The UK's Best Mobile Casinos 2022

Beginner’s Guide to Mobile Casinos

When the first online casinos launched back in the 90s, the idea of being able to enjoy your favourite casino games anywhere, anytime seemed like a distant dream. Thankfully, mobile casinos have made this a reality.

Whether you’re into roulette, poker or playing the best payout slots, you can enjoy playing mobile versions of each of them from the palm of your hand. All you need is a stable WiFi or mobile data connection.

If this sounds right up your street, check out our beginner’s guide for everything you need to know about mobile casinos.

WiFi and Data – What’s the Difference for Mobile Casino Play?

There are quite a few considerations when it comes to WiFi versus data for playing at the best mobile casinos. Speed, stability, and data usage are all part of the equation. Of course, you might not have the luxury of choice if you’re playing on the go. Even if there is a WiFi network available, the security of public WiFi can be rather dubious and mobile data might be the safer option. 

Furthermore, online gambling is often blocked on public or work WiFi networks, in which case your phone’s 4G/5G connection is the only way to get unrestricted access — although we certainly don’t condone mobile gambling during work hours, which can be a warning sign of problem gambling and addiction. 

Mobile data isn’t ideal for all situations. Imagine you’re playing on the train, you’ve just placed a bet on roulette, and the train enters a rather long tunnel. The ball enters the wheel, your bet is looking good… and then you lose connection. If you want a stronger guarantee of uninterrupted play, WiFi is usually the most reliable choice — and there’s little reason not to use it if you’re playing on mobile at home. 

That said, gone are the days of sluggish 3G connections, and while 4G remains highly usable for mobile casino play, the roll-out of 5G has positioned mobile data competitively against WiFi and broadband. It’s roughly ten times faster than 4G and is designed to work at average speeds of 150–200 megabits per second — that’s similar to many fibre optic broadband packages in the UK, and significantly quicker than areas without fibre infrastructure. If your broadband is lacking but you’ve got strong 5G coverage, you might want to opt for mobile data instead of WiFi for the best speeds. 

Data Usage at Mobile Casinos

Of course, the picture isn’t complete without taking into account the amount of data used by online casino games. This is particularly important if your mobile contract’s data allowance is on the light side, as running over can be expensive. Data caps aren’t unheard of for broadband and WiFi, but they’re much less common these days and are usually pretty high where they do exist, so you likely won’t need to worry about data usage when playing on WiFi.

It’s tough to give exact numbers for expected data usage when playing at mobile online casinos, as every site and game is different. It also depends if you’re playing through a dedicated app or mobile-optimised website. A reasonable guide for the latter is 3MB per webpage loaded; it’s less for a native app as much of the site content is stored on your device. Obviously, the app itself may be substantial in size — a couple of hundred megabytes — so it’s worth switching to WiFi before you install it if you want to save on data. 

What about playing the game itself? Let’s take slots as an example. Loading the game may use around 25MB, and each spin — according to NetEnt — uses around 1KB of data. That means it’ll take roughly 1,000 spins to use 1MB, so it’s pretty insignificant. Keep in mind these are ballpark figures, and if you want to know precisely how much data a casino game or mobile app uses, you can usually find a report in your device’s settings.

Live Casino Data Usage

You can get a fair amount of mileage using mobile data to play virtual casino games, but those with a penchant for live casinos definitely need to keep a closer eye on their data usage. As live casino games beam the action to your handset using HD cameras, they inherently use a lot more data. Streaming 1080p video uses around 3GB an hour, so you could quite easily overrun a smaller data cap in a single session. You can usually downgrade the quality to standard definition, which dramatically lowers the usage to about 600MB an hour, but that often feels like a big sacrifice with today’s pixel-perfect screens.

If you want to enjoy live casino games — or any mobile gaming for that matter — without worrying about hitting a data limit, we’d recommend an unlimited data tariff. For a set amount each month, you’ll get all-you-can-eat data with no fear of expensive charges levied for going over.

Here are a few examples of unlimited data tariffs available across the UK to give you a sense of what you might pay. These are SIM-only deals and usually come with a 12-month minimum contract.

