The online casino industry is putting its ‘big brother’, the land-based establishment, at serious risk. Even Las Vegas, the spiritual home for many gamblers, has seen a 7% decrease in tourist numbers in the last fiscal year.
Players are increasingly moving to virtual equivalents of the gambling experience, and many are starting to wonder: Is going to an actual casino even worth the hassle anymore?
The “Real Casino” Myth (and Why It Used to be True)
Land-based casinos once owned the whole gaming experience; there’s no doubt about that. Online operators were a novelty, but ultimately not very exciting. The games were clunky, pixelated, slow to load, and overall just inferior to the ‘real thing’.
The reputation sticks with some punters, but it’s simply no longer true. Games that you find at the top online casinos are now closer to a AAA PlayStation or Xbox game, not your 1995 Windows version of Solitaire. Technology and competition are driving improvements in gaming options, resulting in a top-tier experience.
The games are also far less virtual than they used to be. Yes, you can play blackjack and roulette with a machine dealer, but you can now also opt for a more interactive approach. Live dealer games now feature a real person running the game, giving you the same banter and interaction you’re used to in a land-based establishment. You can also chat to other players, giving you the interaction many of us look for in a casino game.
Plus, online casinos now have the trust signals players look for. Payments, identity checks, customer support, and government regulation all ensure that gambling is now a safe space for customers. With the big names, you’re as safe as you’d be buying something from Amazon.
Land-Based Establishments with an Online Presence
Some land-based establishments have been slow to respond to the growth of online gambling, and are now scrambling to come up with solutions. For many companies, however, it translated to opportunity. They decided to go with the flow and invested heavily to create their own online presence.
The early adopters of online gambling now have a distinct advantage, offering punters a synced and integrated experience, unique even among online-only options. For example, in New Zealand, SkyCity has adopted new advancements in casino games, such as video slots and multiple versions of roulette, both online and offline games, giving customers an experience that doesn’t end when they walk out of the casino floor.
Just imagine: you decide to take a trip to Auckland, ready to enjoy the sights and a little bit of gambling, too. On your first day, you spend a few hours on the casino floor, playing blackjack with your new Kiwi mates.
But that jet lag starts to kick in, so you’d rather head back to the hotel. Yet the game doesn’t have to stop, because you can load that same exact slot machine on your smartphone. And you know it’s a safe option, because it’s from the same land-based establishment that you know exists in real life.
For customers, it’s a somewhat unusual ‘best of both worlds’ type of scenario. You get your unique destination gambling vibes when you want to make the trip to a land-based establishment, but online access when you’d rather be alone in your PJs, in the comfort of your hotel or home.
Land-Based Casinos and “Destination Gambling”
In terms of the gameplay experience, there is now very little difference between online gambling and physical, land-based equivalents. The technology is similar, and the addition of live dealers has given online gambling a new layer of authenticity.
Yet traditional casinos still offer unique advantages that you just don’t get online. Some of the most visited establishments in the world are more than just the games you can play on the floor, but the entire experience.
Yes, Las Vegas is a well-known entity, so we’ll start there. You have the Strip, the famous Fountains of Bellagio, and the fun designs of the Luxor and New York-New York. But there’s more than just Nevada.
In Baden-Baden, for example, you can visit a casino that looks like an actual palace. It also has a strict dress code, with the classic gaming area asking for ‘elegant evening wear’, and even the slots require a smart casual outfit. Sometimes, it’s nice to dress up a little and pretend you’re a secret agent. Although the illusion might be broken if the guy next to you is wearing a tourist-standard outfit, sneakers and shorts (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).
Land-Based vs. Online Casinos: Is It an Either-Or Situation?
The rise of online casinos in recent years has understandably made land-based organizations a little nervous. The talk in the press and amongst players tends to put the narrative in a rigid either-or scenario.
Really, there’s no need for that. It’s not really a fair comparison, in any case; it depends on an individual player’s preferences and the scenario. Sometimes, you just want to stay at home. But it’s also fun to head out to a fancy casino wearing your Sunday best. Or you may just be the type who is a bit of a homebody, but likes to engage with players in a live casino setting.
Ultimately, having both means the player wins. More options, greater competition, improvements to gameplay, it’s all happening at a rapid pace. You’re not limited to a handful of slot machines at your local bar because you now have everything right at your fingertips.
