Android betting apps aren’t so much the future of online betting as they are the present. Here’s your full guide to choosing the best ones, downloading them, opening an account via one, knowing which bonuses you can claim via them, and the pros and cons of using them.
We have never been as dependent on our mobile phones and their apps as we are now. For example, most customers now use betting apps on their phones, rather than laptops or desktops, to deposit, place bets, stream events, withdraw and do everything else. But are some Android betting apps better than others?
Of course, they are. Let’s look at which factors we consider when deciding on the best Android betting apps, the bonuses you can claim on them, the pros and cons of betting apps on Android and other vital information about them.
How to Choose the Best Betting App for Android
The first thing to say is that picking the best sports betting sites, in general, is half the battle when it comes to picking the best betting apps for Android. Not only are many of the factors that make a good betting site the same as those that make a good betting app, but smart money is on the best sportsbooks having high-quality stand-alone betting apps for Android anyway. Let’s consider some of the key factors.
Sports to Bet on and Available Markets
Every betting site offers the most obvious and mainstream sports, such as football, horse racing and tennis. But do they also offer surfing, bowls, badminton and chess for fans of those niche sports? They’d better, or at least the specific ones you most want.
And that’s only half the story. They also need to offer the individual markets you like to play the most. So, if it’s handicap markets you enjoy, whether for football, tennis or basketball, then they need plenty of handicap markets. If it’s cross-sport accas and Bet Builders that float your boat, they need to have a good product for those, too.
Live Betting Option
Live betting isn’t exactly new but the sheer number of sports you can bet live on, the volume of in-play markets per sport and variety of live-streamed events is very much on the up. And that’s without mentioning the introduction of new options like live betting Bet Builders adding yet another layer to the in-play betting world.
The best betting apps for Android have kept up to date with the increase in the number of sports and markets within those sports in in-play betting while laying competitive odds and not keeping their markets suspended for long during inevitable suspensions of the market. The best ones have also integrated their Cash Out feature nicely with their live betting, so you can use Cash Out on most in-play events, also with minimum disruption.
Security
It’s part and parcel of playing on betting apps for Android users that you’re going to win some bets and lose others. What’s not part and parcel of the experience is to feel that you’re not playing at a secure sportsbook.
A secure betting site or sports betting app is one that protects your personal data and money from third parties being able to access it, ensures your payments end up where they should (the betting account for deposits, your own bank account or e-wallet, for example for withdrawals) rather than somewhere else, pays customers out on their winnings, and operates ‘by the book’ in general.
A good starting point as regards security is if the sports betting apps Android hold the UK Gambling Commission License or the Malta Gaming Authority one, plus the other relevant safety certificates.
Bonuses and Promotions
One of the key elements of our sportsbook reviews in terms of what customers are most interested in is the welcome bonus on offer, plus further promotions down the line that customers can claim.
The welcome bonus should be something that most players actually want, that provides real value and gives players a chance to bank some funds early on in their experience of using Android betting apps, preferably with low wagering requirements on those winnings. Or no wagering requirements at all.
Further promos should be varied in terms of what’s on offer, frequent and easy to claim, while either being available to use on all sports or ones that apply to different sports, rather than always having to be used on the same ones. As always, the lower the wagering requirements on winnings from the bonuses, the better.
On-Site Content and Customer Service
A good starting point in terms of great on-site content is to have a blog that includes such things as educational guides on how to bet on different sports and betting markets, previews of big sporting events and knowledgeable betting tips. Podcasts or active social media accounts with news of such things as upcoming promos or site outages are a positive, too.
A good set of Frequently Asked Questions with comprehensive answers is also extremely valuable in terms of getting your queries answered without having to resort to Customer Service (CS).
And if you really do still need to contact CS, they need to be polite, knowledgeable and, above all, efficient when it comes to solving your problems. It should also be available almost 24/7 and is contactable by different methods, such as phone, e-mail, Live Chat, and social media.
