Thursday, 9 February 2012
Most online casinos out there today offer different ways to play - either through a downloadable casino or through an instant play casino. These two methods of play differ in a lot of ways, from the software to the speed and quality of the games.
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Fortunately, members of online casinos that offer both methods can pick whichever works best for their play style, but there are still some casinos that don't offer a choice, so it is important to know the differences between the two.
Downloadable Software
This method was the standard for many years. Games are played using a casino software program that the player must download and install onto their computer before they can access the games.
Usually, the initial download is not the whole software - it's only a small program that starts another, larger download. Even when the larger download is finished, not all games are immediately available, but instead are downloaded separately as they are requested by the player, or in the background as other games are being enjoyed.
Playing in a downloadable casino software has one major advantage - games are faster and more stable, and they sometimes have better graphics, sounds, and animations than their no downlaod counterparts. The game selection is often much larger as well. The disadvantage is that players can only use downloadable software on computers where they are allowed to download and install software.
No Download or Instant Play Software
Instant play casino software does not require downloads. All that is required is a computer with an up-to-date web browser and an internet connection. This means that no download casinos can be accessed from just about anywhere - at internet cafes, from work, in hotel lobbies, and so on.
There are, however, some limitations to these no download casinos. The software they use, usually Flash or Java, is limited in what it can do. This means games in Instant-Play casinos aren't always as fancy (in terms of graphics, sounds, and animations) as you find in downloadable casinos. However, there are notable software makers, like WagerWorks and Net Entertainment, who have superb graphics even though they offer a no download casino software platform.
Also, since all the graphics and everything have to come through the internet, they can be slower. Furthermore, instant play casinos often offer far fewer games than downloadable casinos do.
It's up to the player to weigh the pros and cons of each method, and to decide which one to use. Again, many online casinos offer both, so players can use whichever one is best at that moment. Casinos that only offer one or the other can have their disadvantages, so always check the kind of software is being offered before signing up.
For those interested solely in instant play casinos please refer to our reviewed instant play casinos. Otherwise you can browse through 100+ online casino reviews that have both downloadable and instant play casino platforms.
