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Debating whether to gamble online or in person? We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of each to help you decide.

Cut The Line When You Play Online

Online casinos have a much shorter history than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. They first began appearing in the 1990s, and their popularity skyrocketed throughout the 2000s.

The arrival of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 threw a giant metaphorical spanner in the works. However, as individual states begin to legalize gambling and internationally regulated sites like Bovada offer their services to US bettors, online casinos are once again becoming the nation’s preferred way to play.

Online Casino Pros

There are plenty of advantages to playing at an online casino. Gone is the need for extensive travel – you can wager from the comfort of your own home, with no formal dress code to stop you from playing in your PJs. Prefer to gamble on the go? As long as you’ve got a mobile device and a stable internet connection, you can play from anywhere at any time.

Aside from convenience, online casinos offer bonuses and loyalty schemes that are either unavailable or unattainable at land-based casinos. Sure, you can score a couple of free drinks when you gamble in person. However, promotional incentives like the bitcoin welcome bonus, reload rewards, and takebacks are exclusive to online casinos.

You also save yourself a whole load of time, effort, and money by gambling online. Instead of spending $50 on a round of mojitos or $200 on an overnight stay, you could fund an extra session on the slots. Plus, with higher RTP rates and a much wider collection of games to choose from, online slots can boost your chances of triggering a winning spin.

Online Casino Cons

Of course, online casinos have their downsides, too. When you gamble online, you sacrifice the amenities that make retail casino resorts so attractive. Say goodbye to socializing with your friends over a beer – the only live chat you’ll engage in will be with strangers around a live-streamed table.

Online casino games depend entirely on the strength of your internet connection. Playing in areas with poor service can result in games glitching out and players losing their winnings. If you do manage to secure some wins, processing times and verification checks can result in withdrawals taking several days to reach your account.

The Land-Based Legacy

From James Bond to Ocean’s Eleven, land-based casinos have been immortalized in pop culture as glamorous gambling nirvanas. Ever since the Golden Gate Casino opened its doors in 1906, thousands of visitors have flocked to Las Vegas to experience the thrill and excitement that live gambling can offer. Online gambling is not yet legal in dozens of states, so land-based casinos remain the most popular way to bet in the US. Other than availability, why are these brick-and-mortar venues such a hit with bettors?

Land-Based Casino Pros

Land-based casinos offer the whole package: slots and table games, yes, but also an immersive and social gambling atmosphere. Many people who visit land-based casinos don’t even place a bet, coming instead for the bars, restaurants, live music venues, and luxury hotels.

This social atmosphere makes land-based casinos the best place for table games like craps. As impressive as live dealer online games are, they can never truly recreate the experience of a real casino table.

Alongside a wide range of amenities, instant withdrawals are a massive advantage of land-based casinos. Similarly, you can swap loyalty points for tangible prizes like hotel stays, meals, and experiences.

Land-Based Casino Cons

While there are plenty of positives to land-based casinos, there are also a few big pitfalls. They’re great once you get there but visiting a land-based casino can require hours of travel, whether that’s by car to your local venue or by cross-country flight. Alongside travel costs, there’s the cost of an overnight stay, plus any drinks or meals.

Gambling at a land-based casino also has its drawbacks. Tables can fill up during peak hours, and some casinos will have restricted opening hours. One of the biggest cons to land-based gambling is that physical slots often have a lower RTP (Return to Player) percentage than their digital counterparts. This is because the casino has to pay rent on every machine, so they will often lower the RTP to cover some of the cost.

Conclusion

So, what is the definitive answer to the land-based vs. online casino debate? Unfortunately, there isn’t one. Whether it’s better to spin the virtual reels or fold your hand face-to-face will depend entirely on your personal preferences.

If you value convenience and variety, then online casinos are your best bet. On the other hand, players who want a more immersive and social gambling experience should grab their IDs and head to the local brick-and-mortar venue.

At the end of the day, the games themselves don’t change. The rules of blackjack remain the same whether you play in-person or online, and your luck won’t increase when you gamble at one or the other. Pick the casino that suits your style, and you can’t go wrong!

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