It might be odd to think about given how far the mobile world of casino gaming has come, but there was a time when digital casinos were confined to desktops and laptops. Since that era, mobiles have become the preferred way to play for many, with some players avoiding desktop play entirely.
Today, the mobile casino arena is seeing a new entry that promises to further shake up the status quo with the introduction of a new form of access via folding phones.
The evolution of online casinos is a natural part of how they do business. Rapid developments in the digital landscape often necessitate exploring new ideas and approaches, where the advantages of doing something new can be too profound to ignore. Could this be the case with folding devices, or will these new platforms ultimately prove an evolutionary dead end?
What are Folding Phones?
Folding phones are a type of mobile device not much larger than a typical slate-style phone when closed. These can then open like books, with a flexible screen providing what is essentially double the screen size of a traditional device. Folding phones first made headlines with early Samsung project demos, in what would eventually become the Galaxy Fold line. The larger screen size of a folding system provides much greater visual real estate, placing their usable area just below that of a tablet.
The State of the Modern Casino Market
Before exploring the different elements of folding phones in detail, we could consider how they interact with the existing modern online casino industry. Consider if you connect to a comparison website to track down bonuses and specials like free spins and deposit matches before jumping in. On a folding phone, the extra area provides more space for services like Casino Classic and Quatro Casino to be compared.
The website could also be zoomed easier in for a closer look at the games listed and minimum betting elements. Combined, these would increase the ease of use for systems like casino rewards, casino lists and free spins offers, for a more convenient and attractive entry into the digital betting landscape.
The Benefits of a Folding Approach
The most obvious advantages of folding phones come directly from the advantages of larger displays. Double the screen size of a traditional platform means increased visibility, which is easier on the eyes and advantageous to anyone with visual concerns. More screen size also provides better potential for multitasking, which platforms like the Galaxy Fold include extra functionality to facilitate.
A folding phone like this could thus provide additional opportunities for players to enjoy their game on one half of the screen while watching a video stream on the other half. Players engaging in multiplayer with their friends could also use one half of their screen for video chat in a title like poker, to help with the banter for which poker is famous.
More screen size also ensures that folding platforms are easier to control. Larger buttons mean you’re less likely to hit the wrong thing, with fewer accidental touches resulting. For players with dexterity issues, the advantages here are even more pronounced.
Indirectly, owning a folding phone cause also reduces the need that a user has for a tablet device since the folding phone could cover the same ground. It wouldn’t be a perfect fit for all users, but for those happy with a smaller screen than a larger tablet, a folding phone could save money on purchasing an entirely new piece of technology.
It’s Not Either Or
One thing to note with folding phones is that while they are growing in popularity, with an IDC forecasting a CAGR of 27.6% from 2022 to 2027, they won’t replace other forms of access. Just like mobile didn’t eradicate desktop and laptop players, even if folding phones ever become more popular, they won’t eliminate the functionality of slate-style play.
The ultimate conclusion here is that yes, for some players, folding phones will prove a superior way to play for many users. This doesn’t mean it will work for all users, however, as their higher costs and slightly larger sizes mean they’re not just a simple step up. Instead, we can expect these to demonstrate another arm in the growing market.
Just as how tablets and smartphones revolutionized the market, we might one day see folding phones illustrate a new normal. Even if they don’t, a greater level of choice is something all players should be able to get behind.