• Three – £16 a month
• Smarty – £16 a month
• iD Mobile – £16 a month
• Vodafone – £25 a month
• O2 – £30 a month
• Giffgaff – £25 a month

Reasons to Play Mobile Casino Games

What makes mobile casino games so great? Here are just a few reasons:

Speed

Say goodbye to slow loading times, because mobile casinos give you access to your favourite games in a matter of seconds.

Playing on a native casino mobile app speeds things up even more, perfect for a quick spin on the slots when you’ve got a spare few minutes.

Play Any Time, Anywhere

Want to play the best casino games whenever, wherever? You can with mobile casinos!

Whether you want to play on the train, during your lunch break or anywhere else, mobile phone casino games are just a touch away.

Notifications

Forget about missing out on the latest casino bonuses, as mobile casino apps use push notifications to alert you to the best new deals.

As well as the top reload bonuses, no deposit free spins and cash back rewards, you’ll also be notified of the freshest new casino games.

Variety

Playing on a mobile doesn’t limit your choice of casino games.

You can still enjoy all the top titles, from mobile slot games to poker and live dealer blackjack, so you’ll never get bored of playing casino games on your mobile.

Safety

Just like other online casino games, mobile casino games are safe and secure.

The same goes for casino mobile apps – all of these are audited to ensure they’re up to scratch, so you can rest easy when you play casino games on mobile devices.

Pros and Cons of Using a Mobile Casino

Wondering whether mobile casinos are right for you? This list of pros and cons might help you decide.

• Convenience – mobile casinos allow users to play their favourite games whenever and wherever they like;
• Superior gaming experience – particularly through dedicated apps, mobile gameplay often offers a better overall playing experience, with snappier interfaces and faster loading times;
• Never miss a promotion – by turning on those push notifications, you’ll always stay savvy to the casino’s bonuses and promotions;
• Variety – most online casinos migrate their entirely libraries over to their mobile sites, so you’ll enjoy the same game variety as you would on desktop;
• Safety – mobile casinos undergo the same rigorous licensing process as desktop sites, so you can gamble with confidence when playing on the move;
• Integration – whether you’re an iOS or Android device holder, mobile casinos can integrate with all operating systems;
• Faster payments – seamlessly switch between your mobile casino app and the app of your payment method of choice for faster deposits and withdrawals.

• Smaller screen sizes – although casinos work hard on optimisation, users may find smaller screen sizes difficult to adjust to when playing casino games;
• Missing games – for casinos with particularly large games libraries, there’s no guarantee that every title will be carried across to the mobile site;
• Downloading software – if you want to gamble through an app, you’ll need to download the software first, which may present storage issues. This isn’t a problem for those playing through their mobile web browser;
• Requires a stable network – you’ll need a reliable internet connection to play casino games on mobile, particularly when real money is on the line;
• May encourage irresponsible gambling – Mobile casinos offer great convenience, but may also make it harder for problem gamblers to curb their harmful gambling habits.

Types of Mobile Casinos

Now that there are as many mobile players in the UK as there are desktop players, mobile casinos can differentiate from one another by focusing on a particular niche.

Here are some of the categories of mobile casino sites you can discover:

Mobile Slots Casinos

Thanks to their simple rules and straightforward gameplay, slots lend themselves to mobile gambling.

There’s no need to sit at a table and think about betting strategy, or to type out questions to a croupier at a live dealer casino – players just have to hit spin and hope for the best.

So it’s no wonder there are dedicated mobile casinos that host the best mobile slots around, allowing players to enjoy their favourite games on the move.

Pay by Mobile Casinos

The successes of mobile casinos over the last ten years or so have spurred the emergence of new banking methods at online casinos. Players can now pay for their deposits at mobile casinos by simply entering their mobile phone number. 

Companies such as Boku and Siru initially pick up the tab of a player’s deposit, before tagging it onto the user’s contract – or pay as you go SIM – at the end of the month.

These clever payment solutions are well-supported by the UK’s leading network providers, and provide a seamless way to make deposits and enjoy mobile gameplay.

Deposits are quick, easy and convenient, so pay by mobile mobile players will never miss a bet. 

However, these services have two major drawbacks: deposit limits are strict, tending to stay within £30 a day, and users aren’t able to request a withdrawal.

