Online casino games can either be played instantly or downloaded and then played.
The first option is what we call ‘instant play’ casino gaming, while the second option is known as ‘download casino’ software.
Download casinos used to be very popular, but instant play casinos – with the advent of Flash technology – quickly changed the tide, offering players quicker and easier access to the game.
Today, however, the tide seems to be turning again, thanks to downloadable mobile casino apps.
In this guide, you'll learn more about the pros and cons of each type, as well as the main differences between them. You'll find out the best way to download casino software and what else you need to play online.
Download vs Instant Play: Guide
There are two main types of gaming platforms or ways to access casino games online: either by downloading the games or by playing instantly.
The first option is to download a gaming platform from the official website onto your device. This used to mean downloading to your computer, but today there are also options to download to tablets and smartphones.
The other option is a web browser-based gaming platform where you can simply launch casino games. In other words, a standard website that offers casino games that can be played instantly with a simple click.
Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, as you will see in a moment. Here you will find more detailed instructions for download and instant play casinos.
Download Casinos
A download casino is an online casino where you can download the software to your computer (or other device). If you want to play the games, you must first download the software, install it, register and then play.
You must download the entire file, as there is no option to download only part of the lobby. Once downloaded, the lobby consists of all the games available in the web-based version of the casino.
With a download casino, all the content is on your hard drive so you can play offline. However, if you want to play for real money, you still need to connect to the server via the internet.
It’s easy to understand why. The game app runs from your computer, but the financial and game results must be recorded on the online casino's server.
Nowadays, download casinos are no longer so common, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Thanks to technological advances, Flash casinos (Instant Play casinos) and then HTML5 were the most popular.
In recent years, however, mobile apps have gained attention, and a number of successful casino brands have launched their casino apps for Android and iOS devices.
However, casino apps are not the same as download casinos. They are similar, and although they mean something similar, the casino download is a slightly older practice that is not as prevalent today.
How Download Casinos Work
Cherry Jackpot Casino is one of the few remaining casinos that offer a downloadable lobby that you can download to your desktop computer.
The process itself is quite simple. You just need to visit the website, download the setup by clicking a button and then run the program installation.
Once the installation is complete, you will see it on your desktop. During installation, an icon is placed on the desktop.
This makes it easier for you to find the lobby.
Here you can see what the installation process looks like.
Instant Play Casinos
Instant play casinos, also known as no download casinos or Flash casinos, are online casinos that allow players to play games instantly.
As this is probably the easiest way to play online, it is widespread and the standard method for betting on the internet.
However, this was not always the case. Instant play casinos became popular thanks to Flash technology when they were still referred to as Flash casinos. Flash technology is now very, very outdated, and most online casinos run on HTML5.
When no-download casinos emerged, they changed the way we access gambling on the internet, allowing players to access content faster and easier.
The games are played directly in the browser, without you having to visit other pages or websites or be redirected anywhere. You don’t waste time downloading and installing hundreds of games when you want to play a single game. Instead, they are all there, right at your fingertips.
This expansion of access has also increased the gaming space, as it has allowed game manufacturers to produce more games and casinos to offer more games. Because of this, there are now thousands of games in a single casino lobby.
Instant play casinos may be more convenient and accessible, but modern players want to play on the go. And since playing on the go is not possible on a desktop, the focus has shifted to mobile apps.
How Instant Play Casinos Work
Instant play casinos are infinitely easier to play at than download casinos.
For starters, you do not have to download any software.
You can simply visit the website you want and register or log in to your existing account. Then select the game you want in the lobby and play.
The game then runs directly in the browser. Of course, you must be connected to the server in order to play.
You can play with any browser, from Chrome to Mozilla, Safari, Opera, etc.
This is what a typical casino lobby looks like when you visit it from your desktop. You can get a similar look and feel on both desktop and mobile browsers.
Pros & Cons of Download Casinos
Even if you have to wait some time for the entire game suite to download and install on your computer, it does offer some advantages. There are actually several advantages to using a downloadable gaming platform.
When online casinos emerged in the mid-1990s, they operated exclusively with download casinos.
