What Are UK iPhone Casino Apps?
Simply put, UK iPhone casino apps are mobile applications designed by casino operators exclusively for use on iOS devices. They provide direct access to a casino's online platform through a dedicated mobile application.
Mobile casino apps grant users access to all the features available on the website (including bonuses and game portfolio) while also incorporating a few mobile-specific elements.
Note
Android users have their own dedicated Android casino apps available to download in Google Play Store.
Is Gambling Legal In The UK?
Since 2005 (via the Gambling Act), gambling has been regulated in the United Kingdom by the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission).
For businesses to offer gambling services to their customers, they are required to obtain a licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
A UKGC licence proves that a casino's services are fair and safe to use. It is considered one of the most prestigious gambling licences for an operator to obtain, on par with MGA (Malta Gaming Authority).
Keep in mind
If a casino operator possesses a UKGC licence, both its website and mobile app are legal.
How Popular Is Gambling In The UK?
As of 2023, the Gambling Commission reported that approximately 44% of the adult population in the UK engages in gambling, while around 26% participate in online gambling activities. This amounts to roughly 17.5 million online players and 32 million online accounts.
Furthermore, over 50% of UK gamblers favour utilising a dedicated smartphone app for gambling over other platforms.
Fact
By the end of 2022, there were over 2.419 licensed casino operators in the UK.
Types of iPhone Casino Apps
I like to say that there are gambling apps for iPhones for every type of player. If you don't believe me, see for yourself from the following overview of various app types:
Free to download & free to play apps
They are called "social casino apps" and emulate the experience of playing slots with funds, with the difference that your only reward is having fun.
Social iPhone casino apps are a great pick for when you need to scratch that itch and see the reels spin at no monetary cost.
Freak Tip
Try out social casino apps before venturing into real-funds ones. In doing so, you can make the most informed decision on whether it is worth using for this activity.
Free to download with in-app purchases
Commonly known as "Freemium apps," they offer restricted privileges on the platform, which can be expanded for a fee.
Basically, you can try the app out at no cost and see whether it fits you. If the answer is "yes", you can commit and acquire in-app features through purchases.
Gamified iPhone casino apps
You can find special gamification systems in a Gamified app, such as PVP slot tournaments with live leaderboards, daily missions, and reward tracks.
These features drive player engagement and retention, giving them a reason to log in and play daily.
Note
The term "gamification" refers to incorporating video game features into non-gaming settings.
Gaming apps with gambling features
Lastly, there are gaming apps that incorporate gambling features. At their core, they are gaming apps unrelated to gambling, but they offer you the opportunity to gamble.
Playing Casino Games on Mobile Apps: Pros & Cons
Mobile gambling is getting traction by the year. However, playing UK casino games on a dedicated app is not everybody’s cup of tea. Many still wonder whether they should bother downloading an app instead of simply accessing the gambling site through the web browser.
Transparency is key when it comes to Freak, which is why we will discuss both the advantages and any possible drawbacks of playing on iPhone casino apps.
Remember
Installing a mobile app is not mandatory for accessing a casino’s games on your phone. You can play them via the optimised browser version for mobile devices.
Advantages of Playing Casino Games on a Dedicated iPhone App
Instant access to the casino platform
You can easily access gambling apps directly from your home screen or wherever you prefer to place their shortcut. There's no need to launch your browser and manually search for the casino.
In addition, you can save your player account credentials, which will spare you from having to log in every single time you want to play.
Access to your favourite games from any location & anytime
You take your phone with you wherever you go, so why wouldn’t you also be able to take your favourite casino with you?
With your mobile device, you can access any game on the casino's platform anytime, regardless of whether you're on vacation or at home. You can play at any hour that suits you, without the hassle of waiting in queues or adhering to casino operating hours.
Remember
While you can browse the app in offline mode, playing the games requires an active internet connection.
Enhanced security
iPhone casino apps in the App Store are not easily accepted on it. Apple App Store officials test gambling apps before they become available for download, and they must meet plenty of standards to be considered safe for customers.
Some of the most important guidelines include:
- The app's developer must supply tournament prizes, and it must be explicitly stated in the terms and conditions that Apple does not sponsor the activity in any shape or form.
- Real-funds apps must have licencing rights for specific locations in order to offer their games to players in those regions.
- Real-funds apps must be available for free on the App Store.
- Third-party gambling-aiding apps, such as card counters, are not allowed.
Moreover, using your iPhone for gambling is generally safer compared to your PC, as it reduces the risk of virus attacks or hacks that you might otherwise encounter.
