Pros and Cons of Playing Online vs Playing at a Real Casino
Having worked and played in land-based casinos for many years, I fully understand the glamour, the excitement and the unique atmosphere they provide. Yet whilst more and more land-based casinos are being closed down, online casinos are thriving. The advantages of playing casino games online are numerous and in this article, I will go through them all. And of course, for a completely objective review, I will also present the advantages of playing at real casinos.
Since the dawn of time, gambling has been one of the most famous forms of entertainment. Gambling games can be traced back to the Paleothilic period, before written history. Today, gambling is everywhere around us, and players have numerous ways to place bets and play wagering games. Brick and mortar casinos can be found all over the world and with modern technology the way it is, people no longer have to leave their homes in order to satisfy their gambling needs. In the table below, we’ll have a look at the main differences between playing online and playing at a land casino and we’ll give you a glance at the pros and cons that we will discuss in this article.
| Casino Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Land Based Casino | Real Casino Atmosphere, Social Interaction, Winnings Paid Instantly | Higher Limits, Waiting List, Slower Pace of the Games |
| Online Casino | Bigger Game Selection, Wider Limits Range, Bonus Availability, Many Payment Options, Comfort of Playing Anytime, Anywhere | Posibility of Loosing Connection, No Social Interaction, Long Proccessing Times for Withdrawals |
The Advantages of Playing at Online Casinos
If you have only ever played in a brick and mortar casino, the advantages of playing online will soon become very clear to you. When it comes to convenience, game selection, table limits and numerous other aspects, real casinos simply cannot compete with online casinos. In the following section, you will find a breakdown of each of the benefits of playing online.
Games Galore
Brick and mortar casinos fall far behind when it comes to game selection. At online casinos, you will find hundreds of games to choose from. You can play progressive slots with jackpots worth millions to be won. There are also plenty of other types of games, including roulette, blackjack, poker, scratch cards and many more. Online casinos also provide many innovative variants of classic games too, which add even more excitement to gaming online. You will also find that you can try out most games for free when playing online, so you can brush up on the rules and perfect your skills before playing with real money.
Play Anytime, Anywhere
A huge plus of playing at online casinos is that you can play your favourite games whenever the mood takes you. Internet casinos are open round the clock and available from the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, with the fantastic selection of mobile casinos now available, you can even play on the go. When you consider the time and costs involved in journeying to a land-based casino, you cannot deny the convenience that online gaming provides.
Juicy Bonuses and Rewarding Promotions
There is so much competition in the online casino industry that operators offer generous bonuses to encourage you to join. There are also plenty of promotions and special offers that keep rewarding you as you play. By taking advantage of special deals, you can boost your bankroll and play for longer. Many online casinos also boast loyalty schemes with enhanced bonuses and exclusive offers to reward players for their custom.
More Chance of Success
The costs of running an internet casino are much lower than those of a real casino. As such, operators are able to offer much more appealing RTP’s on their games. Whilst certain games, such as roulette and blackjack have set rules, and as such, the RTP is usually the same, in games such as slots, you can see significant differences when playing online. Payout reports are published on casino websites, and these can often exceed 97%.
Wide Range of Betting Limits
A night out at a casino can be an expensive affair. Casual players and beginners may find the betting limits a little high for their style of play. However, when you play online, you can bet for pennies on a wide range of games. Online operators cater to all types of players, and you will also find limits that reach high enough to suit even the most experienced of high rollers. Whatever type of player you are and regardless of your budget, you will find betting limits that are tailor-made for all.
Many Payment Options
In order to play real money games online, you will need to make a deposit. The great news here is that online casinos accept a wide range of payment methods. You can deposit using a credit or debit card, with an e-wallet, such as Neteller and PayPal or through bank transfer and prepaid options. There are even some online casinos that allow you to pay through mobile phone billing. Transactions are quick and safe, enabling you to start playing your favourite games instantly.
Pros of Real Casinos
Whilst there is no disputing the plethora of benefits that come from playing at online casinos, you cannot deny that land-based casinos also have their own advantages. Otherwise, why would people keep playing at them?Here are the key highlights of playing at real casinos.
The Real Casino Atmosphere
The atmosphere of a land-based casino is hard to recreate online. The dealers, the other players, the glamour of the place creates a buzz and a unique experience. However, live casino games do go some lengths to bridge the gap between the online and land-based experience. Playing games with real dealers, with whom you can chat to as you play does provide the closest experience of the real casino experience. Of course, the real casino atmosphere is one of the main reasons why people continue to play at land-based casinos.
Winnings Paid Instantly
When you win at a casino, you can cash in your chips and walk away with your winnings instantly. This is not possible when playing online. Owing to processing times attached to different payment methods, it can take several days for a withdrawal to be credited to you at an online casino. In fairness, this is not a major inconvenience, but still, it is one area where real casinos perform better than online ones.
More Social Interaction
When you go for a night out at a casino, you can mix and interact with other people. It is a fun environment in which to chat with new people. Of course, you can participate in multiplayer games online and live games, where you can chat with others, but it does not provide the same social experience as face to face interactions.
Cons of Real Casinos
As we already mentioned, playing at a real brick and mortar casino requires more funds than playing online. Normally, the table limits at real casinos start from 1 pound at the roulettes and 5 to 10 pounds minimum per hand at the card game tables. Therefore, a game session can turn out to be quite expensive, especially for beginners. Another disadvantage of playing at a real casino is that more often than not, the tables are full and you cannot join the action straight away. You have to join a so-called ‘waiting list’ and wait until a seat is open. This can be quite annoying, especially if you have travelled a long distance to go from your house to the casino.
One more drawback is the pace of the games. If you have played online, then you know that depending on the game you can control the pace of play and speed it up with the use of helpful features like re-spin, repeat bet and so on. In real casinos that is not possible, as you have to comply with many factors, like other players, dealer shifts, card shuffling and more.
Cons of Online Casinos
Besides the lack of social interaction and an energetic atmosphere, playing online does have some other disadvantages. Firstly, if something happens to your internet connection, you might be disconnected in the middle of a hand and not be able to finish your bets, or even cancel them. And in case you make a profit and want to cash out funds so that you can spend them, you have to wait a certain amount of time, until the money is transferred into your bank account.
Internet Casinos Are the Clear Winner
If you want to be in with the best shot at winning real money, then online casinos are the obvious choice. They offer hundreds of exciting game variants, with a low house edge, which you can play anytime and anywhere. Plus, you can take advantage of lucrative bonuses and promotions, giving you great value for money. Yet land-based casinos have their own unique appeal. If you want to meet new people, let your hair down and experience a thrilling night out, then real casinos tick all the right boxes.
FAQs
Is playing at a land-based casino safer than playing online?
Not really. Both land-based casinos and online casinos have licenses and authorisations for providing gambling services. Those hard-to-acquire licenses guarantee the fairness and authenticity of the games and the safety of the players.
What is a land-based casino?
A land-based casino is a physical building in which gambling games can be played. They are also known as brick and mortar casinos. Normally, such establishments are located in bigger cities and in tourist destinations. In order to enter a land-based casino visitors must carry an ID document, passport or a casino card.
How to play online casino games?
In order to play online casino games, first, you have to make a registration at an online casino. After your account has been verified and you make a real money deposit, you can pick a game from the game library and start playing.
What is the most popular casino game?
The most popular casino game is slots. Slot games have very simple rules and engaging gameplay which makes them very attractive to most players. Because of their huge popularity and tremendous variety, slot games are available to play at both online casinos and land-based casinos.
