Online Casinos vs. Live Casinos

The Rise Of Online Casinos

Over the past two decades, the internet has transformed just about every aspect of our lives from the way we bank and shop to socialise with friends. It's no surprise that gambling has evolved for the better in the internet era. Not only do Brits have access to hundreds of casino games at just as many sites, but internet gambling continues to grow at breakneck speed. Since 2009, online betting in the UK has flourished, with estimates of 146% growth across the industry. It's estimated that more than 5.5 million people in the United Kingdom routinely gamble online.

While those figures are undoubtedly impressive, so are the reasons why. Online gambling isn't just completely legal in the United Kingdom, but the UK Gambling Commission regulates and licenses casinos so players can play confidently. In addition, the number of ways players can gamble is limited only by your imagination. Not only can you enjoy slots, table games, bingo, keno, sports betting, horseracing, and other online casino classics, but your winnings are tax free.

Advantages Of Playing Online

It's not hard to understand why online casinos are so popular, especially once you realise how convenient internet gambling is. While visiting a live casino forces you to plan ahead and contend with traffic, you can start playing on the internet in a matter of seconds. All you have to do is reach for your laptop, smartphone, or tablet at any hour of the day, and you'll instantly have access to hundreds of casino games. When you consider that you can just as easily play for a couple minutes at a time or enjoy marathon sessions, there's no commitment. Compare that to visiting a live casino, where you might feel pressured to gamble just because you've spend an hour in travel time.

Whether you are on a strict budget or like betting thousands of pounds, online casinos are ready to meet your needs. Not only will you find a wider variety of bets online, but playing on the internet is more affordable too. While your local casino might force you to wager at least £20 on a baccarat hand, you can bet as little as a £1 when you play at online baccarat tables. Some games start at just a penny. Yet today's gambling sites are even more flexible than that. Most sites will let you sample just about any game for free. Whether you want to get familiar with the rules or don't feel like risking your money, internet gambling sites have you covered. Don't even think about trying that at an offline casino.

While online gambling sites definitely offer you more titles and unique game variations than you'll find at an offline casino, your odds of winning are usually better on the internet. It's true that some games like European roulette have fairly standard odds regardless where you play, yet if you play blackjack you can find house rules that are more favourable online. Slot machine players can find payout rates of up to 97% on the internet, which is unheard of at land-based British casinos and pubs. If you're hoping to hit a progressive jackpot, you'll encounter bigger prizes on the internet. With jackpots shared across sites multiple global sites, jackpots can reach 15-million pounds or more. More importantly, they rise right before your eyes. Even the hottest casinos in London or Las Vegas can't hold a candle to what's in store online.

Naturally, if you’re looking to play more hands of blackjack or take more spins of a roulette wheel per hour, online casinos hold a distinct advantage. Whereas a human croupier or dealer can only operate effectively at speed for a certain amount of time, an online casino’s software can continue without error or stoppage indefinitely. In fact, you set the pace whether it's fast or slow and, with games created on demand to meet your needs, you'll never find yourself waiting for a seat. What's even more impressive is that online casinos let you multitask. It's easy to play a few hands of blackjack while you're waiting for your turn in a poker tournament. If you feel like stretching the bounds of space and time, then you'll definitely want to play on the internet. Not only can you visit multiple casinos in rapid succession, but it's entirely possible to visit multiple sites at once. You really can pick and choose the very best on the web.

Internet casinos do everything they can to compete for your business. They'll even give you a huge cash bonus when your sign up. While you might get free drinks at some live casinos, the hundreds of free pounds you could find stuffed in your wallet are far more valuable. You'll also find other incentives at every stage of the game. Sites not only reward you for your loyalty with lucrative VIP programs that give you free play, cash, and prizes, but online casinos will also lure your back with bonuses if they haven't seen you in a long while.

Why Land Casinos Continue To Be Popular

Land based casinos are far from obsolete. If you're tired of staring at your mobile, tablet, or computer screen, traditional casinos are always a great diversion. Whether you are looking for a break or a wild night out with your mates, gambling spots across the United Kingdom have certainly elevated their game. Anyone who likes watching high rollers risk it before their eyes will find it's worth heading to any of the country's larger gaming establishments. Of course, offline casinos offer more than just games. Many of the top venues feature some of the world's finest dining, concerts, comedians, and shopping.

Although online casinos do a great job of recreating the offline experience, some people prefer the ambiance of playing live. Many purists are sceptical about playing on the internet, although many manage to come around once they give internet gambling a fair shake. Even though some players don't trust the random number generators that make remote gaming possible, any doubts are entirely unfounded, assuming you play at a reputable and licenced site.

A Commitment To Safe & Secure Play

British players should consider themselves lucky no matter how they fare at the tables. While the governments of many nations aren't fond of gambling, Brits are free to have fun on their own terms. The UK Gambling Commission licenses and regulates gaming across the country. It doesn't matter if you play live or on the internet, you can count on games that give you a fair shot at winning and you won't have to compromise your security in the process.

Whether you play online or in a bricks and mortar casino, you can rest assured that sites are committed to player safety. While in a live casino this security will manifest itself as CCTV surveillance of the gaming floor and trained personnel being on site to keep a look out for any potential trouble makers, online you’ll find this protection in the form of passwords, verified random number generators and fraud analysis teams. Essentially, security measures in live and online casinos are specifically tailored to counter the respective threats in each environment, so neither approach is better than the other and players should always feel secure.

Take Your Pick And Have Fun

Whether you’re a bricks and mortar purist or an aficionado of the virtual felt, there can be no denying that each casino format has its own unique pros and cons. It should be obvious that where, what, and how you play is entirely up to you. The online versus live casino debate is one that simply boils down to personal preference. Of course, you don't necessarily have to choose. It's entirely possible to integrate both into your lifestyle. You can easily play online poker every night of the week from your bed using your tablet and head to your local casino as part of a weekend night on the town.