Back then, internet speeds were not yet fast enough to transmit video movements of gaming features such as spinning slot machines.
Because of this advantage, the number of games in download casinos was much greater than in instant play casinos. Many of the first games are still not available in instant play format. This larger selection used to be an advantage for download casinos, but today the situation is exactly the opposite. Instant play casinos have more games on offer, all of which are available immediately.
Download casinos are safe. This is a big advantage of online casino software that is downloaded to your device – you don’t have to worry about security.
The only thing you need to worry about is device compatibility. Fortunately, most casinos rely on native apps developed for both Android and iOS for modern mobile casino apps, so this is not a problem. If you are using older software, please make sure it is compatible with your operating system version.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Some older games can only be downloaded | ❎ Device compatibility can be an issue |
| ✅ Secure and safe | ❎ Fewer games than instant play sites |
| ✅ Easy to download and install | ❎ Limited to single computer |
| ✅ Modern download casinos are apps | ❎ Not many casinos support downloads |
Pros & Cons of Instant Play Casinos
As there is no software or content to download, the time between visiting a casino and starting a game is much shorter.
In other words, you can get to the games of your choice more quickly and easily. Tech-savvy players may find it easy to download and install content, but there are also players for whom this is a challenge.
What's more, you do not use up any storage space on your device, no hard drive space is wasted, no matter how many casinos you want to visit today.
Another big advantage of instant play sites is device compatibility. Simply put, you do not have to worry about whether your device is compatible with the games. All casino games can be easily launched on browsers, no matter what operating system you have.
The same goes for mobile casinos, i.e. those that do not have an app but are mobile-friendly. You can visit them and enjoy any type of game without worrying about whether it is suitable for your iPhone or Android device.
The biggest drawback is the fact that they are not portable. If you play on your computer, you are tied to the computer and that’s it. Fortunately, mobile instant play sites make things easier by allowing you to access games and play instantly, even when you are on the go.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Faster access to games | ❎ Requires a stable internet connection |
| ✅ Widely used, popular everywhere | ❎ Not available offline like download software |
| ✅ Compatible with all OS and devices | ❎ Not very portable unless played on mobile |
| ✅ Play games from different providers | ❎ Graphics can suffer a bit |
Conclusion
Not many casinos support download and instant play. Almost all gambling sites have limited themselves to instant play games, but a growing number of them offer mobile apps.
So, which is the better option? How do you know which to choose?
You can play at any casino, but our advice is to try both versions and then test a downloadable mobile casino app on your smartphone. Frankly, the advantages that download casinos used to have are now slowly dwindling as they are being surpassed by either instant play or mobile app casinos.
FAQ
- Are download casinos better than instant play?
Download casino software – at least the traditional format – is now outdated. Players prefer instant play casinos because the games are available immediately. But, mobile casino apps are becoming very popular form, too.
- What are the benefits of playing at a download casino?
Download casinos are secure and the games are available even when you are in offline mode. Some download casinos also offer a larger downloadable portfolio than in browser mode.
- What are the benefits of instant play sites?
The main advantage is the immediate availability of the games. Also, the game catalogue is bigger as you get more games. It’s easier, faster and better overall.
- Are instant play casinos secure?
Yes, both instant play and download casinos are safe. Before you register, please make sure that the casino owns a license and fulfils the relevant licensing guidelines.
- Can I download the casino software for free?
Yes, downloading casino software is free of charge. Both apps and desktop software packages are free to obtain and install.
- Can I play the same games in both download and instant play casinos?
This depends on the type of content you are playing, as well as the casino whose content you are trying to download. However, in most cases, playing downloaded games and browser-based games means the portfolio is the same.
- Which option is better for mobile devices?
mobile players can choose to either download apps or play directly from mobile browsers. Both ways have their pros and cons, so it’s up to the player to pick which one is more suitable for them. But overall, both are great.
- Can I still claim a welcome bonus if I download software to my desktop?Bottom of Form
Yes, you can. Check with the casino to see what kind of offer is at your disposal once you register to become a new player.
