Are Online Casinos Becoming More Popular Than Land Traditional Casinos
Ten years ago, most gambling enthusiasts would never have considered using a computer to gamble online instead of hitting the Vegas strip in person. Times have changed, and the preferences of players are changing with it. Online gambling has become so popular that it is speculated that significant revenue has been drawn away from the traditional brick and mortar casinos, and is being redistributed to online casinos.
There are many possible reasons for this, the current economic circumstances, convenience, time restraints, rising gas prices, cost of traveling, location, etc. One aspect to online gaming that is appealing to many players is the fact that you can play for free while you learn the ropes on any given game. This is not possible in a traditional land based casino. Most online casino games have a play for fun option that lets you become acclimated to the interface functionality and the rules of the game prior to placing any real money wagers. Most online casinos will allow you to play for free as long as you like.
Another advantage to gambling at an online casino is the bonus offers. As they all clamor for your business, most online casinos offer very competitive bonus promotions that include some type of deposit match bonus, which gives the player free money to play with, often doubling or tripling a player’s bank roll starting out. Many online casinos also offer reload bonus promos, so players get free money on multiple deposits. Land based casinos normally only compete to the online casino promotions for high roller customers.
There are also sites called free play casinos that give players free one hour on the house bonuses to win as much as they can. This is a very appealing bonus structure and a great way to enjoy the online gambling excitment without needing to make a real casino deposit.
Americans are more driven and busy than ever. Our lives have become more and more remote in nature, and time has become a rare commodity. This being the case, many online casinos have focused on being as accessible and flexible as possible. With both downloadable and flash versions available, online casinos can literally be accessed from any computer at any location. For added flexibility, mobile casinos have become extremely popular, and can be accessed from your phone, blackberry, iPod Touch, or other compatible mobile device. There literally are no limitations to online casino gaming, technological advancements have ensured that. Hence, the convenience factor weighs in as one of the most influential properties when players are considering the source of their casino activity.
Last but not least, the cost of traveling coupled with the current financial struggles of many families during the recession are both huge contributors to the trend towards online casino gaming. Studies have found that a significantly lower percentage of gambling buffs are financially strong enough to weather the recession and pay for a trip to Vegas or other gambling location. Based on all of these factors, it is not difficult to see why the popularity of online gaming is growing at astronomical levels, while the land based casinos feel the stink of a downtrodden economy.