We put the BetMGM Casino mobile app through a full weekend of testing: Here's our verdict

I've noticed that the BetMGM Casino mobile app is one of the highest-rated in regulated US iGaming, currently maintaining 4.7/5 iOS and 4.3/5 Android ratings. On a recent weekend trip to Michigan, I decided to test the BetMGM app and see if it lives up to the hype.

In short, my goal was to get the full experience from beginning to end. My plan involved joining, depositing, navigating the menus, and playing real money games on the BetMGM online casino app. I also wanted to cash out to see how quickly BetMGM approved my withdrawal request. 

You can see the results of my weekend test below and whether my experience ultimately lived up to others' lofty ratings.

After settling down in Michigan on Friday, I pulled out my iPhone, visited the App Store, and searched for BetMGM Casino. From here, it took about 25–30 seconds to complete the BetMGM Casino app download and fire it up. You can also use mobile and desktop browsers to play here.

The next step would normally be the signup process and entering a BetMGM Casino bonus code. But I already had a BetMGM account from previously betting on sports in Ohio, and it's not possible to create a second account with the same name and Social Security Number. I didn't have any difficulties registering here, just like pretty much any other US gambling app I've used.

This step became about me accessing my account with a different phone number than the one I signed up with a few years earlier. BetMGM may send a code to your phone during the login process, which didn't work for me with a new number.

I contacted live customer support about my login issue. After a 1-2 minute wait, I explained my situation to the rep. They asked me to verify my identity through scans of my face and driver's license. Once this was finished, the rep verified my account and replaced the old phone number with my new one.

The whole process took about 10 minutes from contacting the rep to verifying my identity. Also, the face/license pictures were approved immediately and had the dual purpose of verifying me for future withdrawals. I've run into difficulties with the picture-taking process at other casino apps, so it was nice to get this over with relatively quickly.

With my account issues resolved and me logged in, I started judging the layout and overall UX of the BetMGM Casino app. My initial impression of the app was that it's laid out well. The navigation and account options are accessible, and the big game tiles and relevant game categories are easy to locate.

I was worried about the layout and UX going in because I've never been a big fan of the BetMGM sports betting app. There's too much packed into the mobile sportsbook screen, including promos, lines, game scores, and betting lines. But this information overload isn't an issue with the BetMGM online casino app.

As for the filters, options toward the top like "Live Dealer," "New Games," and "Jackpots" helped me find my way around. A search bar is also available if you want to look for specific game titles.

My only issue with the navigation is that there are potentially too many options up top. For example, I could probably do without things like "Variety Games" and "Studio Spotlight" when scrolling across the list. Other than this, the BetMGM Casino mobile app UX is quite good.

The BetMGM game selection definitely impresses me, with 2,800+ games available in Michigan. The slots come from well over a dozen providers, such as Games Global, IGT, Light & Wonder, and White Hat. 

I quickly found myself gravitating toward BetMGM's jackpot slots, specifically Majestic Buffalo and MGM Grand Millions. Both of these games were offering over $500k jackpots at the time of my test, so I wanted a few cracks at big money.

Of course, BetMGM offers plenty of other types of slots, like Megaways, cluster pays, classic games, and exclusives. Some examples of exclusive slots here include Buffalo Triple Power, Congo Cash XL, and End Zone.

This casino app also features locally branded table games, like Detroit Lions Blackjack and Detroit Red Wings First Person Blackjack. I'm nowhere near a diehard for Michigan teams, but I still played some hands on both tables for the theming.

I also tried several games at BetMGM's live dealer online casino, including Crazy Time, Red Door Roulette, blackjack, and craps. I was surprised at how cheap the stakes were for some of these games. For example, Crazy Time's minimum bet is just 10 cents. BetMGM can run slowly at times, but fortunately, I didn't experience any lag with the live games here.

The only major downsides during my BetMGM Casino mobile app test were slow loading times and a faster-than-normal battery drain. 

I immediately noticed that BetMGM's app takes longer to load than other competitors I've tried, like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics. I'd say that the average load time for an online slot was 8-10 seconds during my weekend sessions.

The BetMGM online casino app drained my phone battery faster than other US casino apps. The problem wasn't bad enough that I stayed glued to the charger, but I did notice a significant amount of my battery draining after about 3-4 hours of play.

One good thing is that I didn't experience any crashes, disconnections, or bugs. This helped make up for the slower game loading times and occasional lag during some slot spins.

BetMGM makes it really easy to place a deposit and start playing for real money. If you're logged in and don't have funds available, the app displays a "Deposit" option at the top.

I funded my account using my Visa card. The entire process, from clicking "Deposit" to entering my card details and deposit amount, took roughly 30-40 seconds.

Once my weekend spent using the BetMGM Casino app was over, I withdrew my remaining $18 back to my Visa card. BetMGM notes that card withdrawals can take up to 24 hours. 

I checked my bank account several hours later and saw that the money was already there, making this one of the fastest payout online casinos I've tried. Some casino apps wait 12 hours or more to approve card payments.

Besides Michigan, the BetMGM Casino mobile app is available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. I can't say firsthand what it's like to play BetMGM's online casino games for real money in each of these states, as I've only done so in Michigan.

However, BetMGM does let you view its interface and game offerings in different states. You just need to use a desktop browser because geolocation doesn't apply when you're not logged in. 

I opened BetMGM Casino via my desktop browser and chose Pennsylvania to get a feel for the BetMGM Casino app PA offerings. The game selection is very similar to MI in terms of numbers and overall variety. The jackpots were somewhat different between the two. For example, the MGM Grand Millions slot currently offers a $582k jackpot in PA and a $508k jackpot in MI.

Of course, the branded table games are different in the Keystone State, too. Examples include 76ers Blackjack and Pittsburgh Steelers First Person Roulette. 

After a weekend spent using the BetMGM online casino app, I got a good feel for what crowds it does and doesn't work for.

Anybody who values game selection should definitely consider the BetMGM app. This casino offers close to 3,000 games in larger states like Michigan, plus it has the largest number of exclusives that I've seen. The local sports team branding is a nice touch that adds to the atmosphere of games like blackjack and roulette.

I also like BetMGM for anybody who's seeking top-tier customer support and fast payouts. My personal experience with support and cashing out within hours gives me plenty of confidence in this app.

However, I wouldn't suggest BetMGM Casino if you're impatient with slow loading times and potential lag during slot spins. I experienced these issues firsthand, and, while they're not dealbreakers, I'd prefer that BetMGM get on par with its top competitors.

Despite these minor problems, I still rank the BetMGM Casino mobile app slightly ahead of Fanatics and DraftKings as my top pick. I'm big on game selection and fast withdrawals, so this casino really caters to me.

If I had to break this down into an overall rating, it would be in line with App Store ratings between 4/5 and 5/5 stars. Most aspects of the BetMGM mobile casino are good to great, with only small issues involving lag and slow game loads. 

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Bettors must be 21 years or older and otherwise eligible to register and place wagers at online casinos. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek assistance from trained professionals such as the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-MY-RESET.

Jeremy Olson