Land Based Casinos v Online Play

The continued rise of online casinos means that we can all kick back and play our favourite games in the relative comfort of our own home but can they ever really compete with their land-based contemporaries? As with all things, there are positives and negatives along the way.

Scoring points

Online casinos provide a wide spectrum of welcome bonuses that will certainly see them score ahead of a physical equivalent. Some of these are very generous indeed and can stretch up to £5000 and even beyond. There are other benefits too such as VIP programmes and while land-based operators have similar schemes, these are areas where online is in the lead.

But the main difference – as cited by those who like to play in a bricks and mortar establishment – is in the overall experience. Can an online operator ever make you feel like you at the slots or tables of Las Vegas?

New innovations

One way in which online casinos have sought to upgrade the experience sees live dealers join in the fun. Now, with most card and table games you can actually access a live croupier who is spinning the wheel or handing out the cards in real time.

Poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and more are all covered, although some operators provide more coverage than others so if this is likely to be important to you, check with the individual provider before you sign up.

With a live dealer you can interact, as long as you keep things professional and don’t interrupt the flow of the game. Of course, you are at one end of a PC or mobile device but in terms of a real-world experience, this is as close as you are going to get.

Glamour?

When we see images of land casinos on TV, we’re always led to believe that it’s all about the glamour but reality doesn’t always back up that view. In fact, a trip to a bricks and mortar outlet can be quite a joyless affair with players just there to make money. No conversation or, for that matter, any eye contact is made with dealers or fellow customers.

But ultimately, that’s really what it’s all about for many punters. Whether you are at a land based operator or playing casino games online, it’s all about making money at the end of the day and the social experience is very much a secondary option.

If you subscribe to that theory then playing online has many benefits. Here you can play with no distractions, particularly if you avoid the live dealers and just look at the site software. It’s all about you versus the slots, card table or the wheel as you aim to make a profit.

We’re not suggesting that playing online isn’t fun but the ‘glamorous’ side of a physical casino can be overplayed at times. The best approach is to try both but where online really scores is by giving you the flexibility to play where you want and when you want.