What we measured
We measured the time from a fresh login to a seated position at a rummy table, across the platforms we have used. The measurement is end-to-end: login, lobby load, format tab tap, table filter, table tap, seat tap, hand start. The measurement is in seconds, rounded to the nearest five.
The sample is small, but the sample is honest. Every data point is a session we actually started, on an account we actually hold, with the timer running on the phone.
The fastest lobby, in numbers
The fastest lobby we have used takes about 12 seconds from login to a seated position at a 2-rupee points table. The lobby is a single screen, the format tabs are visible, the table filter is a chip below the tabs, and the table tap seats the reader in two taps.
The fastest lobby is also the lobby with the fewest marketing surfaces. There is no "deposit now" banner, no "claim bonus" popup, and no "limited time offer" overlay. The lobby is the lobby, and the reader is the reader.
The slowest lobby, in numbers
The slowest lobby we have used takes about 45 seconds from login to a seated position, and that is on a fast connection. The lobby is a multi-screen flow, with the format tabs on the second screen, the table filter on the third, and a "deposit now" popup that must be dismissed before the table list is visible.
The slowest lobby is also the lobby with the most marketing surfaces. The "deposit now" banner is permanent, the "claim bonus" popup appears on every login, and the "limited time offer" overlay covers the table list until it is dismissed.
The format tabs, in detail
The format tabs are the most important control in the lobby. A reader who wants a points table should be able to tap "Points" and see the points tables, in that order. A reader who wants a pool table should be able to tap "Pool" and see the pool tables.
A platform that has the format tabs in the first screen, with the table list below the tabs, has a usable lobby. A platform that has the format tabs in a hamburger menu, or on a second screen, has a lobby that requires an extra tap to navigate.
The table filter, in detail
The table filter is the second most important control. A reader who wants a 2-rupee points table with a 6-player maximum should be able to filter by table rupee value and player count in a single screen, with the filter chips visible at the top of the table list.
A platform that has the table filter as a chip below the format tabs has a usable lobby. A platform that requires the reader to open a "filter" dialog, select the filter, and tap "apply" has a lobby that adds a tap to every table search.
The table list, in detail
The table list is the third most important control. A reader who wants a 2-rupee points table should see the table rupee value, the player count, and the running timer for each table in the list. A reader who wants a 6-player table should be able to scroll the list and find it in three or four taps.
A platform that shows the table rupee value, the player count, and the timer in the table list has a usable lobby. A platform that shows only the table name (e.g. "Points Table 1") has a lobby that requires the reader to tap the table to see the details.
The seat tap, in detail
The seat tap is the final tap in the lobby flow. A reader who taps a table should be seated at the table in two taps (table tap, seat tap). A platform that requires a third tap (a "confirm" dialog) has a lobby that adds friction to every session start.
The "confirm" dialog is sometimes justified (a high-stakes table, a table with a fee), but the dialog should not appear on a 2-rupee points table. A reader who is starting a 2-rupee table knows they are starting a 2-rupee table.
What slows a lobby down
The most common reasons for a slow lobby are: a "deposit now" popup that must be dismissed, a "claim bonus" popup that must be dismissed, a "limited time offer" overlay that must be dismissed, a multi-screen format tab flow, and a "filter" dialog that requires an extra tap. Each of these adds 5 to 15 seconds to the lobby flow.
The least common reason is a slow server. A platform that loads the lobby in 3 seconds is a platform that has invested in the reader. A platform that loads the lobby in 10 seconds is a platform that has not.
What to do when a lobby is slow
The first thing to do is to clear the app's cache. A rummy app that has been used for a year accumulates cache, and the cache can slow the lobby by 5 to 10 seconds. The second thing to do is to update the app. A platform that is actively investing in the reader will release updates that improve the lobby. The third thing to do is to contact support.
A useful rule: a lobby that is slow on a fast connection is a lobby that has not been optimised. A lobby that is slow on a slow connection is a lobby that has been optimised for fast connections only. The reader is the one who decides which is which.
The shelf, in three lines
The shelf is the same three measures for every platform: lobby and table finding, cashier and verification, and responsible-play controls. The lobby and table finding measure is the time from a fresh login to a seated position at a rummy table, in seconds, rounded to the nearest five.