An interface specially designed for mobile devices
While you can access various online casino websites directly from your iPhone without downloading their dedicated apps, you might have more fun with the app. It’s like eating reheated dinner. Yes, it is edible and tastes okay, but wouldn’t you prefer a straight-from-the-oven dinner instead?
Through a dedicated mobile app, you can fully immerse yourself in the casino experience and enjoy seamless gameplay.
The app is designed to consume less mobile data, optimise graphics according to mobile resolutions and operating systems, and provide an intuitive and user-friendly interface tailored explicitly for iPhone use.
Disadvantages of iPhone Casino Apps
You need to install the app on your device
You can only use UK mobile apps after you download and install them. Not only do they take up storage space, but they also are visible to whoever accesses your device.
Remember
Take note of what size an application is before downloading it. Some take quite a bit of storage space and might encumber your phone.
Tip
If you do not have enough storage space, you can free up some by deleting unused or rarely used apps.
You need to update the app regularly
While the browser casino platform gets updated automatically, without any input from your end, things are different regarding mobile apps. You are responsible for updating your app once new updates roll out.
Tip
You can set up automatic updates for your casino apps via Settings to save you time and effort.
How to Choose the Best iPhone Casino App for UK Players
iPhone casino apps for British players are popular and in no short supply. Faced with so many options, you might need clarification, wondering which is the best.
Jumping headfirst into the world of iPhone casino apps is not a good idea. You should perform some research before committing to playing at a casino and making a deposit.
To help you out and save you some time, Freak wants to share his wisdom with you. Here are some criteria you can guide yourself by when choosing an iPhone casino app:
Available Games
The game catalogue is one of the first things you want to check when selecting which gambling website to register at.
You should have fun while playing; for that, you need an attractive variety of casino games. What good is a casino with excellent bonuses but a poor game selection? You wouldn’t know what to spend the bonus on!
Remember
While it's important to initially seek a casino that offers your favourite games, assessing the diversity of the remaining game selection is equally essential. You never know when your taste might change, and you will want to explore entirely different types of games.
Player Reviews & Ratings
When you are trying to decide on which electrical appliance to buy, you ask your friends and family for advice and likely research the internet to find out what other buyers think about it. Why not do the same when it comes to choosing a casino app?
Casino operators will consistently highlight the most appealing aspects of their platforms, naturally avoiding the promotion of any negative features.
This is where player reviews and ratings come into play. They are unbiased descriptions of what a casino app is really like, showing both the good and the bad.
Note
Freak brings you only real-player reviews and ratings. We value authenticity and encourage you to leave your opinion on the casinos you try out to help new players make a choice.
Application Features
Every app has different features, as it needs to stand out in an already saturated market. This means that there likely is an app that ticks all the boxes for you; you just need to find it.
Here are some features to look out for:
- Ease Of Navigation
- Customisable User Interface
- Gamification Features
- Freemium Games
- Social Services Integration
- Non-Intrusive Notifications & Ads System
- Availability In Multiple Languages
- Payment Methods
- Privacy & Security Measures
- In-App Purchases
Remember
When downloading a UK casino app, ensure it is compatible with your device's iOS version. In case it features a more recent version, you should update yours.
Current Promotions for New & Recurring Players
Another attraction when it comes to online gambling is bonuses and promotions. Keeping this in mind, you should keep an eye out for:
- Availability of mobile-exclusive bonuses
- Types of no-deposit and deposit bonuses offered to new players by no deposit casinos
- Variety of available promotions and tournaments.
Quick Guide to Playing UK Casino Games on an iPhone
Are you interested in getting into mobile gambling but unsure where to begin? Don't fret; the whole process is straightforward, as shown below.
Step 1 - Pick an iPhone casino from our list
Before anything, you need to decide on an option from our list of online casinos. Our iPhone casino apps list features only trustworthy and secure options. You can filter and sort them by bonus type, player ratings, and available software providers.
Step 2 - Download & install the app
Now you have to download the app, which you can do by looking it up on the App Store. After the download is complete, the app will be installed on your device.
This entire process should take at most a few minutes, depending on the strength of your internet connection.
Remember
Only download iPhone casino apps from trustworthy sources: directly from the App Store or via download from a reputable casino’s website.
Freak Tip
Freak wants to be safe at all times and take no risks whatsoever, so he is wary of downloading apps outside of the App Store.
Step 3 - Register an account
If you already have a player account, you can skip this step and log into your account. However, if it’s a new UK casino, you will have to register a player account either on the operator’s site or right from the app.
