ShareThe gambling landscape has changed immeasurably over the past two decades. From sports betting to casino gaming, the shift has definitely moved towards the digital world. In the sports betting world, many firms in the industry simply set up shop online and took full advantage, but this didn’t happen with brick-and-mortar casinos and now there are literally thousands of online casinos with only small overheads to deal with.
This doesn’t mean that traditional casinos are finished. In fact, they seem to be doing very well in the post-covid era. The question is who is, would new customers today prefer an online casino or a trip to a live one?
So what are the main differences between a live casino and an online casino? The first point to note is that the line between the two has blurred slightly because of the advent of live dealer games online.
Before, online casinos were all about games with fancy graphics being fun, but now we have traditional table games with real dealers in front of a camera mimicking the experience of being in a real casino. The convenience for the players is no small issue. Yes, it’s not 100% the same as being there with the ambience that only standing shoulder to shoulder with other gamblers gives, but it’s a lot closer than before.
Speed Is King
Another major difference between live casinos and online casinos is the speed at which players can place bets, have the result, and then be ready to go again. The dealers in brick-and-mortar casinos are very quick but they cannot compete with a computer servicing online casino punters.Also, interactions between the dealer and players can slow the game down as any inquiries must be dealt with one by one. Not so with an online casino therefore this is a huge advantage for the digital providers.
Convenience
Online casinos clearly offer the advantage of convenience to the customer but there is more to this than simply being able to play from the comfort of your own living room at home.During the early days of internet gambling, internet connections were not as reliable or fast enough in many cases to offer a smooth gaming experience. This has changed beyond doubt over the last decade. Not only that but the prevalence of free wi-fi and cheap data packages for mobile phones has allowed gamblers to play whenever the mood takes them.
Bonuses and Promotions
Online casinos have also changed the landscape for bonuses and promotions. The lack of expensive overheads allows them to reinvest profits into more attractive bonuses and promotions to attract new customers.Cashback for high-volume players is always something these gamblers welcome. Deposit bonuses for as much as 200%+ are seen throughout the industry. We certainly don’t see Las Vegas casinos offering to triple your budget for the day when you walk inside the property.
Responsible Gambling Factors
In today’s world, to obtain a premium license for an online casino to operate, businesses must adhere to responsible gambling regulations. This does apply to live casinos too but the leeway is much greater because it is difficult to pinpoint how much any particular player has wagered over a period of time.So, online casinos make it very easy for players to set stop losses over as little as one day as well as longer periods of time. This is a great addition for players who are honest enough with themselves about getting carried away sometimes. Live casinos still regularly appear in the news over responsible gambling failures.
Conclusion
In short, it looks as if live casinos are at a huge advantage to online casinos in all areas except ambience. To be fair, ambience is important for many people. Mindlessly grinding slot machines alone sitting on your sofa doesn't compare to the hustle and bustle of the gaming floor at the Venetian or Bellagio casinos.At the end of the day, it’s up to the gambler and there’s no reason why both live casinos and online casinos cannot be used at the right times.
