There is no traditional Stake app available for download from Google Play or the App Store. Instead of the Stake app, the operator suggests using a progressive web application (PWA). Many users are confused: it’s not exactly a website, but it’s not a standard mobile app either. In fact, PWA is a hybrid that takes the best out of both options. But the mobile version of the site hasn’t gone away either. Let’s look at how they differ and what to choose for a regular game.
What Is PWA and How Does It Work?
A progressive web application is not a program in the classical sense, but a special website shortcut added to the home screen. When a user logs into Stake through a browser and clicks “Add to Home Screen”, the system creates an icon. Clicking on it opens the website, but without the address bar and browser elements – it looks and works like a regular application.
Technically, PWA is the same mobile version of the site, but wrapped in a web container. However, due to the fact that many files are saved locally on the device, the download is faster and the interface responds more smoothly. Plus, PWA can send push notifications, which is not available for a regular website in a browser.
For iOS, PWA is added via Safari, for Android – via Chrome or any other browser. The installation takes less than a minute, and such a “shortcut” takes up virtually no space, unlike a full-fledged application.
Using the Stake Mobile Website
The mobile version of the Stake website is simply the website opened in a phone browser. You don’t need to install anything, you don’t need to give any permissions. Log in, place your bet, and close the tab — it’s that simple.
For rare visits, this is quite enough. If a person plays once a week according to their mood, it makes no sense to add something to the screen. Cons – the download speed is lower than that of PWA, especially when the Internet is weak. Plus, the session may crash if the browser refreshes or clears the background tab. In live betting, when it counts by seconds, it’s annoying.
Another nuance is notifications. You can receive them through the browser only if the site is open in an active tab, and then not all browsers support this feature normally. In PWA, notifications work like in a regular app – they arrive even when the screen is locked.
Side-by-Side Comparison: PWA vs Mobile Version
If we compare the mobile site and the PWA Stake, we get the following situation:
- Download speed. PWA benefits from caching. The interface and basic elements are saved on the device, and only the odds and new data are loaded at each input. The mobile site loads the entire page every time. On a weak Internet, the difference is noticeable – PWA opens faster;
- In PWA, they work fully, as in a native application. You can set up alerts about the start of matches, changes in odds, and betting results. There are no notifications at all on the mobile site, unless you keep the tab open and manually refresh the page;
- PWA allows you to open the application and view previously downloaded pages even without the Internet. For example, you can study the line for tomorrow in the subway, where there is no connection, and place your bets when you’re back online. A mobile website simply won’t open without the Internet;
- Saving traffic. Due to caching, PWA consumes less mobile traffic. The mobile site loads the same interface elements every time you log in, which makes a noticeable difference when playing regularly;
- Session and authorization. The PWA keeps the session running longer, so you don’t have to enter your username and password every time. A mobile website may “forget” the user when closing the browser or restarting the phone;
- The PWA is updated automatically on the server. The user doesn’t download anything, just sees the current version the next time they log in. The mobile site is also updated on the server, there is no difference;
- Occupied space. A PWA weighs pennies – literally a few megabytes per cache. A regular application would take many times more. For phones with small memory, this is a plus;
- Availability in stores. Neither the PWA nor the mobile site depend on Google Play or the App Store, which means they cannot be deleted or blocked by the store. This is relevant for gambling platforms, which are often removed from official app stores.
Conclusions
If you play occasionally, once a week or two, you can use a mobile website. It doesn’t take long to log in to the browser, enter the address, and log in, and additional PWA functions are not needed. If you play regularly, follow the live stream and want to receive notifications about events, PWA is definitely more convenient. It’s faster, more stable, saves traffic, and keeps you logged in. It takes a minute to add it to the screen, and the difference in usage is immediately noticeable.
