With the mobile being the device of choice for millions of bingo players the world over, it comes as little surprise that almost every top bingo operator has a mobile-friendly website. What you might not know, is that as well as a dedicated mobile site, many top bingo sites also offer a native mobile app. While the features and appearance of the native app remain largely the same as the mobile site, there are a few differences which set the two apart. Our beginner’s guide to mobile bingo apps will show you why native apps are your best bet for playing bingo on the go.

Why play bingo on mobile apps?

Safety

Safety is the most important factor to consider when it comes to online gambling. For most players, depositing at an online bingo site means sharing sensitive data such as your bank account details. There are plenty of measures in place to ensure that this data is safe no matter what platform you play on, so you won’t have to compromise your safety to play on the go. The bingo apps we recommend offer the highest levels of security with industry standard data encryption and reinforced firewalls which prevents unauthorised access to your personal details.

Additionally, mobile bingo apps have built-in certificate pinning. This means that your app will only be allowed to connect with the bingo operator’s server. This means it’s virtually impossible for anyone to gain unauthorised access to your account.

Personalisation

The same top quality selection of bingo games and jackpots are available regardless of which mobile application you decide to use, but players using a native app undoubtedly benefit from a more personalised bingo experience. Using a mobile bingo app allows the bingo operator to monitor your activity and provide you with an in-app experience that’s tailor-made just for you. There’s also plenty of settings for you to adjust as you please to customise your experience even further.

Notifications

Whether it’s an eye-popping promo, a brand new bingo bonus or the daily freeroll kicking off, if you aren’t logged in, you’ll probably miss out. With such busy schedules, you surely can’t keep your eyes glued on the promotions page. Fortunately, you won’t have to. With native apps, you’ll have the option to receive alerts that notify you with the latest offers and games. This means you’ll never miss out again. If you don’t fancy getting notifications throughout the day, many top mobile bingo apps allow you to customise the alerts you receive, so if you only want to hear about new promos, that’s okay - all you need to do is adjust your notification settings accordingly.

Speed

No one likes waiting, and this is no different when it comes to playing bingo on your mobile. Want to get to your favourite bingo rooms a little quicker? Native apps are your best option when it comes to speed. No web browsers, no repetitive signing in, no hassle. With a native app installed on your mobile device, the best bingo games are never more than a few taps away. Admittedly, you’re only saving seconds here, but when presented the choice, selecting the quickest option is always a no-brainer.

How do I get started?

For new bingo players, here are the simple steps you need to follow to get you up and running with a native mobile bingo app:

1. Visit your application store. Whether you’re using an Apple device - from iPad to iPhone, Android or Windows, you’ll almost always be able to access your platform’s application store from your home screen.
2. Search & download. Use the search tool to find the bingo app of your choice. Not sure where to play? Check out our list of top bingo sites - you’re sure to find a favourite.
3. Sign up. Once installed, you’ll be able to create an account in just a few minutes. All you’ll need to do is provide a few personal details.
   
4. Deposit. You’ll need to get some cash into your bingo account to play real money games. The best mobile bingo apps provide a wealth of payment options, from traditional methods such as debit and credit cards to e-wallets like PayPal and Neteller. Your matched deposit bingo bonus will be credited to your account once you've made a qualifying deposit.
5. Play. Once you’ve completed the steps above your next game of bingo is just a few taps away! You’ll be able to browse and select from a great range of bingo rooms at all of our top bingo sites.

Our verdict

Now that we’ve shown you the ropes when it comes to playing bingo on mobile apps, it’s time to download and try it out for yourself! No need to waste time browsing the app store - check out our list of top bingo sites for a quick and easy way to cut your shortlist down to the cream of the crop. All that’s left for you to do is compare, sign up, grab yourself a bonus and you’ll be shouting ‘bingo!’ in no time.