In contrast to many websites, online casinos don’t typically provide the option for users to switch between dark and light modes. This seemingly small choice over essentially the colour of the background may seem a little irrelevant, but there are sound reasons as to why designers don’t include the option.
The choice to prevent users from toggling between light and dark options is because there are far more important elements when it comes to thematic designs. The landing page of an online casino displays a bank of thumbnails depicting a range of games that are available. Those are generally created with specific colour palettes which are designed to look good against a certain background, and giving players the option to switch may detract from the visual impact it was designed to have.
All Important Graphics
Online casinos are extremely visual playgrounds, and the user interface has to be on point because players immediately need to feel comfortable there. If the menu navigation is confusing, or the site is full of contrasting colours that can be visually nauseating, then the user is not likely to stick around for very long.
In such a competitive industry, users can easily source a different platform with a more friendly user interface. So design choice is essential in getting customers hooked, and what they immediately see when they land can have a big impact.
Of course, keeping players engaged isn’t just about a clean layout or nice colours. For example, online casinos use VIP bonuses or loyalty schemes, such as those collected and analysed by the gambling experts at https://legalcasino.uk/bonuses/vip/. These schemes offer special rewards, such as cash bonuses or free spins, to the most dedicated players. Still, for someone new who hasn’t reached that stage yet, the design — especially background colour — is the first thing they notice and evaluate.
There’s actually no right or wrong over what the best option for a background is, whether that’s an off-white or a black, for example, but what is important is that it is static and that users can’t mess with it. It also isn’t so much of a factor when playing games, because whether on mobile or computer, the games will switch to full screen.
Light or Dark
The background colour of the website scheme is designed to complement the visual dynamic main elements of the site. Specific colour palettes and animations, for example, will pop more against a black background, and if then that was switched to a light mode, it may not deliver the same dramatic impact.
The benefit that lighter backgrounds bring to the table (with the right design) is evoking a much more relaxed feel. That’s because it introduces a greater feeling of space and lightness to a platform, particularly in those gaps between the game thumbnails. Arguably, however, it can make other colours feel more washed out because it reduces contrast.
A dark background will provide that sharp contrast, giving a crisp definition of colours, but it can feel heavy and sometimes constricting, as it doesn’t create the feeling of space. Still, many online casino providers opt for a dark background option because it can also instil a sense of luxury, leaning more towards a high-end aesthetic, which could be diminished by allowing the user to change that scheme.
Keeping With the Theme
It is all about keeping with the theme. You immediately want customers to know that it’s “your” brand.
The online casino brand and image are very specific, and it’s important that this doesn’t get messed with. You wouldn’t change the company’s logo or brand colour every month, for example, and a big problem with giving users control of the interface by offering a light or dark option is theme and branding inconsistency.
If the carefully curated aesthetic of your site gets interrupted, it can essentially dilute its visual impact to the extent that it could even disrupt the feeling of excitement the end user gets. If that happens, it will ultimately impact how long a player stays on the site for a session. Anything to do with the branding, from logos to colour schemes, needs to stay consistent.
Light And Dark
Light and dark user interface switching does have a purpose. Darker backgrounds can help to eliminate eye-strain, particularly across long playing sessions. Dark mode gives far more comfort in this regard, but sometimes, in a brighter setting, toggling to a light mode can help the user actually see the screen better.
However, this is not always so relevant for online casinos, since most of the time players spend on the platform is in full-screen games. Each game has its own colour scheme, which usually cannot be changed. Even if the site offers a dark/light mode toggle, it’s only really useful when switching between games or managing your account.
The Power of Colours
Dark and light switching for an online casino interface is certainly not an essential feature. It is in no way a dealbreaker, as the immersive graphics on the casino site far better fit a single-mode. You will more commonly see theme switches on bookmaker sites, which aren’t as visually striking as online casinos, as they mostly list text. Having a static background instead of a toggle option is logical, so the feel of the site is not disrupted.