The internet gave us more options in life. From accessibility to freebies, you name it, the internet has it. From a gamer’s perspective, it can be a cumbersome experience to dress up and visit a casino, so online gaming is preferred. However, some people want the physical thrill of rolling the dice.
So, what are the differences between playing in online and offline casinos? Today, we will take a look at how they contrast. In the end, you have to decide which option fits your lifestyle.
Options
There are many websites that offer free slots online. However, you will be hard-pressed to find any free game in a land-based casino.
As far as options go, there are thousands of games online. One online casino can offer at least 1,000 slot machines, and this does not even include other games.
In the physical world, casinos may have from 50 to 100 slot machines and about five – ten tables of blackjack. You will see a few roulette tables here and there, but the number of games is much lower than in an online casino.
The main driver of this is real estate and employees. It takes space for a table game, and the same thing goes with slot cabinets. Online, a game operator can house thousands of games on servers. They also do not have to pay employees who would facilitate the table games unless the one offered is a live version.
Accessibility
There are pros and cons to this area. An online casino is much more accessible in the sense that you can access it from your house. A physical casino requires that you have to travel. For most people, land-based casinos are out of the question—they have to fly to get to the city where casinos are present.
Now, there are some accessibility problems for online casinos, too, as shown below:
- If the casino blocks your country, you cannot access it.
- You need to validate your identity before you can withdraw money.
In a land-based casino, you do not have to go through any validation process. Just get in there and buy chips.
Although you can use VPN software programs to bypass online casino restrictions, this may not be a good idea. Online casino operators have sophisticated processes to identify individuals who are trying to game the system.
Effort
To go to a land-based casino, you need to either drive or fly. You have to reserve a hotel room, get dressed and all that. You do not do this in an online casino at all. Just open a browser and visit the casino site.
Withdrawal, on the other hand, is much more cumbersome in online casinos. You have to pay fees, verify your identity, meet withdrawal limits and wait days before the money gets to your bank account. In land-based casinos, you simply hand over your chips to the cashier, and off you go.
Deposit options, on the other hand, are much more favourable in online casinos. There are many ways to fund your online casino account like a credit card, debit card, cryptocurrency, and online payment processors like Skrill and Neteller.
In a land-based casino, your only option most of the time is cash. Yes, you get a credit line if you are a shark or a high roller. Although some land-based casinos accept credit cards, our bank may not approve of the transaction.
Online, you can funnel your credit card funds to payment processors and then move those funds from the payment processor to your casino account.
Value
Online casinos do not have as much overhead as land-based ones. As such, they have much more cash leverage. They offer bigger prizes.
Online casinos also have the mechanism to offer promotions and bonuses, such as giving you 100% more—a kind of bonus where they match what you deposited. You could also get free spins in slot machines or cashback incentives if you are a VIP. Land-based casinos do not do this.
Land-based casinos, however, provide an experience like no other. The casino has restaurants, shows, free drinks—a brick-and-mortar casino is a sight to behold. Truly, a land-based casino offers an experience of a lifetime.
If you win big in a house, you may even receive a complimentary hotel stay—they do this to keep you there. They want you to play more, so they can recoup their losses.
Summary
Online casinos offer accessibility and freedom. There are thousands of options as far as games are concerned. However, you are not in a casino—you are at home alone.
In a physical casino, you see glitz and glamour. You can order wine and food and enjoy the ambient environment. You can meet people and feel the cards or dice in your hands.
As far as prizes are concerned, there is no difference between the two. Game prizes have been standardized for a long while. The only thing that makes a difference is a jackpot prize. Online games offer bigger pots because they do not have to spend money on rent and other overhead expenses.