Do casino apps drain your battery? They can, mostly through three things: live video streams, a bright screen showing animated games, and location access. One partner’s App Store listing even warns that its app may use location when closed, which can shorten battery life. Here is what uses the power and how to rein it in.
Live casino streams and long sessions with the screen at full brightness are the biggest battery users.
PlayOJO’s iPhone listing says the app may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can reduce battery life.
You control location, notifications and background refresh in your phone’s settings, not just in the app.
A fast-falling battery is a useful reminder of how long you have been playing.
Biggest drain
Live video streams
Background location
Flagged in PlayOJO’s iOS listing
Coral location label
Coarse, linked to you
Ladbrokes location label
Precise, not linked to you
Fix
Phone settings plus shorter sessions
Do casino apps drain your battery faster than other apps?
Casino apps use about as much power as other apps that combine animation, streaming and a constant data connection. They are not uniquely heavy, but a long session can noticeably empty a phone, especially on live tables.
The reason is simple: the screen is the most power-hungry part of any phone, and casino games keep it bright and moving. Add a video stream from a live studio and a mobile data link that never rests, and the percentage drops steadily. Background features, such as location access, can add a smaller drain even when you are not playing.
What drains battery in a casino app
No operator publishes battery figures for its app, and we don’t invent benchmarks. The factors below are the general ones that apply to any phone app, mapped to how casino apps work.
Battery factors in casino apps
Factor
Why it costs power
What you can change
Screen brightness
A bright display is the largest single power user on most phones
Lower brightness or turn on auto-brightness
Live casino video
Decoding a constant video stream keeps the processor and radio busy
Play shorter live sessions, or use Wi-Fi rather than weak 4G
Animated slots
Graphics and effects run the processor hard
Close the game when you stop, rather than leaving it open
Weak signal
The phone boosts its radio to hold a poor connection
Move to Wi-Fi or a better signal area
Location access
Checking location in the background wakes the phone
Limit location to while the app is in use, where your phone offers it
Notifications and refresh
Pushes and background updates wake the phone
Turn off marketing notifications and background refresh
Live casino vs slots: which drains your battery more?
Live dealer games and game shows are streams from a real studio, so they behave like watching video while also sending your bets back. That is generally more demanding than a slot, which loads its graphics once and then draws spins on your phone.
Slots in Great Britain also run at a set pace: the Gambling Commission requires at least 2.5 seconds per spin and bans autoplay and turbo spins, while other casino games need at least 5 seconds per game cycle. Those rules exist to slow play down and protect players; they don’t change how much power each minute of play uses, so session length is still the thing to watch.
Location is the battery question that store listings actually address. The PlayOJO App Store listing (opens in a new tab) states that the app may use your location even when it is not open, and that this can decrease battery life.
Other partner apps list location in their App Store privacy labels, which tell you a data type is collected but not how often. Real-money apps must be geo-restricted under Apple’s App Review Guidelines (opens in a new tab), which is one reason location appears at all.
Location entries on partner casino app listings
App
What the listing says about location
PlayOJO (iPhone)
May use location even when not open, which can decrease battery life
Coral (iPhone)
Privacy label: coarse location, linked to you
Ladbrokes (iPhone)
Privacy label: precise location, not linked to you
Casumo (Android)
Data safety section: may share location
10bet (Android)
Data safety section: may collect location
Neither store says geo-restriction has to use GPS, so an app may also check your network address. If you limit location access and an app then can’t confirm where you are, it may ask again. Our page on whether casino apps can see your location explains the privacy side, and how to read a privacy label decodes the categories.
How to stop a casino app draining your battery
These steps use your phone’s own settings, so they work for any casino app. Exact menu names vary between iOS versions and Android makers.
Open your phone’s location settings, find the casino app and choose the option that allows location only while you are using it, if your phone offers one.
Turn off background app refresh for the app on iPhone, or restrict background battery use for it on Android.
iPhones have Low Power Mode and Android phones have a battery saver, and both reduce background activity and visual effects. Casino apps still run under them, but animations may look less smooth and background refresh pauses.
A saver mode is a reasonable choice if you just want to check a balance or set a limit. For live tables it can make the stream less smooth, so a charger is a better answer than squeezing the last 10%. If your phone is old and the battery is worn, casino apps on older phones covers what to expect.
