A web app is a website that behaves like an app: you open it in a browser such as Safari or Chrome, sign in and use it without installing anything. For casino players, the web app is simply the operator's mobile site, offering the same account and games without taking up storage or needing a particular iOS version.
A web app runs in your phone's browser, so there's nothing to install.
The casino's licence, age checks and UK game design rules apply exactly as they do in a store app.
There's no store review, age rating or privacy label, so check the operator yourself.
A browser can be the practical route when a phone is too old for the app's minimum iOS version.
Runs in
A web browser (Safari, Chrome and others)
Install needed
No
Store review
None
UK rules
Same as the store app
Web app: what the term means
The phrase covers any website built to be used rather than just read. Online banking in a browser is a web app; so is a casino's mobile site, where you log in, deposit and open games without visiting a store. The code sits on the operator's servers and loads each time you visit.
That makes it the opposite of a native app, which you install from the App Store or Google Play. Between the two sits the progressive web app, a website that can be pinned to your home screen and opened like an app. All three are listed in our casino app glossary.
Casino web app vs store app
Browser casino vs installed casino app
Point
Web app (browser)
Store app
Getting started
Type the address or follow a bookmark
Search the store and install
Phone storage
Next to none, apart from browser cache
25.4 MB to 112.3 MB for our partners on iPhone
Minimum iOS
Whatever the browser supports
Set by the app, for example iOS 18.0 for Coral
Updates
Live as soon as the site changes
Installed through the store
Store age rating and privacy label
Not shown
Shown on the listing
Sign-in
Password, or the browser's saved login
Password, plus biometrics where the app supports them
The Gambling Commission's technical standards apply to remote gambling whatever screen it reaches. A browser site is held to the same game design rules as an app.
UK rules that apply to both browser and app play
Rule
What it requires
In force from
Age and identity checks
Verification before you can gamble
7 May 2019
Slot design
No autoplay, no turbo or slam stop, at least 2.5 seconds per spin
31 October 2021
Other casino games
No autoplay, at least 5 seconds per game cycle, one game at a time
17 January 2025
Slot stake limits
£5 per spin for 25 and over, £2 for 18 to 24
9 April and 21 May 2025
Net spend and time
Shown in real time during play
17 January 2025
Bonus wagering
No more than 10x the bonus
19 January 2026
There's also a rule aimed at full-screen play. RTS 13 (opens in a new tab) says that where a game hides the device clock, it must show the time of day or the time elapsed. It also lets you set how often a reality check appears.
When a casino web app makes more sense
Your phone is older. Coral and Ladbrokes need iOS 18.0 or later on iPhone. If yours can't update, the browser avoids that barrier. See casino apps on older phones.
Storage is full. A browser session doesn't need 100 MB of free space.
You want fewer prompts. A site can't send app-style notifications unless you allow them in the browser.
You'd rather not keep a casino icon on your home screen. Some people find that makes it easier to stick to limits.
The trade-offs run the other way too. A browser tab can be closed by accident, saved logins depend on your browser's settings, and features such as Casumo's Face ID sign-in are described in its app listing rather than for its website.
How to use a casino web app safely
Type the casino's address yourself or use a bookmark, rather than tapping links in messages.
Check the operator's name and licence number in the site footer against the Gambling Commission's register.
Sign in on a private network rather than public Wi-Fi where you can.
Set a deposit limit when prompted before your first deposit.
Sign out when you finish, especially on a shared device.
Partner casinos: browser or app, the offer terms are the same
The welcome offers below are tied to your account, not to whether you joined in a browser or an app; PlayOJO's must be claimed through its designated offer link. All are 18+, new customers only, and terms apply.
Coral (1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027): make a deposit and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins worth 10p each on selected games. Accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days; winnings carry no wagering. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
Ladbrokes: after depositing, spend £10 or more on slots to receive 50 free spins daily for 10 days, up to 500, valued at 10p on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day; spins expire after 7 days and have no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers are excluded.
PlayOJO: deposit at least £10 for the first time and get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p, paid out as cash with no wagering. New UK customers only, not Northern Ireland; one offer at a time.
Spin offers are for slots. Table and live games are usually excluded from them, and play costs money over time.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a web app?
A web app is a website designed to be used like an app, opened in a browser rather than installed from a store. You sign in, use features and save data through the site itself. A casino's mobile site is a web app: the same account, cashier and games, with nothing downloaded to your phone beyond normal browser files. See our definition of a native app for the installed alternative.
Is a casino web app safe?
It's as safe as the operator behind it. A licensed UK casino must follow the same Gambling Commission rules on its website as in its app, including age checks and game design limits. The difference is that no store reviews a website, so check the licence yourself and type the address rather than following message links. Our guide to whether casino apps are safe lists the checks.
Do I need to download an app to play at an online casino?
No. Licensed casinos also run websites that work in a phone browser, using the same account as the app. Downloading the app is a choice, not a requirement, and it costs storage and needs a recent enough iOS version. For some players the browser is simply easier. Our answer on whether you need an app to play at an online casino explains the trade-offs.
Are the games in a casino web app the same as in the app?
Usually the library is broadly similar, because the games come from the same studios and run on the operator's servers. The app and site can still differ in layout or in which titles are featured. RTP isn't lower in one format by default, but check the game's help screen for the version you're playing. Read are the games on casino apps the same as on desktop.
Can I add a casino web app to my home screen?
Yes, most phone browsers let you place a shortcut to a site on your home screen, so it opens with one tap. If the site is built as a progressive web app, it may open in its own window without the browser bar. It remains a website either way, with no store review. Our guide to adding a casino web app to your home screen explains the steps.
Can I use a credit card in a casino web app?
No. Credit cards can't be used to gamble in Great Britain since 14 April 2020, whether in a browser, an app or through an e-wallet funded by a credit card. Debit cards, bank transfers and some e-wallets remain available, depending on the operator. Our answer on using a credit card on a casino app covers the details.
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