Online vs. physical casino: which one should you choose?

Do you want to play fun, exciting games, with the possibility of earning some money from your hobby?

Then you’ll definitely enjoy casino games.

In the past few years, the popularity of casinos has increased and the industry is generating record revenue, both in the United States and in European markets such as the Netherlands, which have recently revised their gambling legislation.

But when it comes to starting to play casino games, you have an important decision ahead of you: do you want to play the games in a physical, brick-and-mortar casino, or do you want to play them online?

Choosing the right form of casino gaming for your personality and needs is essential if you want to have a great experience.

There are many people out there who tried to play casino games and came to the conclusion that it wasn’t for them, only to discover years after that they simply didn’t play in the right conditions. Here’s how to make sure this doesn’t happen to you and have a great time from the very first minute: 

Do you enjoy social interaction?

Some people want to play casino games from the comfort of their homes and all they care about is the quality of the games they play and how much money they make from them. But, for others, casinos are not so much about the games, but about the experience.

And there’s no denying that land-based casinos have a sophisticated charm about them: hearing the noise made by slot machines, people cheering at poker and roulette tables, sipping from a cocktail, and making friends. If this image makes you nostalgic, then land-based casinos are definitely the best form of gambling for you.

Or, perhaps you can keep land-based casinos as your main source of entertainment and play online from time to time. 

How much does profit weigh for you?

If profit is what matters most to you, and, let’s face it, money is what makes many people try casino games in the first place, then there are several reasons why you are better off playing in an online casino. 

First of all, when you open an online casino, you have fewer expenses than if you open a physical one. Online casinos don’t have live dealers (or not as many live dealers as in physical casinos), they don’t have physical slot machines that require maintenance, they don’t need to rent a venue, and the only staff they need to pay are IT and customer support.

Thanks to these lower operational costs, online casinos are able to offer better odds to players. What’s more, they also have more bonuses and promotions than what you get in physical casinos. Online, the bonuses alone are enough to make some pocket money and if you’re an experienced player, you can earn hefty sums from gambling.

The variety of bonuses and promotions in online casinos means that you can find something no matter your favorite games and comfortable level of risk.

For example, as a new player, you can look for a casino that has no deposit bonuses. If you play slot games, you can look for a casino that offers free spins. Possibilities are endless and bonuses aren’t going away any time soon.

As more and more countries take a positive stance on online gambling, casinos are trying to face the competition by offering bigger and better bonuses. 

Think of them like the free drinks and snacks in some physical casinos, except it’s not just a trick to keep you playing, it’s real money that you can use to gamble or withdraw to your bank account. 

Are you looking for gameplay variety?

Some casino fans have played the same game for years, without getting bored of it.

Others get bored easily and want to try something new as soon as it comes out.

If you’re one of those people, then you’ll love online casinos.

Because they’re not restricted by the hardware specs of physical machines, online casinos can offer you a vast catalog of games and plenty of variations of the same game.

Take slot games for example.

In physical casinos, you can usually find the classic themes, with very few variations, whereas online, you can find interesting slot games with various themes.

For example, many slot games in online casinos are inspired by movies, TV shows and sports. They have progressive jackpots, multiple line action, and even hidden levels with bonus games that aren’t even supported by physical casinos.

Recently, online casino operators have even experimented with AR and VR, so that you can enjoy the same variety of games, in a more immersive way. While these features are not mainstream just yet, online casino operators are more open towards innovation and, according to many, that’s exactly why they are the future of gambling. 

Do you love playing games on your smartphone?

Are you a fan of mobile gaming?

That wouldn’t be surprising, considering that, worldwide, 2.2 billion people play mobile games and the mobile gaming market is worth an impressive $76 billion.

There’s something incredibly fun and effortless about playing games on your smartphone, whether it’s before bedtime or while you’re on the subway and casino operators know this all too well.

Unlike a few years ago, when the mobile gameplay experience was a bit clunky, now the latest technologies have made it possible to create advanced games that are just as exciting as the real thing. And that’s possible on a device that can fit in your pocket! 

The bottom line 

Both online and physical casinos have their pros and cons and, when making your decisions, you need to consider factors such as your lifestyle, personality, and preferred gaming platform. If you love casinos for the idea of socializing, then you’ll have a great time in a land-based casino but if you’re in it for the bonuses and gameplay, then you’ll love online casinos more.