If you use an operating system other than Windows, the compatibility of online casino sites is an important thing to consider. Anyone running a Mac, Linux or Ubuntu OS is likely to run into compatibility issues at some point. So with that in mind, we have compiled a list of casino sites that are compatible with each of the major operating systems.
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Windows is excluded from this list because every online casino site is compatible with Windows. These casinos and any other casino you try are all going to work with a traditional Windows PC. What makes the above sites different is that they have options that work with all major operating systems. More specifically, each one has an instant-play option that works on any computer connected to the internet.
The trick is just to find sites with no-download games. If you visit the website of any major gambling operator, the odds are you’ll see an “instant play” or “play now” link somewhere. Instant play software is very common today so you won’t have too much trouble finding a place to play no matter which OS you have.
This leads to my next point: almost every casino today has an instant play option. Therefore, the only thing you need to worry about is finding a quality casino site. Go with any of the best online casinos and the odds are the one you pick will work on your OS.
How Compatible Casinos are Ranked
In our search for the best online casinos, I rounded up a bunch of well-known casinos and made sure they all have a no-download option for players. I then ranked those sites according to their reputations, game offering, software and promotions.
The brands recommended on this website are all considered safe places to play. That is always the first thing I look at when choosing online casinos for any top list. If a casino has a reputation for security breaches, slow payments or predatory terms and conditions, I refuse to recommend it. Nothing else matters if you can’t even trust the casino in the first place.
Out of my list of trusted casino sites, I assign rankings according to the factors mentioned above. What we end up with is a list of casino sites that are compatible with each operating system and are easy to get started at. Once you sign up for an account at one of these online casino sites, you’ll be playing real money games in no time.
Mobile Casino Sites
Mobile compatibility is starting to become one of those must-have features for any mainstream operator. Online casinos are reporting increasing numbers of wagers placed via mobile devices year after year. In fact, a good number of you are probably reading these very words from a smartphone or tablet right now.
The industry still has some work to do in this regard, but I do have a few sites to recommend that have mobile-friendly casino games. Of the brands that do boast mobile compatibility, the majority do so via mobile versions of their software. All you have to do is point your phone or tablet to the casino’s website and you’ll be served the mobile version automatically.
From there, the games are accessed online without downloading anything. Sign in to your account and you’ll be able to play anywhere you have access to the internet. Just make sure you don’t use public WiFi hot spots to log in to your account. If all you have access to is a public network, you can ensure your information remains safe from prying eyes by using a VPN service. Basically, VPNs create a secure tunnel between you and any website you visit.
Mobile Casino Apps
Most casinos don’t have full-fledged apps for casino games. You might find apps for sports betting and horse racing, but apps for regular gaming are rare. Most casinos prefer to just offer instant play games for their mobile customers.
A part of the reason for such a lack of casino apps is the complexity of international gambling law. The major app stores are reluctant to approve gambling-related apps for this very reason. Casinos that do most of their business in the UK are the most likely to have actual apps. Casinos that serve other parts of the world (especially the US) are much less likely to have an approved app in any of the major app stores.
It’s also just easier to offer instant play games rather than devote resources to designing an app that works with multiple games. Sites can take their existing no-download games and reformat them for smaller screens with a lot less effort than building an app from the ground up.
Read more about mobile online casinos here.
Further Reading
Online casino sites do not offer Mac, Linux or Ubuntu friendly software packages. What they offer instead are browser-based access. These casinos are called “Flash” or “no-download” casinos. They don’t require you to download and install any gaming software. All you do is log in and play.
No-download games are a great alternative because they work with any computer that can access the internet. The graphics aren’t quite as good as you’ll find with download casinos, but the difference is negligible. On the positive side, you gain portability with no-download casino sites. You can login and play for real money from any computer in the world provided you have an internet connection. There is one more option out there for the more computer-inclined players. If you really want to download an online casino and get the full experience, you can use an emulator to run Windows programs on your Mac, Linux or Ubuntu. You can also dual-boot your computer with both Windows and your preferred operating system, but that requires a bit more know-how than just playing online. However, I think you’ll find it best to just do it the easy way and try instant play casino sites as an option. Technology has come a long ways since the first no-download gambling sites hit the scene and now, instant play games are almost indistinguishable from their full download counterparts.
Mac Casino Sites: Mac is a widely used operating system but online casinos have yet to offer Mac-friendly software. That’s not a major issue though, because Mac computers can access no-download casinos just like anyone else and play for real money. See this page for a list of the best Mac sites.
Linux Casino Sites: Linux is a great, lightweight OS and is favored by a small and computer-savvy group of users. If you have a Linux and need a new online casino, any site on this page will do the trick. These sites are well established in the gambling world and will always pay you your winnings.
Ubuntu Casino Sites: Ubuntu is closely related to Linux but it counts as its own operating system. Any no-download casino will work just as well on Ubuntu as it will on any other OS.
Wes Burns co-founded OnlineCasinoSites.com with a mission to help gamblers understand and navigate the regulated online casino market in all countries around the world. Wes is a respected gambling journalist, working in the industry since 2008.