Still, pay by mobile casinos can certainly provide a practical and highly secure way to top up casino funds. 

iPhone and Android Mobile Casinos

Online casinos work hard to develop well-optimised mobile versions of their sites. Some go a step better by creating dedicated native apps that players are able to download onto their mobile devices. 

The very best mobile casinos will make these apps available to both Android and iOS device holders, but occasionally you’ll come across an online casino with an app that’s only available on one of these operating systems.

If you know you’re interested in mobile gambling, always check to see if your new casino site can fulfil the mobile experience you’re looking for – whether that’s through solid mobile-optimisation of the site, or the availability of a native app.

Mobile Table Games Casinos

While slots usually make up the majority of mobile casino catalogues, one could argue table games are the bread and butter of games libraries. There’s plenty for UK players to enjoy on mobile devices, with many of the top developers optimising their games for smaller devices and reworking controls so they’re suitable for touchscreens. 

Join one of our recommended mobile table games casinos and you’ll get access to a top range of titles:

• Roulette is fantastic on mobile thanks to well-designed betting controls, and portrait mode will put you in the prime position at the end of the table;
• Blackjack’s simplicity translates perfectly to phone screens, letting you aim for 21 on the go;
• Bet on the player or banker in baccarat;
• Craps and sic bo can also be played on mobile if you prefer dice games.

Virtual games aren’t the only thing available at UK mobile casinos; players can also enjoy live dealer table games from the biggest and best names in the business, like Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play. These developers have spent countless hours perfecting the design of their mobile games to fit everything in — after all, you’ll need to view a live stream and all the controls. 

Just with any of our recommendations at TopRatedCasinos, we’ve put all our mobile table games casinos through the ringer to ensure they’re up to the same high standards. You’ll get flexible deposit and withdrawal methods, easy access to customer support, and the best mobile casinos will offer a downloadable app for the smoothest experience.

Mobile Casino Bonuses

Mobile casinos are just as keen to dish out player bonuses as their desktop equivalents.

Here are some of the most common bonus types to keep an eye out for – just remember to always read the associated terms and conditions in order to understand what’s required from you to win some cash. 

Mobile Matched Deposit Bonus

Matched deposits are regularly thrown into welcome bonus bundles, and they’re designed to give new members a cash injection for their new casino accounts.

With a matched deposit, the online casino matches a proportion of the player’s deposit with bonus funds. Often, the operator will match the deposit in full, but the most generous offers will extend beyond 100% of the player’s deposit. 

Here’s a typical example. When signing up to a new site, you might be offered a matched deposit of ‘100% up to £100’. This offer would see you land a total of £200 in your account from a £100 deposit, with half of this coming on behalf of the casino. 

Mobile No Deposit Bonus

This functions in exactly the same way as above, except there’s no need to make any deposit to land this bonus.

For this reason, no deposit bonuses are highly sought after, but their value tends to be significantly less than matched deposit deals. No deposit bonuses may also come with more stringent terms and conditions than other bonus offers. 

Free Spins Bonuses

Casino players looking to take to the slots in the UK may want to seek out free spins bonuses. These bonuses are usually dependent on a qualifying deposit, and credit the recipient with a bundle of bonus spins to use on any eligible slot game.

A free spins bonus might look something like, ‘50 free spins when depositing £30’. 

As these bonuses don’t offer players cash amounts, the wagering requirements work slightly differently.

Instead of applying to the bonus amount, requirements will attach themselves to any winnings generated by the free spins. 

Mobile Reload Bonuses

It’s true that mobile casinos reserve their most generous bonuses to new players, but the best UK mobile casinos will regularly treat their existing members to reload bonuses.

A reload bonus is considered to be any bonus offered to a player already active at the site, signifying a “reloading” of funds into their account. 

Reload bonuses can take any form, and are often used to encourage dormant members into renewing their casino activity.

For example, a player might receive an offer to reload their account with £20 and receive £5 to wager on selected games.

Mobile Casino Games

You’ll be able to play practically any casino game on your mobile. While not every individual title available online has been adapted for mobile play, the top mobile casinos cover all games categories.

