Click through the appPicker Hot Apps and won’t have to scroll too long before you stumble upon a game. Regardless of the mobile device you own, there will be a mobile game or two for you to try. In fact, according to the statistics, games are the most plentiful option when it comes to mobile software. Statista has calculated that there are currently more than 2.1 billion mobile gamers spending $40.6 billion/£29.2 billion per year on app-based content. Looking forward into the future, researchers at Newzoo expect this figu.re to increase, with mobile platforms controlling more than 50% of the gaming industry’s total revenue by 2020.
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Essentially, we live in an age where gaming on the go has become more than a phrase, it’s become a cultural norm and that’s led to some interesting developments. Today, the online casino industry has fully embraced mobile technology, with virtually all of the top-rated operators offering apps or optimised websites. However, as mobile gaming has become more normalised, we’re starting to see brands take a slightly different approach. Instead of separating their products into live and online, a process of consolidation and homogenisation has taken place. An example of this is London’s Hippodrome Casino.
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Opened in 2012, inside Leicester Square’s historic Hippodrome, this casino has become one of the UK’s top live venues in recent years. However, more importantly, it’s also become a leading light in the mobile area thanks to a mobile app that combines online and offline action.
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Live Casino Embraces the Virtual World
The majority of new casinos start out online and remain there. In contrast, the Hippodrome has branched out and worked to integrate its live platform into its virtual one. This merging of its assets has led to the development of a casino app that offers a variety of entertainment options. In the first instance, the Hippodrome apps are available for iOS devices, including the iPhone and the iPad. Once the software has been installed, the first feature of note is the casino games section.
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Taking the best selection of games from its desktop casino, the Hippodrome mobile app offers 55 free play and real money games, including progressive jackpot slots with £1 million+ jackpots. What’s interesting about these games is that they not only tie in with the ones offered at Hippodrome’s online casino, but it’s live venue. A certain number of slots are available online and offline, but the most impressive crossover is the live casino section. As well as live dealer products built specifically for online operators by companies such as Microgaming, the Hippodrome app connects to the brand’s London venue. Thanks to a live feed broadcasting directly from the casino’s gaming floor, users can enjoy roulette and blackjack as if they were actually there.
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Beyond the Hippodrome’s slots, the company also offers alternative “slot specific” apps from the likes of MyVegas and Konami. Available for iOS and Android devices, these apps not only increase the range of games you can play, they allow you to earn reward points. These points can then be used to claim freebies and gifts inside the Hippodrome’s London casino. Finally, this ability to play on your mobile and earn real life rewards is complemented by a more traditional bonus system. As well as giving you access to an online casino welcome bonus worth up to £1,000, the Hippodrome’s app provides ongoing loyalty incentives, which can be used both inside the app or the company’s live casino.
An App that Offers More than Games
The final feature of note is the ability to do more than just play games. This, in reality, is the main example of how gaming apps are evolving. Unlike the 101-in-1 games app where all you can do is play 145 different games, the Hippodrome’s product allows you to do the following:
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- Browse the casino’s various dining options (including Heliot Steak House).
- Check the entertainment guide.
- Buy tickets for shows.
- Reserve a table at one of the venue’s restaurants.
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Basically, if there’s something going on in the London casino, you can access it via the app and, most importantly, interact with it. To put it another way, what this operator has done is to combine its gaming products with a booking service similar to dining apps such as OpenTable. Compared to other casino and gaming apps, this something unique.
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By creating an unbreakable connection between its online and offline facilities, the Hippodrome has created an “entertainment experience” rather than a simple gaming app. For consumers, this is obviously a good thing. However, it’s also a sign of the times. As gaming apps continue to grow and evolve, we’re likely to see more crossover developments. Therefore, when it comes to offering a comprehensive and cutting-edge product, it’s hard to deny that the Hippodrome apps aren’t among top picks in the casino sector.
