Recreational gambling has come a long way since 1994, when Microgaming launched the first software for online casino games. Back then, players required expensive desktop PCs that worked on dial-up internet. Fast forward to the 21st century, and gamers have never had it so good, with exciting new casino technology, from casino online apps to wearables being rolled out practically daily.
Casino games are compatible with desktop PCs, laptops, and mobile devices, giving you complete freedom of choice. For many players, laptops are the most flexible option, offering a compromise between high-mobility smartphones and tablets and high-performance PCs. Read on to learn more about why you’d want to use a good gaming laptop and which are the best models to play in casinos online.
Why Play Casino Games on a Laptop?
There’s one question that many potential gamers ask: why play online casino games on a laptop in the first place? After all, laptops are somewhat cumbersome compared to mobiles. Smartphone and tablet technology has changed the gambling industry and allows you to play on the go just about anywhere, but with a laptop, you need space to open up a laptop and plug in your keyboard and mouse. That said, laptops do offer certain advantages over their more mobile digital cousins for online casino computer games. Here are three examples.
1. Screen SizeÂ
Laptops have much wider screens than phones and tablets, so you can follow every movement in the game. Online slots are brighter and bolder, and table games such as online roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are more life-like, especially in live casino format. Bigger screens simply lead to a better experience for many PC casino games.
2. Simultaneous Play
Mobile phones and tablets only allow you to play one game at a time, but a laptop allows you to play multiple games at once on different tabs.
3. Processing Power
Laptops load graphics and respond to game changes faster than most phones and tablets, which makes them a better choice for serious gamers. This applies especially to real-time events like online poker tournaments, where even a second’s lag or delay can have drastic consequences.
Laptop Specs
If you don’t know the difference between a CPU and a GPU, AMD or Intel, or dual-core or quad-core, don’t worry. Most entry-level laptops are powerful enough to do the job well enough for recreational purposes. That said, if you’re looking for a fast, stable gaming experience, it’s worth ensuring you know specifics about the right PC software and hardware to play high-quality online games.Â
First, your processor should be a quad-core (meaning it has four independent processing units) at minimum. An AMD Ryzen 3 8440U is an entry-level AMD laptop processor that will offer enough power to get you started with your favorite online casino experiences. If you’re looking for a more powerful solution, you could look for a laptop powered by the AMD Ryzen 8840HS instead. If you prefer Intel products, consider an entry-level Intel Core i3-1215U or a beefier Intel Core i5-1235U. For Apple users, a Mac with a M1 chip will more than do the trick.
Second, you need at least 8 gigabytes of RAM to guarantee smooth running. Third, using an SSD (solid-state drive) as your main storage will help speed things up in general.
Laptop Choices
If you prefer a lighter setup to a full desktop rig but still want to play great laptop games, you’ll need a good laptop for online gaming. Take a look at some laptops that will give you a bang for your gaming buck.
Entry-Level Recommendations ($600 or Less)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft’s Surface products have come a long way since their first introduction. They now offer an excellent selection of entry-level and high-end solutions with AMD and Intel hardware. For the first entry-level choice, check out the Ryzen 5 Surface Laptop 4. It’s one of the best entry-level laptops for someone looking for a solid machine to play their favorite live dealer casino table games. This device has a very reasonable 13.5-inch 1080p screen, as well as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Acer Aspire 5 (A515-57-56UV)
Gamblers who prefer Intel-based machines will want to take a look at the Acer Aspire 5. This device is similar to the previous entry-level recommendation but has a few minor differences. The Aspire 5 comes with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 and has half an inch more visual real estate, thanks to its 14-inch monitor.
Mid-Range Recommendations ($800 or Less)
MSI Bravo 15 15.6″
Gamblers looking for a more potent AMD-based laptop can enjoy excellent performance from this MSI device. It comes with the Ryzen R7-5800H, dedicated RX 5500M graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB NVME SSD. You can enjoy all the exciting visuals this machine can push out on its 144Hz 1080p monitor, which offers smoother images than the entry-level laptops, which only have 60Hz screens.
HP Victus 15.6″
Step things up a notch with this Intel-powered HP laptop. This is another excellent mid-range option that comes kitted out with comparable specs to the MSI laptop, but this device has the Intel Core i5-13420H, Nvidia RTX 3050, and 1TB NVMe SSD for storage instead.
High-End Recommendations ($1000 or More)
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip
Apple fans who enjoy games of chance don’t have to worry about being left out. While Apple Macs aren’t known for being gaming powerhouses, Apple dramatically improved their products by introducing their M1, M2, and M3 processors. This makes their latest generation of MacBooks more than powerful enough to handle any online gambling experience.
Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop
This high-end AMD device comes from Lenovo and their series of Legion gaming laptops. This machine sports a Ryzen 7-7735HS, Nvidia RTX 4060, 32GB of RAM, and a massive 2TB NVMe SSD. It can handle any modern gaming experience, outputting these incredible experiences to its 1440p 165Hz screen.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)
ASUS will wow you with their 2023 version of the Strix G16. It packs a similar punch to the Lenovo Legion 5 and comes with an Intel Core i7-13650HX and Nvidia RTX 4060. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have quite the same level of RAM or storage, coming with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, but this is because this system packs a faster and more expensive Intel processor than the Lenovo machine.
Enjoy Next-Level Casino Gaming at BetMGM
If you’re in the market for a superior online gambling experience, look no further than BetMGM. Fire up your laptop, desktop, or mobile device to play at the casino online. Spin top online slots for real money and try your hand at the best RNG and live dealer casino table games.
To get started with online games, casino players simply need to register an account, make a deposit, and head for the gaming lobby. First-time players qualify for a generous deposit bonus. Of course, you can also check out the BetMGM blog for gambling information, tips on how to improve your laptop performance for online games, and much more.