Let’s take a closer look at what you can enjoy when you’re out and about:

Mobile Slots

Slots are by far the UK’s favourite type of online casino game, and mobile players are spoiled for choice in this category. The popularity of mobile games like Candy Crush and Bejewelled Blitz inspired slot developers to create similarly themed video slot titles, with vivid graphics and smooth game mechanics.

Their simple, colourful layout works great on a smartphone, and unlike more involved card games such as blackjack or poker – which involve high levels of concentration and possibly the deployment of a betting strategy – it’s very easy to squeeze in a couple of spins in between other activities when you’re on the go. Basically, slots are the ideal game for mobile play.

There are plenty of slot variations at mobile casinos that will suit different players: low stakes penny slots, large progressive jackpots, and the newest slot games on the market. If you prefer playing classic fruity machine-style slots then don’t worry – there are plenty of 3-reel mobile slot games to keep you happy too.

Here are some of our favourite slots to play at the best mobile casinos. 

Starburst

NetEnt’s Starburst celebrates its ten-year anniversary in 2022, but its popularity among mobile players remains at the same level of a decade ago. Taking place somewhere out in the cosmos, Starburst players will feel as though they’re drifting through time and space, as the stars and dust clouds reorganise themselves behind the reels. 

Part of Starburst’s enduring appeal is owed to its win-both-ways payline structure which allows players to build combinations on the reels in both directions as opposed to the traditional left to right. There’s just one bonus feature in play here – the multi-coloured star which serves as an expanding wild – giving Starburst a high volatility rank and a return to player (RTP) rating of 96.1%. 

Gonzo’s Quest Megaways

Rivalling Starburst as the biggest online slot game of recent times is Gonzo’s Quest, a medium volatility title inspired by the conquests of Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. In the Megaways version, Gonzo’s Quest has been modified to include 117,649 different paylines, bringing with them an RTP of 96%. 

An extra reel has been added to the original’s template, and the multipliers feature has been expanded to a potential of 15x during the free spins bonus round, launched when three or more golden bonus symbols appear on the reels. Although Gonzo’s Quest is a NetEnt creation, this particular slot was developed by Red Tiger Gaming.  

Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead

Book of Dead is the most famous online slot in Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde series, in which an Indiana Jones-esque adventurer searches for lost treasures. This high volatility game has five reels, ten paylines, and an RTP of 96.2%. It takes place in an ancient Egyptian temple, and the game’s excellent soundtrack and beautifully designed reels add to the scene’s authenticity. 

Unsurprisingly, it’s the Book of Dead symbol that mobile players will want to pay attention to – this is the game’s scatter symbol, and landing three or more on the reels will launch ten free spins, as well as paying up to 200x when included in the formation of a winning combo. During these bonus spins, one symbol will be chosen at random to expand and fill the reels, which could lead to larger wins.   

Fluffy Favourites

If space exploration, European colonialism, and cultural theft aren’t really your jam, then spend some time chilling out with Fluffy Favourites – a medium volatility Eyecon slot with an RTP of 95.3%. The friendly hippos, ducks, dragons, lions, giraffes, fish, and turtles will bring a smile to any mobile gambler, and there are some great bonus features included in this 25-payline slot. 

First is the free spins round, launched when three of the scatter symbols – the big pink elephants – land on the reels. This will give you 15 free spins, but four of them will reward you with 20, while five dishes out 25 extra spins. Fluffy Favourites features a second scatter, which for any Toy Story fans out there, is simply known as The Claw. If you land three of these you’ll trigger the Toybox Pick feature and be transported to a new screen. Here, simply pick your toy and you’ll reveal a multiplier reward.

Mobile Table Games

Prefer playing table games on your mobile? There are plenty of these games available at the best mobile casino sites — here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular options at our favourite UK casinos.

Mobile Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular table games. Also known as vingt-et-un, the aim of the game is to get as close to 21 as you can — either by standing or hitting — to beat the dealer and win. 

The simplicity of blackjack translates perfectly to touchscreen devices with smaller screens as there are only a few controls. There are plenty of game variants too. The best mobile casinos offer American, Vegas Strip, Blackjack Switch, Perfect Pairs, and more. 

