Websites have to ensure they focus on the design aspect as much as possible and get it right immediately from the off. If they do not, they run a serious risk of having visitors logging off in an instant and unlikely to ever return again.
Web design and layout plays a pivotal role in how it is received by the user. If it’s not up to standard or expectation and makes the experience harder than it needs to be, most will leave very unsatisfied. Every business in every industry will know this, but with the iGaming sector fighting with each other for a target market, a focus on responsive design best practices has become even more crucial for online casino platforms.
With over 2,000 sites available, players have a lot of choice and almost more choice for this particular activity than many of the others that they may engage in. Therefore, there is an importance and emphasis placed on the casino to ensure every visit is memorable, enjoyable and, overall, positive.
What should online casino platforms consider in terms of their design?
It’s no surprise that web developers and designers can often be highly sought after for most internet businesses, especially those that operate in iGaming. A quick look at any job board will highlight just how keen casinos are to hire someone who can optimize their websites and make sure they provide the very best UX experiences.
While most designers will have a good idea of what they need to do to provide a good responsive design for an online casino, it’s possible to follow these four practices to help achieve the ultimate outcome. For inspiration, it can be a good idea to look at other options that are already available. The operator Unibet is a good example of an online casino in Canada with good UX design, as they have ensured their players and visitors to any of their online platforms always receive the very best possible experiences each time.
1. Mobile-First Approach
When designing an online casino platform, it can be a very good idea to think about the mobile aspect of the site first. Almost 80% of all players in most of the countries worldwide typically use a smartphone or tablet to engage in iGaming and betting activities. By getting the UX right with these devices first, operators can ensure they are meeting the expectations and needs of the majority of their traffic.
When doing so, they need to ensure they provide an interface that remains user-friendly, can be functional on a smaller screen, and is intuitive in terms of being touch-friendly. In addition, pages need to be responsive and act quickly, such as when being tasked to load new information or run the games being played.
2. Flexible Layouts
As there are so many different types of devices and screen sizes being used nowadays to access the internet and play casino games, there needs to be a focus on the type of layouts that are used. They need to be compatible with the chosen device, and not compromise the UX that is offered with each visit.
Designers can use a variety of tools and programs that can help them to make sure the screen dimensions are met automatically, thus allowing them to focus on ensuring navigational aspects and the content that is being displayed are correct and work in the right manner, regardless of the gadget being used. These systems can also ensure standardization is achieved and works accurately.
3. Optimized Performance
For online casinos, speed can be everything. Players want to play their favorite games instantly without hiccups and access certain areas of a sitemap immediately. They want games to load and run smoothly, especially when they have money on the line.
One of the best things designers can do is ensure the online platform is optimized to provide these things. They need to be able to load content fast while keeping the interface as responsive as possible. To do this, they need to focus on the most important aspects of each page and make these a priority.
4. User-Friendly Navigation
Navigation of a site is everything that UX needs to be. If this is accomplished, then it’s likely a positive visit will be had. If it’s not, then it could be extremely damaging.
There are various ways to create a user-friendly navigation layout, and designers use many of them throughout the iGaming industry. It’s not uncommon to see online casino platforms using collapsible menus to help keep pages from being cluttered with too much information. They also use categories and panels to help organize games and content being offered, as well as promotions and other aspects of the site’s map.