Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Encourage Cross-Platform Casino Play?

There’s been a lot of hype around the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. The original console surpassed 150 million units sold worldwide, so the latest version will probably approach those numbers too (eventually). Our resident expert takes a look at what devices like the Switch 2 could mean for casino gaming and cross-platform play.

Many people might be surprised by this answer, but yes, it’s true: you can play at an online casino with a Nintendo Switch. It took a while for the original console to support an internet browser, but it happened eventually. Many expect that the Switch 2 will have one right from the get-go. If that’s the case, then you’ll be able to play online casino games much more easily.

While most folks know and love the Switch for its powerful, traditional gaming capabilities, there is something to be said about the growing community of gamers who are open to learning what such a device might mean for the future of mobile online gambling.

Is it even worth playing casino games on a Nintendo Switch?

This is really the rub here, as many people are wondering if it’s even worth doing? The reality is that, while the Switch 2 might be capable of casino gaming, it’s it might prove to be a bit uncomfortable to do so.

Many online casinos have optimized their platforms for devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets. But they haven’t really optimized their platforms for a Nintendo Switch, or consoles in general. When you play on your phone or tablet, you generally use a touch-screen, and you can tap around. You can pinch to zoom and do all sorts of things built into the smartphone. For a desktop or laptop, they’ve been optimized for a mouse.

The Switch does have a lot of similarities to smartphones – but remember that not all touchscreens are made equal. These consoles have been criticized for their touch capabilities not being as responsive as smartphones, and some of the UI/UX features like various swipes work on phones but not a Switch. And while it has buttons, which you might think is a benefit, those won’t work for online casino games, so that’s not an advantage. You might just be better off playing mobile casino games on your phone.

Depositing and withdrawing can be a hassle with a Switch

One of the key challenges of playing at an online casino with a Switch is the banking. With your phone, it’s pretty easy to deposit and withdraw at an online gaming site because most people have their banking tied to their phones via gambling apps.

With a swipe of a finger, you can tap to get into your online banking app and send a transfer or top up your casino account. With a Nintendo Switch, not only is the process more arduous, but do you really want to be logging into your online banking through your console?

Canadians might be interested in cross-platform gambling, but this isn’t exactly a major issue when it comes to online casino gaming. The truth is that, even if you’re going to carry your Switch 2 around wherever you go, you’re still going to have your smartphone (or your regular devices) with you, anyway.

It’s always going to be easier to load an online casino on one of those devices, so you might as well play there. If the Switch was a one-stop-do-it-all-shop, you could maybe get away with it, but the reality is that your phone is better optimized for online gambling than the Switch, as it’s ultimately optimized for Nintendo games – not necessarily online browsing and online gaming.