Fair Go Casino mobile review: the whole casino in your phone's browser

Fair Go Casino mobile review: how play works on a phone

Fair Go doesn't ask you to install anything. You open the casino in Safari, Chrome or whichever browser your phone uses, sign in with the same account you'd use on a computer, and the lobby, cashier and promotions are all there. Fair Go describes this as browser-based play on iOS and Android with no app required. It's the casino's own claim, recorded as such in our fact register, rather than something we've independently measured.

If you want one-tap access, add the site to your home screen. It behaves like an app icon but is really a bookmark:

• iPhone and iPad: open Fair Go in Safari, tap the Share button, then choose Add to Home Screen.
• Android: open Fair Go in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then choose Add to Home screen.

A home-screen shortcut also protects you, because it always opens the address you saved rather than one from a message or search ad.

Browser casino or app: the trade-offs

For most players the trade is a good one. Pokies are built for touchscreens, and browser play avoids the risks that come with sideloaded casino apps.

Paying and claiming bonuses on your phone

The phone wallets are the most convenient way to deposit on mobile. Fair Go lists Apple Pay and Google Pay from $20, with no card number to type into the cashier. If you hold Bitcoin on your phone, Lightning deposits start at $5. Neosurf works too, though you'll be typing a voucher code. All are listed by Fair Go as free and instant; the full list is in our deposit methods review, and our Apple Pay and Google Pay guide walks through the wallet deposit.

Bonus codes work exactly as they do on a computer. Tap Copy next to any code on this site, open the Fair Go cashier, and paste it in as the coupon before you confirm the deposit. With WELCOME that's 100% up to $200, usable 5 times; our welcome bonus review explains the wagering that comes with it.

Withdrawals on mobile follow the same rules as anywhere else: Bitcoin, eZeeWallet and Wire Transfer, $100 to $2,500 per transfer, and verification first. Your phone's camera is handy for photographing ID documents, but upload them only through Fair Go's own site.

Pokies and tables on a small screen

All of Fair Go's games come from Spin Logic, so the controls look and work the same from one pokie to the next, which helps on a small screen. A few habits make mobile play smoother:

• Turn the phone sideways if a game's buttons or pay table feel cramped.
• Open the info screen before your first spin. It's where a game's rules, paylines and features are explained, and it's easy to skip on a phone.
• Keep multi-hand video poker modest. Fair Go allows up to 100 hands at once, which is a lot of cards to read on a phone. Fewer hands are easier to follow and easier to keep within your budget.
• Use a connection you trust. Your home Wi-Fi or mobile data is safer than public Wi-Fi for logins and payments.

The lobby itself, from Kev's Bush Bonanza to the table games, is covered in our games review.

Staying safe on mobile

Because Fair Go says it has no app, anything presented as the official Fair Go app, APK file or app-store listing deserves suspicion. Don't install it, and never enter your login or payment details into it. Reach Fair Go by typing the address yourself or using your home-screen shortcut, rather than tapping links in texts, emails or social posts. Lock your phone with a passcode, and don't let the browser save your casino password on a shared device.

Fair Go is an offshore casino, not licensed in Australia, and ACMA can block its address. If the site stops loading, that may be the reason. We don't suggest ways around a block, and you shouldn't use them. Fair Go Casino Australia and the law explains the background, and our safety chapter covers the wider picture.

Keeping phone play in check

A casino in your pocket is convenient in a way that can creep up on you, because it's always one tap away. Your phone has tools that help. On iPhone, Screen Time can set a daily limit for your browser, and on Android, Digital Wellbeing can put a timer on Chrome. Set the limit when you're calm, not mid-session. If playing has stopped being fun, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, or see our responsible gambling page for more support.