Did you know that the world’s first casino, the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi in Italy, opened its doors to gamblers almost four centuries ago? Since then, these entertainment houses have gone through multiple evolutions, and they remain incredibly popular worldwide. For years, these facilities were the playground of the rich and famous, and these days, they offer all who come an exciting opportunity to have some fun amongst the iconic sounds and flashing lights that the casino experience provides.
In the last three decades, casinos have undergone their most significant transformation, moving into the Internet age. Online casinos have since proved insanely popular, with hundreds of operators offering users an exciting digital experience, making choosing the right one tricky. A website such as bonus.ca lists decent online casinos to help you pick the best option out there, but what will your experience be like compared to a land-based casino? Let’s take a look.
Table of Contents
- 1 Where You’ll Find Similarities
- 2 Classic Gaming Options
- 3 Age Restrictions
- 4 Range of Digital Payment Options
- 5 Differences Between Online and Brick and Mortar Casinos
- 6 Ambiance
- 7 Convenience of Playing
- 8 Chances of Winning
- 9 Gaming Responsibility
- 10 Social Interaction
- 11 Which Casino Type Should You Choose?
Where You’ll Find Similarities
Let’s start by looking at some of the key similarities between online and brick-and-mortar casinos.
Classic Gaming Options
While online casinos do offer a broader range of themes and variations, all of the classic games that are so popular are available across both casino types. Whether you love blackjack, poker, slots, or craps, you’ll be covered no matter where you play. The gaming experience may differ, but the classic games themselves remain the same.
Age Restrictions
Regardless of what type of casino you plan to play in, law-based age restrictions will still apply based on the state in which you live. Those playing online must provide proof of age when signing up.
Range of Digital Payment Options
Both casino types are well prepared to accept a range of payment options. Many land-based casinos have adopted money transfer services, and even crypto, to encourage more gamers. Online casinos, too, offer a broad range of digital payment options for you to enjoy.
Differences Between Online and Brick and Mortar Casinos
Now, let us look at the core differences between those two types of casinos to help you decide which kind of experience you would prefer.
Ambiance
One reason why many players prefer a land-based casino is the ambiance they enjoy during their time there. Many people love the sights, the sounds, and the general buzz that an online casino simply cannot replicate.
Convenience of Playing
In contrast, those who use online casinos most love the convenience of playing. So many players will utilize the casino’s mobile apps to play on the go or enjoy playing in the comfort of their own homes on their computers. Given that most people don’t live right next door to a casino, this level of convenience is a big draw.
Chances of Winning
In a large majority of cases, individuals have a higher percentage chance of winning when they play at online casinos. This is down to the lower cost of running an online casino, which allows operators to extend increased odds to their players. The RTP (Return to Player) percentages at a land-based casino vary between 70%-90%, whereas online casinos offer a range between 85% and 95%.
Gaming Responsibility
One aspect of online casinos that brick-and-mortar casinos aren’t able to offer is controls that help players manage how much time and money they spend per day. This helps to ensure that gambling always remains fun and that players have complete control over their playing time. Each website and mobile app has an option in its settings for players to control their limits.
Social Interaction
Another fundamental difference between these two casino types is the level of social interaction that a player has. While online casinos can still offer live tables with real players for games such as poker, ultimately, gamers are only seeing images of other players on a screen. Some online casinos offer video access for table games, but again, the experience is much different than sitting at the same table as another player.
Which Casino Type Should You Choose?
There is nothing to suggest that you have to choose between one type of casino or another, of course, and many gamers play at both land-based and online casinos. The question comes down to what kind of experience you are looking for. Another consideration when selecting the right type of casino for you is whether you will be playing alone or in a group, as online gaming is a much more individual endeavor than walking through the casino doors with friends.
Ultimately, you should place having fun and enjoying a range of casino games as your number one goal here, then weigh the pros and cons of each casino style before you start enjoying the games.