Mobile vs. desktop gambling in Hong Kong: Which platform dominates?

The rise of the internet brought online platforms that made it possible to access gambling experiences from any place at any time.

This convenience is a big part of why the overall gambling market is expanding. Globally, Grand View Research says the market could hit $87.69 billion in 2025 and jump to $153.57 billion by 2030. During the early days of the internet, casino developers primarily focused on creating desktop-first websites. After all, the most convenient way of gambling online in those days was through personal computers (PCs).

However, advanced mobile devices have emerged over the years, allowing players to enjoy even more convenience through on-the-go gameplay. As such, the industry has been witnessing the rise of responsive platforms like online-gambling.com, as companies work hard to align with the increasing popularity of mobile devices. And this is regardless of whether the companies are targeting Hong Kong or any other part of the world. However, the question still remains: Between desktop and mobile gambling, which one dominates this special administrative region of China?

Almost everyone in Hong Kong has a smartphone. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that, according to Go-Globe, about 95% Hong Kongers aged between 18 and 24 owned a smartphone by 2014. Now that these devices have become even more accessible in 2025, you can imagine what figures look like today. And it follows that these owners would want to access almost every online service using the devices.

A casino that doesn’t optimize its platform for mobile usage may not be able to appeal to such an audience. Even JDM Digital agrees, suggesting that you may end up losing 61% of customers, who may never return to a mobile-unfriendly website. Modern gamblers, including those in Hong Kong, don’t expect to pinch or zoom websites every time they switch to their mobile devices.

This puts pressure on operators to shift their focus from the desktop-first approach to mobile-first. Like the name suggests, the mobile-first approach involves designing and developing a website for mobile devices first, before scaling up to larger screen sizes. It prioritizes the user experience on smartphones and other small screens, acknowledging that most internet traffic now comes from smartphones.

It’s no surprise that WiFi Planet thinks that 80% of online casino players primarily gamble using mobiles. These devices are way more convenient than desktops, allowing you to immerse yourself even on the go. They are also quite flexible, as you can carry them easily, making it simpler to fit gambling into your daily routines.

Generally, modern consumers love such convenience. According to Morgan Stanley, more than seven in ten (77%) consider it essential when making purchase decisions.

Considering this statistic, it only makes sense to expect mobile gameplay to dominate Hong Kong. The other intriguing part of today’s smartphones is their tech advances. In fact, they have become like mini computers in players’ pockets, with some having even more computing power than many personal computers. With such phones, players can seamlessly engage even in games with extra high-quality visuals.

Other tech innovations in the region, like 5G, have also made smartphone engagement more seamless. Interestingly, 5g.gov.hk says the city has achieved over 99% 5G coverage. This means players won’t need to worry about buffering when accessing games with high-quality visuals, providing reasonable grounds for the further popularity of mobile gambling.

Looking at global statistics, you may be tempted to think that mobile betting will completely overtake desktop betting. For instance, the Gambling Commission released a report a few years ago claiming that only one in four online gamblers participated using their desktops.

However, desktops still have a loyal following, especially among players who value gaming on larger screens. You can relate well to this if you are a professional bettor who prefers the precision of a mouse and keyboard over touchscreen controls. Playing a live dealer or roulette game on a PC may also never feel the same as playing the same games on a mobile phone.

The large display on your desktop improves the experience of these games, especially because the visibility of multiple elements is important. Larger screen sizes also come in handy when a player wants to review transaction histories. Desktops are usually associated with better processing power, which can improve the performance of complex casino software.

However, remember that Hong Kong’s lifestyle perfectly complements mobile gambling. Take local transportation systems like the MTR, for instance. MTR’s strong network coverage encourages smartphone gameplay during everyday travel. As such, gamblers who love to spin the reels in their favorite roulette games on the go can do so without worrying about accessing a specific physical location.

Operators have also been taking advantage of exclusive offers to keep players connected on their smartphones. But this doesn’t imply that desktop gameplay will be completely replaced. With their unmatched advantages of larger screen sizes, desktops offer more engaging experiences that are still relevant for modern gamblers. So, based on these features, it might be safe to say that while mobile gameplay dominates Hong Kong, desktops continue to hold a valuable niche, especially among professional players.