Mobile Roulette

Another table game mainstay, you’ll find roulette at any mobile casino worth its salt. European, French, and American are the most popular formats and each version sees players betting on which of the spinning wheel’s pockets the ball will land in. 

As there are a plethora of betting options, selecting them on mobile can be less intuitive than on desktop. However, many games are presented in landscape mode to make the most of the smaller screens, but there are also variants like Mini Roulette. As the wheel is smaller, there are fewer bets to make, so it’s a solid option for those playing on mobile. 

Mobile Poker

In poker, players attempt to snatch the pot with the highest-ranking hand. The best mobile casinos offer draw poker, stud poker and Texas hold’em. Poker is one of the only table games where you’ll play directly against real people, and it’s just as thrilling on your mobile as it is on a desktop.

Mobile Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game where gamblers bet on which hand will be closest to a value of 9 — the ‘house’ or the ‘player’. Each hand is dealt two cards, and the value of the hand determines what happens next according to a set of rules. Punto Banco, Chemin de fir, and Baccarat Banque are the most common variants, and the simplicity of the game is perfect for mobile play.

Mobile Craps

The dice game of craps can be intimidating to newer players as there are so many betting options. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s one of the most exciting table games available on mobile. On smaller screens, it can be a bit of a squash, but the best mobile casino software developers carefully optimise the layout so you won’t find your finger placing a bet on the wrong outcome. 

Mobile Sic Bo

Hugely popular in Macau casinos, sic bo is a game where players bet on the value of three dice. It’s similar to roulette — players make their bets, the dice are rolled, and winning bets are paid out. You can bet on specific values, ranges, triples, doubles, and more. Sic bo is great fun on a touchscreen device and is offered at many mobile casinos.

Play Live Dealer Games on Your Mobile

Live dealer casinos don’t just bring the thrill of a live game to the comfort of your home, but the train, bus and wherever else you want to play as well!

Live games were some of the last to make the transition to mobile, but all the top live casino software developers are now producing mobile live dealer games. Live dealer casinos bring the thrill of a live game to the comfort of your home, or wherever else you might want to play. 

There’s no shortage of options either: we love live blackjack and live baccarat as their simple gameplay works perfectly on mobile devices, but you can enjoy live roulette, live poker and more, all from the palm of your hand, including the live chat feature that adds a social element to your gameplay. 

Famed for its live casino titles on desktop, it’s no surprise Evolution Gaming is at the forefront of live dealer mobile games. You can’t go wrong with titles from giants like NetEnt or Playtech either, who both have platforms fully optimised for mobile devices. 

Mobile Casino Payment Methods

The ease and speed of mobile casino gameplay are what makes it so appealing, so it’s important that mobile casino payment methods are just as convenient. We’ve outlined some popular methods found at online mobile casinos below.

Visa Debit Cards

Debit card payments will be accepted at all UK mobile casinos. Ubiquity is this method’s biggest strength, and it also means players making Visa deposits will almost always qualify for a site’s bonuses and promotional offers —  provided the minimum deposit is made, of course. 

The major drawback is the withdrawal time, which tends to be the slowest of all casino banking options. However, since the introduction of Visa Fast Funds – a mechanism that processes transactions in real time – players can receive their casino withdrawals within 30 minutes of the request at some mobile casinos. Visa Fast Funds is represented by a stopwatch logo at the cashier page – simply click on that to access fast withdrawals.

e-Wallets

Virtually every mobile casino site offers e-wallet payment methods to mobile and desktop players alike, which means you’ll be able to deposit with the likes of PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill. 

All three of these services have a mobile app that can be used to check or top up your balance, manage your cards, or request a withdrawal to your bank account — straight from your iOS or Android device. e-Wallets offer a layer of security by safeguarding your details from the casino, e-wallets offer some of the quickest withdrawals plus instant deposits.

Pay by Phone Bill

If you’re a mobile player, it stands to reason you might want to pay by mobile phone using a service like Boku. All you have to do is key in your phone number and the balance is added to your monthly bill or taken from your airtime credit. There’s no need to download an app or register, but there are low payment limits so it’s not ideal for those playing on a larger budget. Unfortunately, there’s no support for withdrawals, either.

