Since Apple changed the surface of the computing world forever with the iPad, the gambling industry has been taking to mobile like a duck to water. Eventually the time has come that if you don’t have an app it’s akin to being the spare dick at a wedding. Apple released details on its latest iPad last week and with that in mind we decided to give you a run down of the apps that are out there and how they compare.
Fred Done’s firm has found a cash cow in the shape of Goals Galore and you can tell when you download the app. The best part is the fast track to GG as soon as you sign in. Unfortunately the app doesn’t stimulate your excitement like it could and compounds this with relatively slow loading times.
Pros
+ Dedicated Goals Galore tab on home page
Cons
– Feels very basic
– Slow
– Goals Galore odds not displayed clearly enough
Score – 5
Bet365
This Stoke-based outfit has made their name by offering good value and reliability in equal measure, both of which are present here. Bet365’s app isn’t one that will jump through hoops and make you particularly excited. It does offer a quick and easy way to bet on absolutely anything and comes with a brand name you can trust. It might not be all-singing-all-dancing but it does the job.
Pros
+ No need to download from App store
+ Easy to use and clearly set out
+ Although web-based it’s specifically laid out for iPad
+ Good quality streaming
Cons
– Hard to find transaction history
– Boring and doesn’t have the wow factor
– Ray Winstone should be there somewhere.
Score – 9.5
Betfair
Although this one’s out on its own as a betting exchange it gives the traditional sportsbooks a run for their money. It’s the quickest of the lot and the downloadable app is smooth as a new born baby’s backside. Placing a bet is simple and the same goes for topping up your account. It would be perfect…but there’s a distinct lack of streaming!
Pros
+ Made specifically for iPad and looks the part
+ Very quick
+ Easy to keep track of bets
Cons
– No streaming
Score – 8.5
Paddy Power
Paddy’s app is much like his company as a whole – geared towards customer enjoyment. The downloadable app has Money Back Specials (MBS) on the start page at all times. It’s quick and easy to place bets. There’s one quite significant spanner in the works though. The app stopped working numerous times during our test and it’s a real let down for a good-looking app.
Pros
+ MBS at its heart
+ Quick
Cons
– No streaming
– App regularly malfunctions
Score – 5
Sportingbet
If you decide Sportingbet is the one for you then we doff our hat to you if you can stay awake. The live score section is useful for football buffs but anyone else will find it hard to be motivated to return after their first visit. It’s hard to navigate around meaning placing a bet takes a while.
Pros
+ Live score section is useful
Cons
– Only available in portrait
– Slow and hard to navigate
– Extremely boring
Score – 5
William Hill
Lets make one thing clear from the outset: Hills have got this right. The layout is very welcoming and works perfectly with the app. They’ve gone further than many competitors with sections like “Trending” – to identify what’s popular – and the standalone “Shake-a-Bet” app. Whilst the former might have traditional Hills customers wondering about fashion the latter could be the answer to getting the girlfriend interested in sports betting. It works like a slot machine and puts togethera random selection of bets in an accumulator. Hills offering, as good as it may be, hasn’t yet been optimized for iPad and thus doesn’t gain the top rating.
Pros
+ Layout straightforward and easy on the eye
+ Trending section is out on its own
+ Shake-a-Bet is an innovative option
Cons
– Made for iPhone
Score: 9
Ladbrokes
This portrait-only offering is very easy to get around. Each sport has an icon at the top of every page and if you can forgive the mad Italian commentator making an appearance you’ll grow to like it. Horseracing fans will have a field day with the streaming offering. Placing a bet is easy and contrary to some reports we had no problems with it crashing.
Pros
+ Horserace streaming available
+ Easy to navigate between sports on all pages
Cons
– The annoying Italian commentator greets you
– Only available in portrait
Score: 8
Sky Bet
Sky Bet’s app impressed us in that its streaming service was one of the best that we encountered during our review period. The app itself is out there in the boring stakes with Sportingbet and bet365 with nothing that really jumps out and says, “bet with me!” It’s a solid offering whilst at the same time leaving you with no feeling that you should be moving your account to Sky Bet.
Pros
+ Horseracing streaming among the best
+ Easy to place bet and navigate
Cons
– Boring
– Could use Sky Sports coverage more
Score – 7.5
With the new iPad out later this week it will be interesting to see if anyone aims to take a march on bet365 with an enhanced app. William Hill remain best placed to do so and an iPad app would put them top of the pile. In the meantime Stoke’s finest can sit pretty atop the pile.