Battery drain as a sign you’ve played too long
If a casino app has taken a big chunk of your battery, that usually means a long session. Treat it as a cue to check how long you’ve been playing and how much you’ve spent.
Gambling Commission rules help here. Full-screen apps that hide the phone’s clock must show the time of day or the time elapsed, and you can choose how often a reality check appears, under the Commission’s technical standard RTS 13 (opens in a new tab). Since 17 January 2025 net spend and time spent must also be shown in real time.
Somewhat, but what you play matters more than which app you choose. A standalone casino app avoids loading sports content you don’t need, and a lighter install can open faster, but battery use during play depends mainly on the game and your screen.
The offers below don’t change how much battery an app uses; they are listed here because these are our partner apps. All three are slot offers for new customers, so table and live games are usually excluded or count for less. 18+, terms apply.
Coral Casino: bet £10 on slots, get 100 free spins. 18+, new players; deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots, spins worth 10p on selected games, accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days, no wagering on free spin winnings. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
Ladbrokes Casino: play £10 on slots, get up to 500 free spins. 18+, new customers; deposit and spend £10+ on slots to get 50 free spins a day for 10 days, 10p each on selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don’t qualify.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, no wagering. 18+, new UK customers excluding Northern Ireland, first deposit of £10 or more, 10p per spin, winnings paid as cash; can’t be combined with other offers and only through the designated link.
Face value at 10p a spin: £10 for Coral, up to £50 for Ladbrokes over ten days, and £8 for PlayOJO. Coral and Ladbrokes share an operator, LC International Limited, so holding new accounts at both may not be possible.
Battery use depends more on what you play than which app you pick. These offers are slot offers for new customers. 18+, terms apply.
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
Why does my casino app use so much battery?
Usually because of the screen, video and signal together. Bright animated games keep the display and processor busy, live tables stream video, and a weak mobile signal forces the phone to work harder. Background location or refresh can add a little more. Check your phone’s battery settings to see the app’s share, then use our battery life guide to reduce it without affecting how the games work.
Do casino apps use location in the background?
Some may. PlayOJO’s App Store listing says its app may use location even when it is not open, which can decrease battery life. Other apps list location in their privacy labels without saying when it is used. Your phone lets you limit location access per app; if an app then needs to confirm you are in Great Britain, it may ask again. Read why a casino app needs your location for the reasons.
Does live casino drain battery more than slots?
Generally, yes. Live dealer games and game shows are continuous video streams from a studio, which keeps the processor and radio working, while a slot loads its graphics and then draws spins on your phone. Session length matters just as much as game type. If you play live tables on mobile data, see how much data live casino uses as well, since data and battery tend to rise together.
Will Low Power Mode stop a casino app working?
No, casino apps still run in Low Power Mode on iPhone or battery saver on Android. These modes cut background activity and some visual effects, so animations may look less smooth and live streams may be less steady. You can still log in, set limits and check your balance. If an app misbehaves even on full power, try our casino app keeps crashing guide for fixes that don’t involve reinstalling first.
Do casino app notifications drain the battery?
A little. Each push notification wakes the phone and screen, so frequent marketing pushes add up over a day, and they can also prompt play you didn’t plan. You can switch them off in your phone’s notification settings and choose your marketing preferences with the operator. Our guide to turning off casino app notifications shows how on iPhone and Android, and the setting doesn’t affect your account.
Is a smaller casino app better for battery life?
Not necessarily. Install size affects storage and how quickly the app opens, but battery use during play depends mostly on the game, your screen and your connection. PlayOJO’s iPhone app is 25.4 MB against Coral’s 101.6 MB, yet during play the game you choose and how long you play matter far more than the download size. Our page on how much storage casino apps take compares sizes across the partner apps.
Can a casino app damage my phone battery?
No. A casino app uses power like any other demanding app, and heavy use simply means more charging cycles over time, the same as gaming or streaming. Heat is the main thing to watch: playing while charging in a warm spot makes a phone hotter. If your phone is old and loses charge quickly, see casino apps on older phones for what to expect and what to check first.
How can I tell how long I’ve been playing?
Look at the time display and reality checks. Gambling Commission rules say full-screen apps that hide the clock must show the time of day or elapsed time, and you can choose how often a reality check appears. Since January 2025 net spend and time spent must also be shown as you play. Our guide to reality checks in casino apps explains how to set them, and the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133.
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