Mobile Social Casinos: Popular Brands and Platforms

It’s no secret that the online casino industry is booming. However, while many people head for traditional Vegas experiences via mobile, others head toward a fairly different beast: the ‘social’ casino.

Mobile casino games are not new, but a recent wave in portable social games – which may not always need cash injections from players – is still on the rise.

Let’s take a look at the social casino phenomenon, why it’s so popular on mobile, and what some of the biggest names in the industry are right now.

What Are Social Casinos?

As the name suggests, social casinos are gaming sites built around interactivity. These sites allow players to focus on challenging others and creating high scores. While many will also allow players to win money, the focus is on ‘casual play’.

The roots of social casino gaming are easy to find on platforms such as Facebook, where games with others are simple to launch mid-browse.

However, a boom in separate social casino gaming now allows players to select from hundreds of casual gaming sites (each with various themes and benefits).

Social casinos may charge money in some cases. For example, they may request funds for in-game purchases or enhancements. Some may accept money in return for membership benefits.

Players have a fairly tricky task in hunting down the best mobile social casinos and games online. This is why popular comparison engines exist – to help would-be patrons find their way to programs and games that interest them.

Why Are Mobile Social Casinos So Popular?

For many people, mobile play is easy to get into with a few seconds’ notice. There’s no need to grab a bulky laptop or PC to start playing.

Additionally, much of the appeal may lie in the lack of actual ‘gambling’ involved. Many social casinos for mobile play are legal to use across the US as, while they offer casino games, they don’t ask players to stake money on an outcome.

This, by its very definition, is betting. Players at social casinos get involved for the casual aspect, playing via their smartphones when they feel like it.

For all that these casinos may be popular, there’s still a need for players to ensure that the games they play are provably fair. Otherwise, they may find themselves at the mercy of a frustrating experience!

What Are Some Of The Most Popular Social Casino Games On Mobile?

Many of the more popular games available at social casinos include traditional Vegas standards, such as social poker. Poker is already an immensely social game in real life, but the social poker twist adds an extra dimension.

While some online poker games can feel a little distant or lonely when playing against AI, social poker on mobile allows players to compete in tournaments and leagues. For some, this may help to mimic the feel of taking part in real-life gameplay at a table or in a physical casino. Many of the best online poker sites also offer similar interactive features, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Slot games are also highly popular at social casinos on mobile. Slots arrive in many different themes and styles. However, some players may not wish to play them using real money, and as such, may head to social apps to find a low-paid or even free alternative.

Many social casino users may also find table games such as roulette and blackjack ‘on par’ with physical games and online alternatives without the risk of monetary loss.

What Are Some Of The Most Popular Social Casinos Available For Mobile Play?

Just as the crypto casino industry is booming, social gaming platforms are appearing more frequently across the web. 

For example, Zynga Poker is one of the more popular social casino apps that you’ll find on mobile devices. It focuses mainly on poker, but arrives with varied game modes and tournament play, allowing strangers to match up and play at the table from anywhere in the world.

LuckyLand Slots, meanwhile, offers more of a focus on reel spinning. This popular brand carries a handful of slot games that allow players to get started without real money.

BetRivers.net is an all-round social casino that offers twists on blackjack and carries popular branded games such as those falling within the Slingo range. This social casino may appeal to players looking for more variety from this type of experience.

Will Mobile Social Casino Gaming Become The Mainstream Choice?

It’s unlikely that traditional online casino gaming will disappear anytime soon. Innovations in VR gaming, for example, could add literal new dimensions to traditional tables and slots on a broad scale. However, this doesn’t mean that the social casino is going to sink into irrelevance.

Just as many people online are drifting away from centralized services and finances, others are looking at the games they play from a completely new angle. Casino gaming doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around prize money. If anything, the rise of mobile apps and casual games proves that there’s a strong enough audience for both sides of the same coin.

The mobile app boom of a decade ago has brought new demographics to online gaming en masse. Older players are arriving at social casinos in droves, familiar with traditional casino titles all the same, but willing to embrace simple technology from their smartphones.

How Do People Choose The Ideal Social Casino?

Crucially, there are no one or two ‘perfect’ social casinos. Each will offer different tournaments, games, terms and conditions, and even thematic twists. As such, players looking to join new sites and mobile apps will predominantly look into security, regulation and user reviews.

There may not seem to be much between different social casinos on the market. However, players can always keep themselves safe by checking the small print of any app they choose to start playing with.

Beyond this, again, comparison engines are worth their weight in gold. One thing is for certain: the rise of the ‘casual gamer’ is not waning yet.