Step 4 - Verify your account (KYC verification)
This is the last step in creating a fully verified player account. You must verify your age and identity by providing the operator with the required documents (ID, proof of ownership of registered payment method, proof of address, etc). KYC verification is mandatory for using casino apps in the UK.
Note
KYC comes from “know your customer”.
Step 5 - Claim a bonus
New players can claim new-player bonuses. There are two possible types of bonuses: with or without a deposit.
Freak Advice
Where there is more than one welcome offer available, you are free to pick the one that looks best to you. For example, if a casino offers sports and casino offers, but you prefer slots over sports bets, the casino bonus is the better pick.
Step 6 - Make a deposit
With an account all set up and a bonus ready to be used, you can proceed to making a deposit. You can choose from multiple casino payment methods, which vary from operator to operator.
If you claimed a no-deposit bonus, you can skip this step and jump straight to step 7.
Note
It is not mandatory to claim a bonus and/or make a deposit in order to enjoy casino apps. You can play them for free as well (social casino apps).
Freak Tip
When it comes to making a deposit, you should start small. If you enjoy the games and are satisfied with the app, you can later on make multiple or bigger deposits, as opposed to making a big commitment from the start.
Step 7 - Choose a game and start playing
Now we reached the most exciting part: beginning to spin the reels at whatever game you like! You are free to browse through the operator's game portfolio and choose anything you want.
Keep in mind
You can only use new-player bonuses on specific games from an operator's portfolio. It's crucial to thoroughly review the terms and conditions to know which games are eligible.
Step 8 - Wager your bonus
Before you can cash in on any winnings you accumulated via the new-player bonus, you must complete its wagering requirements. These refer to the amount of funds you must bet before withdrawing.
Example
A demonstration of a wagering requirement would be 50 times the sum of your deposit and the bonus you receive. For instance, if you claim a bonus that doubles your initial deposit and deposit £10, you'll receive an additional £10 in your account. In this case, the wagering requirement would be 50 x (10+10) = 1000.
iPhone Casinos Responsible Gambling
Before ending the page, we must discuss the importance of playing responsibly. Freak emphasises always keeping in mind the “gaming” part of “gambling”, aka to play for fun in the first place.
The picture of yourself sipping your favourite drink while sitting comfortably in a flamingo floatie by the pool, looking over your £3 Million house, is an exciting visual. However, most players cannot attain this dream, and it shouldn’t lead to you ruining your life chasing a chimaera.
Set Up Gambling Limits Using Your Casino App
As this is a hot topic in the iGambling world, online casinos provide you with tools to take matters into your own hands and set up self-limits. Here are some responsible gambling measures you can take directly from your iPhone casino app:
- Deposit & Betting Limits: configure a monthly budget you want to stick to.
- Reality Checks: periodic in-game notifications that inform you about the time and funds recently spent on gambling.
- Breaks: disabled access on the casino platform for a short period, anywhere from 24 hours to 6 weeks. During this time, you cannot use the iPhone casino apps under any circumstances, and the option is irrevocable.
- Self-Exclusion: disabled access for an extended period, minimum 6 months up to a lifetime. You should opt for this if you feel like things are getting out of hand and a short break just won’t do.
Freak Tip
I recommend setting self-imposed limits even if you are new to this industry. By being responsible from the outset, you can prevent heading down the wrong path later on.
Restrict App Access Through Your Phone's Settings
Did you know that your iPhone also has built-in tools you can use to limit access to casino apps and websites? There are some nifty settings you can use to keep your gambling actions in check:
- Limit screen time for the application (this is very helpful when you find yourself losing track of time while gambling).
- Set up password-locked access to your casino apps (and make sure you forget the password in case you want to block your access indefinitely).
- Enable Guided Access mode to limit the way you can use the app (ex: turn off being able to make in-app purchases).
Tip
Sometimes, the temptation can be too big, and you cannot resist the urge to launch your favourite app and spin the reels a couple more times. If you cannot trust yourself to impose self-limits, let a dedicated app do it for you. You simply download and install it on your mobile, and it will block your access to the casino platform (Ex: BetBlocker).
Freak Tip
You can use one or multiple settings or tools to limit your access to casino apps. Combining them can prove effective, as adding another layer of inaccessibility might prevent you from falling prey to temptation.
Conclusion
If the idea of flexibility, intuitive interface, mobile-optimised graphics and sounds, and immediate access to your favourite games appeals to you, then you could give UK iPhone casino apps a try. With a diverse selection of available apps, you have the freedom to select the one that matches your individual preferences and requirements.