Any question or statement using words like good, better, or best is, of course, subjective – a matter of personal taste. Therefore, when a question such as, ‘are live casinos better than the real thing?’ pops up, the answer will depend on who you ask.
We decided to check out ukbestonlinecasinos.com to weigh up the pros and cons of online live casinos and their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Here’s what we think…
There are advantages and disadvantages to both land-based casinos and online live casinos, which can make one more appealing than the other.
The Case for Live Casinos
Live dealer casinos are more popular now than ever before, which isn’t surprising as they offer numerous benefits, all available wherever you choose to set up your laptop and internet connection, these include:
Convenience
The majority of people don’t live just around the corner from a land-based casino. Therefore, you need to plan the evening in advance. If you choose to drive, it means you cannot have a couple of drinks while you play. Also, there may be hassles with parking. Let’s not forget the dress code – you can’t rock up at a casino in your flip-flops and beach vest and expect them to allow you in.
Live casinos online remove all of these obstacles. You can play when and where you choose and on any device. Furthermore, there’s no requirement to get dressed up, either. A couple of clicks on your computer or mobile phone, and you’re at the tables, ready to play.
Bankroll
Let’s be realistic, you aren’t going to go to your local casino with just £10 in your pocket, or if you do, it could be a short evening unless you get lucky straight off the bat. The opposite applies when playing online. It’s possible to get an evening of enjoyment and entertainment with a tenner if you only place £0.10 or £0.20 bets. Such low-limit table games aren’t available at physical venues.
Wider variety of games
Online casinos are not restricted by floor space, which allows them to offer a far wider variety of games and tables. This means that a live casino can provide a plethora of blackjack, roulette and baccarat variants with different table bet limits to cater to all players.
Additionally, there are new live casino games, such as Monopoly Live and Adventures Beyond Wonderland, that combine virtual and augmented reality with real hosts. You won’t find these games at your nearest brick and mortar venue.
Bonuses and Promotions
Most land-based casinos offer some type of loyalty program that rewards regular patrons with cash-back offers and other perks, but these don’t come close to matching the bonuses and promotions players can snap up online.
These include matched deposit welcome offers, which can double your bankroll, so you get more time at the tables. Also, there are rebate bonuses on games like live roulette and live blackjack that give players money back on aggregated losses, and VIP clubs, among others.
The Case for Brick-and-Mortar Casinos
Traditional casinos have been around for more than 150 years, and they will still be around in the next 150. Let’s look at what attracts players to these locations.
Ambience
While live dealer casinos manage to replicate the look of a physical casino, they cannot recreate the atmosphere – the real-life sounds, the smells, the tangible aspects of holding your chips, and so on. For most people, these are part of the enjoyable experiences that come with a night out at your local venue.
On top of that, there’s limited social interaction online. Yes, it’s possible to chat with the dealer, and in some instances, with other players, but from the player’s side, this is always text chat. It’s the total opposite offline; you can verbally communicate with the dealer and even speak to other players at the table, although some don’t like that.
Instant payouts
After hitting a bit of luck on the roulette or craps table, you may decide it’s time to cash out your winnings. You stroll over to the cage (the cashier’s area) and give the casino employee your chips. A few moments later, and you have the cash in your pocket.
Online live casino payouts, at most sites, are not instant. A player needs to make a withdrawal request. Then, the casino has to process it – this can take anywhere from an hour up to three days – and finally, it must be cleared by the player’s chosen payment method.
What Option is Best for You?
As you can see, there are benefits to playing online and at land-based casinos, and the choice is up to you. We don’t like to think of it as an ‘either or’ scenario. Enthusiasts can enjoy both. There will be times when playing online is preferred and other occasions where a trip to a real casino is what you want.
