Online vs Land-Based Casinos — Advantages and Disadvantages

By | October 26, 2020
Las Vegas strip at night

Almost everything in life has two sides — good and bad. This also applies to anything from our everyday life, including online and land-based casinos. Although brick-and-mortar casinos have been around for centuries, avid gamblers worldwide still haven’t lost interest in them. Lately, an increasing number of casino beginners are starting to opt for online casinos, meaning the supremacy of land-based casinos has been challenged. But what are the reasons for choosing one or the other?

Ultimately, there is no wrong answer here, as both online and land-based casinos have their advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide which option is better suited to your preferences, we will present an overview of both casino types and the contrast between the two. We want to lay out all the differences, similarities, and the pros and cons of joining one or the other.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the two main branches of the casino industry, stay with us.

Environment

One of the main differences between land-based and online casinos is an obvious one — the environment. In land-based casinos, players can experience and feel everything first-hand, while in online casinos, the atmosphere is different as players are deprived of similar sensations and experiences.

It might be unappreciative to compare the environment of land-based and online casinos directly. That’s why we want to list some pros and cons regarding the atmosphere of both casino types. Take a look below.

Land-Based Casinos

In land-based casino establishments, players can experience everything face-to-face and talk to other players, dealers, take advantage of the bar and buffet, and so on. For players who love to experience the flashing lights of traditional casinos, brick-and-mortar casinos are the obvious choice.

On the other hand, the same environment can lead to excessive spending and lost time. It is more challenging for some players to know when to call it a day after being pulled in by the bright lights of the casino floor. You might not know this, but land-based casinos do not have windows in their establishments since it is believed they will distract players and remind them of the passage of time. So, the overall setup and atmosphere of a casino floor can significantly impact players and make them spend more time there than initially intended.

Online Casinos

When it comes to online casinos, some people prefer the virtual environment provided by the casino. Naturally, not all online casinos offer the same experience, but all of them provide a quiet and peaceful gambling environment. If you opt for RNG casino games, you won’t have to interact with other players and dealers. There is no table service, flashing lights, and similar features.

However, live dealer games tell a different story. Although some online casinos fail to reproduce the environment of a land-based casino, making the whole experience underwhelming, others render the entire traditional casino experience to a tee.

Bonuses and Promotions

This is where the differences between online and land-based casinos become even more noticeable. If you have ever registered in an online casino, you might have noticed that there are plenty of bonuses and promotions for players. We are talking about welcome packages, free spins no deposit bonuses, regular promotions, VIP loyalty schemes, and so much more.

But is the bonus system the same at brick-and-mortar casinos?

Land-Based Casinos

When it comes to brick-and-mortar casinos, some of them carry out the traditional bonus schemes to attract new players. However, these bonuses are not typical in all land-based casino establishments.

Yet, some renowned land-based casinos offer a loyalty programme for regular players with many perks. These perks can be used at the casino or other venues within the casino once the predetermined amount of points is acquired.

Online Casinos

The situation with online casinos is entirely different. Since the number of online casinos exceeds the number of brick-and-mortar ones, online operators in the fiercely competitive iGaming industry have to come up with innovative ideas to attract players. That’s why there are tons of online casinos with lucrative promotions and bonuses, some of which we’ve mentioned above.

However, there are some disadvantages to claiming these bonuses. For example, most online casinos impose unreasonably high wagering requirements you have to meet before being able to claim your winnings. For instance, if you want to collect a £300 casino bonus, you would need to wager the bonus amount at least 35 times to request a payout. A bit rigorous, right?

Safety and Security

One of the most common questions posed by our readers is ‘How to recognise a safe and secure casino?’. Understandably, players do not want to get scammed and ripped off out of their hard-earned money, so they look for casinos that guarantee a secure playing environment.

All players, no matter if they prefer online or land-based casinos, worry about their safety. That’s why we want to compare the two and see what the biggest differences between them are.

Land-Based Casinos

When it comes to safety and security in land-based casinos, there isn’t a lot to worry about. All traditional casinos that value their place in the highly competitive casino industry will ensure that their players are 100% safe while playing in their establishments. These casinos follow the rules and regulations imposed by top gambling authorities worldwide, meaning both your personal data and funds are protected within their walls.

Naturally, there are plenty of brick-and-mortar casinos that are not worthy of your time or money simply because they do not follow the general security measures to provide a safe playing environment. So, stay away from shady land-based casino locations or new casinos that have yet to verify their legitimacy. Casinos like these are definitely neither safe nor secure for experienced players, let alone beginners.

Online Casinos

Similarly, online casinos know the importance of ensuring their users’ safety and security. Online casinos that value their status in the iGaming industry need to have top-notch protection against malware, security breaches, and possible cyberattacks since players leave their personal information and banking details online.

Online casinos with an impeccable reputation and an established name in the industry take their time to go through numerous safety and security checks. Top gambling institutions and third-party auditors carry out these audits.

For these reasons, it’s best to stick to regulated and licensed online casinos since they are 100% safe and secure for players.

Final Thoughts

Deciding which casino type is better is a challenging task as both have their advantages and disadvantages. Namely, these pros and cons usually depend on the player’s personal preferences.

However, if we take numerous technological advancements in the world of online gambling into account, we have to give a bit of an advantage to online casinos. So, if you’re looking for a safe and secure online casino with a generous bonus and promotions scheme, take a look at the list on our website. Hopefully, you will find an online casino there that will meet all your needs.

Author: Andy Follin

Copywriter, webmaster, and casino systems expert.