Casino Apps
Knowledge Center
Payments & Games
Countries
Special Casinos
Bonus
Games
Top Casino Games
News
EN English
Home › Risks of Alternative App Stores

Risks of Alternative App Stores

Although the ability to explore alternative app stores may seem attractive to some users, it introduces several security challenges. Here’s why caution is necessary:

Risks of Alternative App Stores

Although the ability to explore alternative app stores may seem attractive to some users, it introduces several security challenges. Here’s why caution is necessary:

A compact view on things

With iOS 17.4, users in the European Union (EU) can now download and install alternative app stores on their iPhones and iPads. These independent stores offer a broader range of app choices beyond the official Apple App Store. Android users are now thinking “nothing new”. Nevertheless, we would like to briefly raise awareness.

Unlike the rigorously reviewed apps on the official App Store, apps from alternative stores may undergo less stringent vetting processes. This increases the risk of malicious apps infiltrating your device ecosystem, potentially compromising sensitive data and disrupting functionality. Especially in the casino space, where personal data and personal financial data are crucial to be stored safely, you might consider twice where you download your apps from.

Third-party app markets have gained popularity for several reasons:

    • Variety: These markets offer a wide range of apps, including those not available on the official app stores due to strict guidelines and regulations, especiall in casino or betting.
    • Geo-restrictions: Users can access apps from across the globe, regardless of regional restrictions, which might not be available in their official app stores, a clear advantage when it comes to gambling.
    • No Sign-up Required: Many third-party app stores do not require users to create an account or provide personal information before downloading an app.

In the first view this is a clear advantage. But since money has to be made, it also can create huge trouble because of

    • Modified/Pirated Versions: These markets often offer pirated versions of casino apps and games, as well as modified apps that include additional features not available in the original versions.

The review Process

These factors contribute to the appeal of third-party app markets, making them a popular choice for users seeking more flexibility and options than those provided by the official app stores.

Security threats in mobile apps jeopardize user safety. Consequently, app stores like the App Store and Google Play enforce strict review processes to ensure app security. However, these protections are often absent when sideloading apps from third-party stores, where relaxed submission and review policies make it easier to host malicious or counterfeit apps.

Updates

In most cases, the versions of the apps are also out of date. In addition, there are often problems with APp from unknown sources with the auto update, which usually does not work.

The situation in the online casino space

In the online casino space we have two scenarios

  1. Apps in independent app Stores
  2. Apps directly to be downloaded from the casino

App from independent app stores are often affiliate projects. So called “Hybrid Apps”. Essentially, a hybrid app is a web application that looks and behaves like a native app. Hybrid apps use common web technologies such as HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. However, they are executed in a webview container that packages them as native apps. This allows them to access native APIs and functions of the operating system.

Apps directly from the casino can be both, Hybrid or native. Why? Games from different providers often are build on slightly different technologies that makes it very difficult to create pure native apps.

Recommendation

When it comes to a recommendation, we can only recommend that you only install apps from the casinos themselves on your device.