but when it comes for buildin an actual special mobile app, it’s like no one wants to step up.

So why aren’t they doing it? Is it because of App Store and Google Play restrictions,
Or it is legal situation?

Personally, I feel crypto casinos are missing a big opportunity here. A smooth app could attract a whole new wave of players and give them a real advantage over the competition, especially on App store IOS or Android…

What do you think, are we ever going to see optimized crypto casino app, or will everything stay browser website based forever?

I was having this discussion with other members here on their official thread of the campaign I'm working for, the team has an app but neither has it been added to Google play store nor app store and I was wondering what could have stopped them from doing that and I learnt the policy in these stores is making them stay away from Google and app stores. I think Google playstore maybe friendly but appstore is something else when it comes to gambling.

I don't know what affecting you guys but gambling is a sensitive something that is frown upon. It's not a big deal to bring one but it doesn't worth it. I'm.npt sure if stake for example has a stake app. They are big and very wide with  customers worldwide but you need customers to use your service before you can decide to create an app. Most casino built casino with web and responsive views, so it might not be necessary.