The battle between online casinos and brick-and-mortar locations has never been grander. For the average gamer, there are more options than ever when it comes to getting in on the action online. Meanwhile, casino-resorts the world over are priming their bundle deals to attract newcomers to places like Vegas and Macau.
However, the world’s largest and most successful gaming groups are active both in retail casinos and online. There’s no reason to choose one or the other for most gamers. Instead, they follow the latest deals and play as it’s convenient and fun.
But there are concrete advantages and disadvantages associated with live and online gaming. As more enthusiasts take notes on the benefits of both gaming venues, methodologies for succeeding in either online or live formats are becoming clearer.
Just as eSports pros have taken to creating online communities to help onboard newcomers, gamers who advocate for virtual and IRL opportunities are apt to do the same. Until then, let’s take a closer look at the three most important advantages related to gaming online and in-person.
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Gaming Online
According to Brandessence Research, the global value of online gaming could reach up to $77.42 billion by 2026. With options expanding constantly, from VR casino floors to live table games, it’s clear online gaming will someday overtake its brick-and-mortar counterpart.
Exclusive Offers:
Casino-resorts are expensive to maintain, and only long-time members are extended exclusive deals through loyalty programs. Only an online casino can offer truly robust discounts from slots to roulette to blackjack. Most deals are part of a welcome bonus, which allows newcomers to try their hand at a variety of games with lower risks of loss.
Convenience:
Casino-resorts are pricey—and they’re usually a long drive from home. Even single-purpose casinos can require a thirty-minute or more drive, depending on which region someone lives in. What do people in rural Saskatchewan have in common with farmers in Fife? They could both be playing slots online in a matter of minutes.
Record-keeping:
A seasoned gamer knows the worth of taking notes. This is useful for tracking spending, as well as trying out new strategies related to blackjack or roulette. It can be awkward trying to jot down notes while sitting at a table or while taking a quick break. At-home gamers don’t have to worry about raising any eyebrows when scratching out ‘Reverse Nightingale’.
In-Person Casinos
Online gaming may have a forecasted worth of over $70 billion, but retail locations have millennia of history on their side. Technical aspects of play may be simpler online, but many still head to the casino for one crucial aspect: the overall experience.
Traveling:
As mentioned above, a casino can be difficult to get to—but that’s not always a problem. Locations like Las Vegas and Macau are some of the most highly traveled in the world. In addition to jaw-dropping casino-resorts (which include Michelin restaurants and austere art collections), traveling to a brick-and-mortar location can bring gamers closer to other world wonders; the Grand Canyon in the case of Vegas and the Giant Panda Pavilion in the case of Macau.
Atmosphere:
Some casino games are just better live. Who wants to spin the roulette wheel at home without a crowd of rowdy, cheering gamers? Rolling the dice in virtual craps just isn’t the same when you can’t blow on them for luck. For the gamer who’s in it for an exciting experience, the atmosphere is everything.
The Ultimate Test:
As mentioned above, learning the ropes and trying out new strategies is ideal in an online setting. However, the ultimate test for many gamers is to perfect their art online and then hit the casino floor. In other words, it’s time to take the training wheels off.
