The online casino and sports betting industry has undergone a major evolution in the past decade. Back in 2015, most gambling happened on desktop computers and laptops. Fast-forward to 2025 and mobile apps now dominate the market.
However, desktop gambling still retains some advantages over mobile. This article compares and contrasts desktop and mobile online casino gaming and betting in 2025. Discover the changes that have led more users to opt for mobile, but also cases where the desktop still rules.
Rise of Mobile Casino Apps
In 2025 an incredible 92% of online gambling happens through mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Back in 2016, only 36% of online casino gaming revenue came from mobile play.
Several key factors have enabled this rapid growth of mobile online gambling apps and sites like Mr Play:
- Improved technology – Modern mobiles now have better processors, bigger screens and improved graphics and connectivity compared to a decade ago. This allows a smoother gaming experience equivalent to a desktop.
- More apps – Where once limited gambling apps were available, now Apple’s App Store and Google Play offer thousands of real money gaming options optimized for iOS and Android.
- Changing habits – Younger millennials and Gen Z consumers reaching legal gambling age are “mobile natives”, comfortable playing games and betting via smartphones and tablets.
This combination of technological improvements and generational changes in habits has fueled a massive 517% growth in mobile online casino and sportsbook revenue since 2014. By 2026, apps are projected to make $125 billion globally from bets placed on mobile devices.
| Year | Mobile Casino/Betting Revenue | Increase |
| 2014 | $20 billion | – |
| 2026 (projected) | $125 billion | 517% |
So for most gambling companies today, developing user-friendly, full-featured iOS and Android apps optimized for the latest devices is now essential to remain competitive. Many brands even optimize primarily for mobile users first before desktop.
Why Desktop Gambling Still Matters
However, while the momentum has clearly shifted to mobile gambling apps, wagering and playing games via desktops and laptops is far from dead.
These are cases where desktops retain advantages over mobile:
Larger Screens
For visually complex games like live online poker, live dealer table games or video slots with intensive graphics and animations, bigger screens allow an immersive experience. Even larger phone screens max out at 6.7 inches diagonally, while desktops and laptops often exceed 20 inches.
Multi-Tabling
Serious online poker players, sports bettors and other gamblers who use analytics and track data intensively prefer the ability to open multiple windows and tabs. This allows checking statistics and reading analysis while playing games or monitoring odds. Compact mobile phone screens make this far harder.
Computing Power
While mobile processors and graphics chips continue improving impressively, top-end desktop computers still outperform mobiles. For gamers who want the highest visual fidelity and frame rates for a seamless experience, that requires gaming PCs, not smartphones.
Avoiding Mobile Fraud
Unfortunately, the explosion of mobile online gambling apps also enables more cyber fraud. Dodgy apps can secretly sign up users for subscriptions, install malware or sell user data. Wary gamblers avoiding shady mobile apps may prefer sticking to desktop sites from brands they trust.
Future of Online Gambling Tech
While nobody can predict exactly how online casino gaming and sports betting may evolve by 2030, here are two likely directions that emerging technologies may enable:
- Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality integration – Imagine playing poker, slots or roulette in interactive, immersive VR environments against other real players or sports betting odds that overlay onto live games using AR glasses.
- Faster 5G connections – As 5G cellular networks continue blanketing major urban areas over this decade, lower latency connections will keep improving mobile gambling apps, allowing instantaneous responses equivalent to desktop experiences.
Over the past decade, online betting has been revolutionized by the rise of mobile apps. And while desktop iGaming still retains strengths today, smartphones and tablets will likely dominate even more by 2030. But future innovations like VR gaming and 5G connectivity could enable online gambling experiences we can currently only imagine.
The technology enabling wagering games and sportsbooks will never stop evolving. So for those in both legal and regulated markets, the next level of online entertainment is always one tap or click away!
