Land-based casinos now face tremendous opposition from their online versions. An increasing number of gamblers are heading online to play games such as blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat.
There are still many reasons why gamblers still head to land-based casinos. A main attraction is the social aspect and a trip to a casino isn’t just about placing bets. There are bars and restaurants that can be enjoyed by customers. Although they may well enjoy playing online, being sat in front of your laptop at home isn’t quite the same as going out to your local casino.
One of the oldest casinos in the UK is the Palm Beach Casino in the Mayfair area of London. This casino has been open for over half a century and has seen many changes in that time. Open from 3pm, gamblers can play their favourite games until 5am.
Luxury is the name of the game at this venue and that’s a major advantage over playing at home in your living room. This casino boasts the largest gaming floor in London but there’s a lot more to do at the Palm Beach Casino than try to get a win on the roulette wheel. The venue has an exceptional range of bars and restaurants.
The Hippodrome Casino is in a building that is packed with history. For over 120 years it has been open and some of the top performers in the world have appeared there. Everyone from Judy Garland to the professional wrestler Kendo Nagasaki.
Now the West End of London venue is home to one of the best casinos in the UK. There are three casinos situated in its 80,000 square feet. With a baccarat lounge, a floor that is especially for poker lovers, roulette tables, slot machines aplenty, it’s pure heaven for casino fans. Food lovers aren’t left out either with everything from a Chinese restaurant to a steakhouse.
Any casino players who go to Wales should visit Les Croupiers in Wales. Gamblers have been going there since the casino opened in 1968. Poker players can try to get some flushes and straights in a room dedicated to their favourite game with 20 tables available.
You can also play Punto Blanco, a selection of dice games and electronic versions of roulette, poker and Mahjong. In between games you can watch top sports action or go to the Dragon Court Chinese restaurant.
The online side of the UK gambling industry saw a huge rise in custom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Land-based casinos found themselves unable to open during lockdowns and gamblers went online to play. The pandemic may now be over but players haven’t deserted the online sites and it has taken the bricks-and-mortar casinos to regain their customer levels
Figures from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) this year showed that the percentage playing online in the last four weeks was 38% compared to 29% for in-person gambling. Casino revenue is still higher though and their future is likely to be a rosy one despite fears of stricter regulation and taxation by the UK government.
Playing slots online continues to be incredibly popular with players. Between April and June 2024, slots Gross Gaming Yield was £642 million with the number of spins up to 22.4 billion. The average monthly active accounts for online casinos rose to 4.4 million a month, a new high.
Why are online casinos so popular? There is the convenience of being able to play at home or while out and about when using your mobile devices. Not having to get ready to go out and then travel to and from the casino appeals to many players.
A popular section at online casinos is what has become known as the ‘live casino.’ This section replicates the setting of a land-based casino and is filmed live in a studio. There are live dealers that players can interact with. These include not just the top casino games but game shows too such as ‘Monopoly Live.’
Everyone loves to receive a bonus and there are plenty available online. When players register with an online casino they can receive a welcome offer. This could be a matched deposit, free spins on a slot game or entry into a freeroll poker tournament. Players in the UK are then able to access more casino bonuses using special promo code words after this, and it is one reason players prefer to gamble at online casinos versus visiting a brick-and-mortar gambling venue – with new customer incentives online you simply get better chances to break the bank.
There have been plans to introduce several changes to land-based casinos making them more competitive. This was due to see the ban on debit cards lifted, more gaming machines and the ability to bet on sport. The change of government in the UK has delayed these changes but may well be introduced in 2025. Such changes could well see more players keen to go to land-based venues rather than just gamble online.
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