If you’ve been to both land-based and online casinos, the many differences are obvious. But what if you’ve only used one and not the other? What exactly is the difference between them?
Though they both serve the same function, the ways that land and online casinos provide their services are quite different. With both forms of gambling thriving, it’s safe to say that when it comes to different features, many people tend to have a preference for one over the other.
Here are all the ways the two are distinguished and how one might be better for you, depending on your own needs.
Game Variety
The difference in game selection is by far one of the biggest differences between land-based and online casinos — and it’s a battle that the online sites and apps will almost always win.
Physical casinos will always be limited by their physical space. You can only cram so many slot machines into one building. Websites and apps have no such limits to worry about, so they often have hundreds of games.
Online casinos can have so many games that they need to differentiate titles from one another. This is often done by offering unique jackpots, bonuses, and free spins. This actually creates an opportunity for casino players to gain from the offers.
The online casino bonuses you don’t want to miss can let you gain a lot, often including free spins or bonus funds – particularly those with no deposit requirements.
Land casinos will also specialise in some game types, just like online casinos. They may focus on slots, or they may focus on table games, including poker, craps, roulette and blackjack. Still, with infinite space in the digital world, online casinos will always be able to hold much more.
Convenience
These days, more people are prioritising convenience above all else. This alone helps explain a massive portion of the migration we’ve seen over the past few years from land-based to online casinos.
Even if you happen to live near a land casino, an online casino is always just right there on your phone or tablet. Nowadays, anyone can download an app and take their favourite casino with them wherever they want, whenever they want.
For people who always want immediate access to their favourite form of entertainment, it’s a hard offer to turn down.
That’s not to say that land-based casinos don’t have their own specialities up their sleeve when it comes to convenience. They often offer free drinks, very comfortable furniture, and constant access to staff who are professionally trained to be extremely helpful.
Still, nothing can really beat pulling out your phone and playing your favourite slot game within seconds.
Atmosphere
This is the most subjective quality to measure – but it’s usually safe to say that land casinos have the edge when it comes to what people often refer to as atmosphere.
Sure, online casinos can be very active these days, and their games come with many attractive themes, graphics, and music. But they can never quite seem to recreate the feeling of being in a real, physical casino.
If you go to a high-end luxury casino, you’ll discover some of the finest decor and furniture that any entertainment venue can have. Even though some people might find them too loud or crowded, many avid casino goers love this atmosphere. It makes the place feel alive and vibrant.
The tactile nature of going to a land casino is also really important. Some people just need to hear the clack of dice, feel the pull of the lever, or see the roulette ball spin and spin before it lands in its final destination. The way that land casinos interact with all of the senses is something that online casinos may never fully replicate.
Having said that, live streaming is now common in online casinos. Many people love to play live-streamed poker and blackjack, for example, as you get to interact with a real dealer in real time.
It feels close to the actual experience, especially dealing with a real human voice. Still, it can’t quite compete with sitting at a table with fellow high rollers all reacting at once to the dealer’s flip.
Transparency
Online casinos tend to have a slight advantage when it comes to being upfront with how their games work. Many online casino sites have comprehensive FAQ pages that explain many details about their business, and every game available has readily accessible rules.
But, more important than that are specific stats about each game. Online casinos are far more likely than their land-based counterparts to reveal things like the RTP rate and the volatility of a game. This lets players make more informed decisions about the type of game they want to spend money on.
Not to mention that if you’re the type of player who likes to get mathematical with your gambling, online casinos grant those opportunities much more often.
Payments and Payouts
One of the ways online casinos and land casinos differ the most is how they handle payments. When it comes to payment methods specifically, they tend to have more similarities than differences. Both accept major debit and credit cards, which are still quite popular amongst casino goers.
That’s more or less where the similarities end, though, because good luck using PayPal or Bitcoin at a land-based casino. These types of e-wallets and crypto payments are common enough with online casinos since they tend to offer fast payouts.
But these payouts are only fast by online standards. When withdrawing your winnings from an online casino, you will have to wait a couple of business days when using most payment methods.
But taking your winnings at a land casino is always instant. You get to continue feeling the euphoria of a big victory and reap the benefits all in the same breath. This is one advantage that land casinos will always have over online ones.
Final Thoughts
When choosing between land and online casinos, your preference ultimately depends on what matters most to you – game variety and convenience online or atmosphere and instant payouts at physical venues.
Both options come with their own unique perks that cater to various players. Online platforms are fantastic for their accessibility and openness, while traditional casinos provide a one-of-a-kind sensory experience that can’t be beaten.
