First impressions count in all walks of life, whether we are greeting a new acquaintance, meeting a partner’s family or trying to make a good impression with the new boss. For online gamblers, the same notion applies; it’s just that this takes place online.
If you are somebody who has enjoyed a fair share of online gambling, then you will know how a slick UI design and an easy-to-use site can be the most crucial aspects that help to dictate the quality of your experience.
Casino bosses quickly realized that color schemes, site designs and overall usability are critical, especially for retaining new customers. As more of us play online gambling games on tablets, smartphones and while on the move, those sites that can perfect their UI design give themselves the best opportunity to succeed in an increasingly saturated and competitive iGaming industry.
What Do The Experts Say?
In any field, seeking out the opinions of experts and those with good insight and understanding is often a good idea. That’s not to say that some reviewers will not allow their personal biases and opinions to sneak in there to a degree, but if you shop around to find an online casino, sample it for yourself – ideally using promotions or free spins so that you do not have to spend your own money – then, over time, you can get a good idea of those reviewers that may have an ulterior motive.
The experts who have been looking at BetOnRed Casino often use the first few seconds on any site as an essential foundation for their overall opinion. If a site lags as soon as you sign in, or there are significant issues with loading games and live tables, or if games load slowly, then these are all UI issues that need addressing immediately.
A site with a polished UI design, good color scheme and a well-structured and vast gaming library isn’t just putting itself in the shop window from an aesthetically pleasing standpoint. It shows they have invested time and money in developing their brand and ensuring the first impression is as good as possible. A site worth its salt will ensure that, from an accessibility standpoint, it works just as well on an iPad or smartphone as on the larger screen of a PC or laptop.
Some gamers might not consider this the be-all and end-all. While there are other redeeming qualities a site can have, they are immediately on the back foot if their homepage is an eyesore or it is challenging to find games, or if basic options for those who require accessibility assistance, such as larger fonts, are difficult to access.
All Style And No Substance
Some sites will go overboard with their UI and site design; they will put all their money into creating a logo and color scheme, paying huge fees to site designers. It can be a tricky balancing act, because for some people in app and site design, UI is integral to the project’s success.
It is all about balance in the online casino world. Those sites that overbudget are not leaving any money aside to partner with some of the top names in the business, to continually bring fresh games to their site, to pay customer service staff to respond to customers promptly, or to manage their social media accounts to help boost their brand visibility.
Those that leave themselves operating on a tight budget because they have put all their eggs in the proverbial UI basket, so to speak, also don’t have the money to explore potential new avenues that could dictate the future of the online gambling industry, such as blockchain investment opportunities, or partner with those companies that are looking to bring innovative Web3 and AI ideas into the realm of casino gaming and sports betting. It’s all about striking a balance.
Keeping Customers Safe And Informed
Sites that are easy to access and browse often have a clear directive to their key pages. Usually, you can find these important links in an index at the footer of their home page. As long as you can find them easily, it doesn’t become a UI issue.
We are, of course, talking about responsible gambling, which is the backbone of the current market. As online casinos and sports betting companies continue to grow into prominent markets like the US and Canada, there’s an increasing focus on what big brands are doing to protect those customers who may be most at risk.
On the face of it, this might not seem like a UI component, but for those looking to find cooling-off periods, to self-exclude or set time and deposit limits, being able to find this information on the site is the most crucial aspect. From an accessibility and consumer safety perspective, this is ultimately the most critical factor, and speaks to the brand’s broader attitude toward responsible gambling.
Those sites that bury these links deep in their index or do not have these tools available, could be signalling that they are part of a bigger issue. It could be that they are not overly concerned with helping problem gamblers, and if you come across a site that makes it difficult for problem gamblers to self-exclude or set time and deposit limits, then this is a red flag that you should not ignore.
Final Thoughts
Online gamblers have a variety of reasons for seeking out different platforms. For many, it is all about cost; they will shop around, find the promotions they like the look of, and try to maximize their gaming at the lowest cost.
However, this approach almost always reaches a bottleneck, and you’ll likely end up settling on a specific brand for the bulk of your betting.
While accessibility is obviously important, it is just one of many angles that online gamblers should consider before registering for a site. Be wary of those platforms that simply list their games or have a stale design that makes them an eyesore, use expert review sites to your advantage and take some time to explore the alternatives.
