In the early days of Internet casinos, many experts and land-based casino owners believed that online casino websites would eventually kill off the land-based casino industry, but this hasn’t happened. Contrary to popular belief, the incredible growth of the iGaming industry, especially the rise of online casinos, has positively impacted land-based casinos. Another popular question that often does the rounds is this: Does the growth of online casinos mean we may see the levels of luxury in brick-and-mortar casinos drop? Let’s dive straight in to find out.
Have online casinos caused a decline in people visiting land-based casinos?
Yes and no. For example, in some regions, evidence suggests that land-based casino owners have noticed a slight decrease in revenue as more people prefer the convenience of playing their favourite casino games from their preferred Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device instead of having to travel in person to their nearest casino. A more extreme example came recently as the Swedish parliament have decided to close all land-based casinos in the country.
However, other reports commissioned by iDEA (iDevelopment and Economic Association) suggest that online casinos have positively impacted land-based casino revenue. For example, people who have never had the chance to go to a land-based casino and have only played online and now want to try the real thing, make more of an effort to go to a land-based casino instead of playing across the internet from their PC or mobile device.
People who play online can never experience the luxury and prestige that land-based casinos provide, and will often have more of a solitary experience. Online casino players don’t get to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a casino because it simply cannot be replicated online, so they look to land-based casinos. Some people will only ever enjoy playing their favourite games at a land-based casino, and others will always prefer playing online, each for their own reasons. In other words, online casinos haven’t cannibalised land-based casino revenue, which many people thought would happen.You also have players who are somewhere in between. For example, some people like to mix it up and play online when it suits them or experience the real thing whenever possible. Besides the convenience, one of the main reasons why so many people play at online casinos today is the sheer number of lucrative bonuses and promotional offers they can benefit from, which typically don’t exist at land-based casinos.
For example, DraftKings offers promotional codes for both new and existing players to entice new players and then keep them coming back for more, while in comparison, it’s very uncommon for a land-based casino to offer someone who walks through their door for the very first time some kind of new player welcome bonus, which is why online casinos have become more popular than ever.
Does the growth of online casinos mean we may see the levels of luxury in brick-and-mortar casinos drop?
We may see levels of luxury in brick-and-mortar casinos drop, but remember that business owners will always try to outdo each other, especially in an area with a high density of casinos. The best way for them to do this is to make their casino stand out from the crowd by making their buildings bigger and better-looking both inside and out. Besides the stunning architectural designs, visually pleasing aesthetics, and décor, land-based casino operators also try to stay one step ahead of their competitors by offering luxury accommodations and high-end spa and retail services and amenities. However, if a casino is not located in a high-density area filled with other casinos and is either struggling to get people to walk through the doors or struggling to keep people playing in their casinos for an extended period when they do walk through the doors, they are less likely to spend money on enhancing luxury for their patrons. In other words, we are unlikely to see a drop in luxury levels in brick-and-mortar casinos unless the owner of that business is struggling financially. In key gambling hubs like Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Macau, London, and Atlantic City, to name a few, focusing on luxury is the key to success, and it’s often what brings in high-rollers from various parts of the globe to their establishments. These high rollers like to spend big and stay in high-end accommodation when they play at these casinos and will only stay in the top-class buildings.
They don’t want to go to book into a dark and dingy backstreet casino as soon as they step off their private jet. They want to play their favourite casino games in an environment that suits their luxury lifestyle.
Another thing worth noting is that when people travel abroad and want to play online casino games, they typically cannot log in to their online casino account that they may sign into every day at home due to local and international gambling laws, meaning their only choice is to play in a land-based casino. The iGaming industry is better regulated than ever. However, the laws still vary significantly from country to country, and many operators these days leverage geo-location restriction tools and VPN detectors to conform with local and international laws and prevent players from accessing certain online gambling products or services.
Final thoughts
Although online casinos are more popular than ever, they will never truly replace land-based casinos or even cause a drop in the high standards of luxury, sophistication and prestige these entertainment venues are known for. If anything, the luxury often associated with the world’s most iconic land-based casinos only encourages online casino operators to make their websites sharper and more visually appealing, which then makes land-based casinos more attractive for people who want to try the real thing. While there will always be competition between land-based and online casinos, the two will remain distinct and offer unique experiences tailored to each individual’s casino gaming needs and expectations. In other words, land-based casinos have nothing to worry about, and people who like to visit them to play their favourite games don’t ever have to worry about them becoming less luxurious.
Article edited by Alexander Elisab