Many moons ago, it was a standard experience for a user to be required to download software from a site before they were able to play there. This has all changed now though, as more of these sites now offer an instant play option to make things better for their users.
These users are able to log into their accounts and play games in their browser now, instead of downloading. This has a massive range of benefits for the user but also for the casino site.
Space
The average casino now has at least a few hundred games, with some having many more than that. Some casinos come close to a thousand games within their site and if the user was forced to download them all, this would take up a lot of space. Even the casino site would suffer in this case, as downloading is much more data consuming than streaming games.
Using up this kind of space on a device can prove detrimental, as it can cause it to slow down and falter. This is why it’s vastly preferable to users to be able to play online, as they don’t need to clog up their device. The same can be said for mobile apps, as they had their heyday but now the emphasis is in browser based solutions.
Power
The power of these games is also on the rise, meaning that they cram in more features and bonuses than ever. With instant play, these games can be sped up and packaged better, without forcing users to constantly update their version.
This improves the game and the overall experience without users having to lift a finger, they may not even notice at the time. At one point in time, streaming games meant they had less power but these browser based options are catching up.
Security
No one likes to download lots of software packages from unknown sourced, for good reason. These can pose serious security risks to a device, so the best UK casinos online simply don’t require it. These software packages can include Trojan viruses, keyloggers or even ransomeware.
Not every user feels comfortable downloading software, especially if they have been duped in the past. If they don’t know about general online security then they may just steer clear of downloads altogether, as this is advice that many receive.
Time Concerns
No one likes waiting around for a game or update to download, as it can take a while. Even with a speedy internet connection and the best possible hardware, time is still taken to download and install this software. This obviously isn’t ideal, especially in the modern world where players are busier than ever.
In many cases, this can be enough of a deterrent to force users elsewhere. They simply don’t want to waste their time watching that download bar when they could play on another site with ease.
Mobile Optimisation
With HTML5 technology, sites can simply shift sizes to be playable on mobile. This is preferable to some players that just want to access a site through a browser on mobile and desktop. This is better than downloading one software package on a mobile and another on a desktop. Many download based casinos don’t even have a mobile option, which isn’t great as players feel like they’re missing out.
The way that we play these games has changed and sites that can’t keep up are left in the dust. Instant play drastically improves the experience of the average user in all these ways and more. After all, that’s what it’s all about anyway.