Sports Betting Bonuses for Android Users
When opening an account at betting apps for Android users, there’s generally a good welcome offer up for grabs as a reward for signing up with them, with other betting bonuses also available beyond that welcome offer. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Free bets: Offered as a bonus to both new and existing customers, these are probably the most frequent form of bonus at sportsbooks right now. Customers are given a relatively small amount of cash - say £10 or £20 as a welcome offer, £2 or £5 as an ongoing offer – to either place on a particular event, or any event of their choice. The free bet is paid for by the Android betting apps and may or may not be dependent on you doing something, like making a deposit or placing a qualifying bet, to be awarded it.
- Risk-free bets: The difference between these and free bets is that the former needs to be paid for by the customer. You’ll need to have available funds with which to place the risk-free bet, and if it goes on to win, you’ll be paid out as usual. If it loses, you’ll be refunded the value of your bet, either in cash or as a free bet to use in the future.
- Odds boost: A somewhat recent but increasingly popular form of bonus. The best android betting apps will increase the odds on popular selections to attract more business. All the better for you because you’ll get bigger than usual payouts if the bet goes on to win, with no downside to it.
Pros & Cons of Android Betting Apps
Using Android betting apps for your betting activities comes with its advantages and disadvantages, just like every other thing you consider exploring. These are the pros and cons you can consider before making your decision:
Pros:
- Place bets, execute transactions and do everything else ‘on the go’ wherever you are.
- Quality of live streaming pictures is now extremely high in general, though that may of course depend on the specific phone you have.
- Get real-time notifications about big upcoming events or special bonuses on offer straight via the app.
- Occasionally, bonuses that can only be claimed by Android app users are available.
- Features like face recognition and Touch ID mean they’re safe to use and very unlikely your betting account can be hacked, even if your phone is lost or stolen.
Cons:
Some outdated versions of phones may not allow you to download certain betting apps for Android, though the same is also true of iOS betting apps.
- Depending on the country you’re in, Google Play may stop you from downloading certain betting apps.
- Using your phone can be a bit fiddlier than a laptop for such things as sending e-mails to Customer Service.
- Phones with smaller screens may limit your enjoyment of live streaming.
How to Download Betting Apps for Android
You won’t get very far without having the sportsbook’s app on your phone to begin with, so if you are looking to download betting apps for Android, here’s what to do:
- Choose a betting site from the Ask Gamblers’ list of recommended sportsbooks.
- On your Android mobile or tablet, click on the notification on the site to download the Android app if one appears.
- You will be redirected to the Google Play store; or you can just go to the Google Play store directly to begin with.
- If necessary, enter the name of the betting app in the Search bar, e.g. Paddy Power or Betfair.
- Hit the green ‘Install’ button to start downloading.
- Once it’s finished downloading, it will appear on your device’s list of apps and is ready for you to use it.
An alternative is to click on the Android logo on the website and download the app from an APK file directly from the bookmaker’s site.
Sign-Up Process for Android Betting App
Once you’ve downloaded the Android app of your chosen sportsbook, you’ll need to sign up and deposit if you want to play for real money. The process is pretty much exactly the same as if you were on a laptop, but here’s a reminder anyway.
- Click on the Sign-Up/Register button on the betting app for Android.
- Enter your personal details such as name, address, e-mail and mobile number.
- Choose a username and password that’s unique but that you’re likely to remember.
- If prompted, provide documents such as a copy of your passport, driver’s licence, bank statement or utility bill, which the betting site will need in order to verify you as a customer.
- Check out the site’s Welcome Offer as it may affect how much you need to deposit first or which payment method you need to use to claim the welcome offer.
- Make a deposit accordingly.
Our Final Thoughts on Android Betting Apps
Betting on your mobile is nothing new, but the vast majority of sportsbooks have come on leaps and bounds over the last few years when it comes to developing mobile apps (and offering them to their customers) that do a job that’s just as good, in many cases better, than what you can do from your laptop or desktop.
You can now open an account, deposit and withdraw, place bets, watch live streams, read on-site content, accept bonuses and do everything else with the added advantage that you are, well, fully ‘mobile’ when doing it.
Everyone will have their own preference for either iOS or Android in general. But while there’s little difference in terms of the quality of sports betting apps on one or the other, there’s no doubt that Android betting apps are the cheaper option simply because iOS devices tend to be more expensive, to begin with.
