The fact that Chromebook laptops have taken over the low-end laptop marketplace is primarily due to their price point; how quickly you can get them operational as well as their simplicity in maintaining.
SweepsPulse ran an analysis of several sweepstakes casinos operating on lower end spec devices (Chrome OS) to see which one would perform best on these types of devices and if any will consume memory while running.
While this test was performed using devices with less than 4gb of ram, there were many sweepstakes site performances that varied dramatically and depending on what platform you choose could result in either a smooth gaming experience or a completely locked-up device.
Why RAM Matters More on Chromebooks Than You Think?
Chrome OS is based entirely on the web-browser known as Chrome. The browser and operating systems both use shared memory (RAM) for their functions.
Most new chrome-books come with 4GB of RAM. This allows the browser & operating system to occupy around 1.5 to 2GB of ram space before any games have even been opened.
There will be very little room left over after opening an animated sweepstakes casino lobby full of banner animations, background music & javascript heavy engines.
The problem becomes worse when considering how most sweepstakes sites were developed using desktop users in mind. Desktop users love auto-play video carousals, live chat widgets & real-time bonus tracking.
Unfortunately for the Chromebook user, these features create stutters, crashes & what seems to be punishments rather than enjoyment.
What Makes a Sweepstakes Platform Chromebook-Friendly?
These are not always immediately apparent when you first view a website, but they do make a substantial difference with how users experience them. They include:
- A static layout for the lobby area rather than an autoplaying video banner.
- An HTML5 engine for games, as opposed to a WebGL implementation, which can be very resource-intensive.
- Fewer than three third party tracking scripts operating in the background.
- Live chat pop-ups are optional. Also, the site does not have any persistent notification widgets.
- The user dashboard is lightweight and doesn’t require reloading each time you switch tabs.
How the Top Platforms Compare on Low-RAM Devices?
| Platform | RAM Impact | App Available? | Autoplay Video? | Best For |
| McLuck | Very Low | Browser only | No | Budget device players |
| Pulsz | Low | Android & iOS | Minimal | Slot fans on the go |
| Fortune Coins | Low | Browser only | No | Table game players |
| High 5 Casino | Low | Android & iOS | No | Social casino feel |
| Wow Vegas | Very Low | Browser only | No | Simplicity seekers |
| Stake.us | Medium | Browser only | Yes | Sports + casino combo |
The Best Sweepstakes Casino Sites for Chromebook Players
McLuck is by far the best choice for Chromebook users. It has a very simple lobby. This lobby uses a static card format with no autoplay video. Slots take as little as seconds to download even when using a low power ARM core Chromebook.
Registration is minimal. Memory consumption from tracking your coin balance is also very small. The transition between category tabs is instant. If you have a 4 GB Chromebook and want no friction, start here.
Pulsz is especially great for people who prefer the convenience of an Android application but find themselves spending most of their gaming time on their Chromebook.
The Pulsz application will install directly into the Google Play Store on Chromebooks that support it (and reduce RAM usage) versus the usual web-based version.
While there are some animations within the lobby, the animations are limited enough to keep performance consistent while playing normally.
Fortune Coins works exclusively through the browser, does not include autoplay video at all, and has a very basic structure. Fortune Coins would be ideal for players who prefer to play table games or video poker because these formats use significantly less resources than slots. The user interface is easy to follow and provides fast access to logging in – both important factors for a user with a slower machine.
High 5 Casino gives a feeling of being part of a social casino that can easily translate to using your Chromebook. Games offered at High 5 Casino are visually appealing but utilize extremely efficient engines, and High 5 Casino limits how many things it tries to accomplish simultaneously. There are no extreme wait times to load games. The lobby also does not need constant streaming information to function.
Wow Vegas qualifies for the top five through its simplistic nature. Wow Vegas is among the lowest resource heavy sweepstakes casinos available today. The overall look of the site is clean. The site will load games in sections instead of all at once. Wow Vegas is not aggressive about creating popup windows, therefore the website consumes minimal amounts of RAM per popup window. For Chromebook users seeking a hassle free way to play, Wow Vegas consistently delivers.
Sites That Struggle on Low-RAM Chromebooks
Not all sweepstakes platforms are designed around speed or efficiency. There are some typical red flag indicators to look out for:
- Video intro options which are mandatory and play immediately on the lobby home page.
- Live Dealer sections that always show video as soon as you open up the lobby.
- Banners showing promotions that have embedded countdown timers.
- Platforms that will not let you view games without first verifying your account details.
- Hovering over heavy chat functions in the browser that continue to run as an overlay.
The worst offenders seem to be those who focus heavily on Live Dealer content. Playing HD Video streaming from within a browser tab of a 4gb Chromebook can use a lot of resources, and while a site may function quickly in its primary casino section it often slows down the instant you switch into a Live Dealer area.
Practical Tips for Better Performance on Any Platform
For most well-designed sweepstakes platforms (even with an optimized site), there are some easy-to-follow methods for maximizing what can be extracted from a Low RAM ChromeBook by utilizing it for gaming:
- During the game, only have ONE Browser Tab open – every Chrome Tab uses its own Memory Allocation
- If you’re a frequent gamer (and you’ve been using the same browser) – clear your browser cache every week – caching builds up rapidly
- Turn OFF all chrome extensions except for those that are required when you’re gaming – this is particularly true with Ad Blockers that execute scripts
Bottom Line
Low-ram Chromebooks will be able to run well with these types of sweepstakes casinos. They just have to use the correct type of software.
The best for this would include: McLuck, Fortune coins, Pulsz, High Five and Wow Vegas. All are extremely stable.
We recommend avoiding websites that stream video, and/or those that have a large number of auto-play slots/tables in their lobby.
Keeping your browser clean is also important. Most low-ram Chromebooks will surprise you at how well they can handle sweepstakes gambling.