Paysafecard

Paysafecard is a prepaid card you can buy in retail locations, so it might be worth a look if you’re playing on the go. It’s highly secure as you won’t be sending any banking details to the casino site when you make a deposit, and once the balance is spent, that’s it — many players find it helps them stick to a budget. The free Paysafecard app allows you to check the balance of your voucher and locate a nearby retailer. Unfortunately, the vast majority of online casinos don’t allow for Paysafecard withdrawals.

Apple Pay and Google Pay

Available on their respective operating systems, Apple Pay and Google Pay are one of the easiest ways for mobile players to top up their casino accounts — you can pay instantly with face ID or fingerprint recognition without having to key in any lengthy info. One drawback: withdrawals aren’t possible with these payment methods.

Trustly

One of the newer faces in the room, Trustly is a payment intermediary that allows players to make transactions around the web with their online banking login. The service harnesses Open Banking technology, giving players access to lightning-fast deposits and withdrawals at mobile casinos. It’s highly secure too: the Stockholm-based company is regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (SFA) and utilises the latest encryption standards.  

One of Trustly’s iGaming payment options is Pay N Play, a service that allows players to instantly deposit and jump into their favourite games without having to register for an account — their casino wallet is linked to their bank details, allowing for instant cash-outs at the end of the session. There’s really only one drawback to Trustly, which is that not every bank is supported.

Cryptocurrencies

While support for cryptocurrencies is still patchy at mobile casinos, its availability is growing as Bitcoin, Ethereum and other virtual coins continue to gain momentum for online payments. There are certainly some compelling benefits — the technology is built on blockchain and all transactions are recorded on a public ledger, so payments are highly secure and transparent while also being anonymous. Both deposits and withdrawals are incredibly fast, often settling instantly, so you won’t be left waiting. 

There are several things to be aware of before you use crypto for mobile casino payments. Currencies like Bitcoin are highly volatile and can drastically fluctuate in value. There can also be some fees associated with buying and selling cryptocurrency or using it to make payments, so it’s essential you do your research beforehand.

Joining a Loyalty Scheme or VIP Programme at a Mobile Casino

Although many bonuses are exclusive to new players when they sign up at a site, many of the best online casinos offer a loyalty scheme or VIP programme to reward those who frequently play at the site. These offers are commonplace with desktop sites, but savvy mobile casinos know it’s just as important they’re available to mobile players — after all, you can quickly rack up points with a few five-minute sessions throughout the day. 

Check if your casino offers such a scheme as soon as you sign up. Some mobile casinos enrol you automatically, but you’ll have to opt-in at others.

Points Programmes

Accumulated every time you play at a site, points programmes are a great way to get extra mileage out of your deposits. The more points you collect, the higher you’ll climb on the VIP ladder — hitting the higher tiers entitles you to bigger bonuses and rewards. Some VIP programmes even let players redeem their points for branded merchandise. 

Cashback

Online casinos often reward existing players with cashback offers. Many mobile casinos offer this as a percentage of your total stakes or losses over a period of time. For example, you might find a cashback offer of 5% on your daily losses up to £100. If you lost £200 that day, you’d receive £10 back, either as bonus credit or regular cash you can withdraw or use on games. 

New Mobile Casinos

It might seem like a no-brainer to pick a well-known casino with a long and proven track record. While an industry veteran is never a bad choice, you might be missing out on the perks of a new mobile casino. As long as you’re playing at a licensed mobile casino, it’s just as safe as any other.

New casino brands have been known to offer something different when it comes to bonuses. PlayOJO casino, for example, offered no wagering bonuses when it launched in 2017 and pllenty of other casinos have followed suit.

Some new casinos are simply sister brands under the same gambling company, such as 888’s casino and sportsbook. Others are white label casinos operating on the same platform as other existing casinos. That’s why many new casinos have a familiar look and feel. It’s not often that a brand new casino launches in the competitive UK market, but when one does, it’s a chance for players to enjoy a fresh new design.

With new gambling sites, it’s important to keep in mind they may be yet to develop a dedicated mobile app, so you might not get the very best gaming experience. That said, virtually all new casinos are built on the latest HTML5 technology and are optimised for your mobile browser.