How to Play Casino Games on Ubuntu

1. Why Ubuntu and Gaming Software Don’t Mix

What sets Ubuntu aside from its more popular rivals is the fact that it’s an open source operating system. PC and Mac are both pre-designed, pre-packaged systems. They look nice, and they offer a great deal of resources, but little or no control over the package. You can modify every aspect of Linux, and every application you install for it. And therein lies the problem…

Very few companies make software for Ubuntu because their software is not free, or not entirely free. You either pay for it, or you watch ads. Either way, you must accept a license agreement stating that you will not alter the software in any way. Ubuntu and all of its applications are open source, meaning it’s not just free, but you are invited to alter it in any way you like.

Imagine if you downloaded a casino game app and were able to alter its source code? You could set the slot machines to pay out over 100%. You could stack the cards at the virtual blackjack tables to deal you 21 on every hand. You get where this is going…

No online casino software company is going to hand you the keys to the castle. This is exactly why there are no Ubuntu-compatible casino applications on the internet. If you still want to use the download method, you can, but you’re going to have to employ impenetrable software built for Windows or Mac. Skip down to Step 3 for instructions on doing so. However, there’s a much better solution these days, which brings us to…

2. HTML5 Casino Games for Ubuntu

Years ago, casino games were so bulky, a download was the only way to get a worthwhile experience. The other option was Flash-built games, but they were slower, lacked aesthetic value, and offered a much smaller selection of games. When the mobile revolution took hold, Flash became a huge problem, which resulted in a brand new coding language we know today as HTML5.

HTML5 is the long-awaited replacement for Flash. It is compatible with all systems, of all sizes – desktop, laptop, smartphone, tablet, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, you name it. HTML5 is the universal solution that binds the global iGaming community.

In short, you don’t need to download anything to play casino games for real money on Linux Ubuntu. All yo need is a browser that’s compatible with HTML5, which covers just about all of them.

If you want to make sure you’re getting the best experience out of your browser, check out this comparison chart by HTML5Test.com. It scores all of the big-name browsers, including current and older versions, and ranks them in order of HTML5 compatibility. The current version of Chrome ranks #1 on Ubuntu, followed closely by Opera. Edge and Firefox come in a distant third and fourth.

3. How to Download Casino Software on Ubuntu

If you still want the full download experience, there are many, many different online casinos to choose from. Of those that still offer their games as a complete download package (not all do, since HTML5 came along), all of them are compatible with PC, while only a limited number cater to Mac. For this reason (and a few others), I strongly recommend choosing WINE, a program that runs Windows PC software on Linux.

WINE for Ubuntu

The acronym WINE means… well, that depends who you ask. Some say it means “WINdows Emulator”. Others insist it stands for “WINE Is Not an Emulator”. I tend to think it’s the first one, because why call it WINE in the first place? The second version msut have come later as the software evolved into less of an emulator, and more of a “compatibility layer”. According to its creators:

“Instead of simulating internal Windows logic like a virtual machine or emulator, Wine translates Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and memory penalties of other methods and allowing you to cleanly integrate Windows applications into your desktop.”

WINE has evolved immensely over time. Where it was once bulky, glitchy, and the only viable option for Ubuntu iGaming fans, WINE is now a smooth program that brings PC gaming to glorious life on any Linux OS.

You can get the latest WINE release here, (as of writing, WINE 5.8, released May 8, 2020).

For more information on how to use WINE, including a general FAQ, visit the WINE Wiki.

4. Online Casino Safety Protocol

You’ve taken all this time to learn how to play casino games on Ubuntu. Don’t ruin the experience with a rogue operator!

Maintaining the security of your personal and financial information should be your number one priority, and that means following proper safety protocol. Choosing a respectable and reputably licensed online casino is the key to a safe and secure iGaming experience. This brief walk-through will teach you all you need to know:

• Crash Course in Online Casino Safety & Security