Here in the UK, we love our gambling!
In fact, a survey by the UK Gambling Commission in 2024 found that 48% of us gamble at least once a month. Whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, spinning slots, or playing a classic card game like poker, we’re a nation of gamblers.
Today, the industry is well and truly divided between the online and in-person sectors. While in-person offers more of a sense of occasion, online gambling offers convenience. Although they share plenty of similarities in terms of game offerings, their appeals are vastly different, with in-person often aimed at exclusivity and online aimed at inclusivity. So, which do players actually prefer? Let’s find out!
The Sense of Occasion
When we think of land-based casinos, it’s a full sensory experience. We picture the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas strip, the hustle and bustle of players, and the iconic sound of the winning slot bell. It’s this sense of occasion that makes land-based casinos worth travelling to for many, even if just for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Despite online providers’ best efforts, it’s pretty impossible to replicate that electric atmosphere.
Some enjoy the tradition of going to a bookies or a casino to do their betting. They know how it works and are comfortable with the system, compared to the online gambling world, which is so competitive that it can often be daunting. Figuring out where to start, which providers to use, and which ones to avoid can often be overwhelming.
An Experience That Offers More
Land-based gambling providers are often based in resorts or complexes that offer more to do than just gamble. Many host other forms of entertainment, such as concerts or comedy shows. On top of that, they often offer top-quality restaurants for a more all-round experience. The fanciest casinos, like those you might glimpse in a Bond film, usually have dress codes that require visitors to dress sharply for entry. It makes visiting much more of an occasion than just pulling out your phone to play.
Dealers and croupiers will be dressed equally smartly and are a vital part of the in-person experience. They’re experts in their games and add the social element that many crave from land-based casinos. That’s also heightened by being able to interact with other players; after all, there’s nothing quite like staring your poker opponent down in person.
An Exclusive Experience
The most successful land-based providers often focus on a more exclusive experience, targeting high-rollers who can’t always be accommodated online. If you’re a loyal customer at a land-based casino, you might be part of a VIP program that offers benefits like higher spending limits and early access to games.
Although there’s a lot of crossover when it comes to which games are offered, many land-based casinos have their own exclusive versions of the top hits. You can find variations of blackjack from casino to casino, or different types of poker on offer. Many iconic casinos, like those found in Vegas, have such a wide range of slots to choose from that they offer niche, even exclusive, options.
Accessible and Instant
We move from the world of exclusive luxury to accessibility when we cross over into the online gambling world. Online providers strive to be as inclusive as possible with budget options, such as slots which start from 10p a spin, to allow everyone to get involved.
To help gamblers make the very most of their money, online providers offer frequent bonuses in a range of different forms. There are the likes of no and low deposit bonuses, which allow those on a tight budget to stretch it as far as possible, as well as free spins bonuses, which allow users to trial new games without parting with a single penny.
The biggest appeal for many is that they’re able to play at online casinos from wherever they want. They can play their favourite games or place a bet whenever and wherever they want, as long as they have an Internet connection. For those who are too busy or live far away from a physical provider, it’s the main appeal of the online.
Variety is the Spice of Life
There’s no comparison between the game libraries found at land-based and online providers. If you can imagine a slot game, you can be pretty sure it’s already out there somewhere. There are options themed around popular media, such as television shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, as well as bands from Guns N’ Roses to NSYNC. Some slots incorporate other iconic games like Monopoly and Deal or No Deal.
When it comes to games in themselves, there are all the classics you’d expect to see, such as poker and blackjack. However, online is also the place to go if you’re after more niche options. Games like mines, plinko, and pachinko are much easier to find online than in person. While in-person gambling venues are often divided into different specialities, think of the different things bookies, bingo halls, and casinos provide, it’s possible to access all of these at once using an online provider.
Easy to Compare
If you’ve ever tried to place a real-life, physical bet on the horses, you know it can be a bit of a scramble. In between races, you can find yourself trying to squeeze in reading the program, making sense of what the different abbreviations mean, and comparing the odds across providers. Or if you like to do your homework, you might track down a newspaper before the event so you can research the runners and riders. While that element of tradition is popular with many gamblers, there’s no denying that the online world makes things easier.
Online, you can use comparison sites to do all the work for you when it comes to finding the best odds, and easily place a bet using provider apps.
The same goes for online casinos, where leading comparison sites like CasinoTopsOnline can help you easily find the best casinos on the market.
They use their unique TopsRank method, a weighted formula that carefully balances the important factors, like bonuses, payment methods, games, and safety, to sort the diamonds from the rough. Their team has decades of experience and includes some of the industry’s top voices, such as Giuseppe Faraone. He has just shy of a decade worth of knowledge and shares his valuable insights through his articles and even his book, The Untold Story of Online Gambling.
How are Online Providers Trying to Create an Overall Experience?
One disadvantage of online gambling is that it’s a real challenge to even come close to the atmosphere found at in-person providers. Despite that, online gambling platforms have put a lot of effort and attention into developing an experience that gets as close to the real thing as possible. It all started with live casino games, which offer gamblers the ability to interact in real-time with croupiers and dealers using a livestream, alongside enjoying intricate set designs. That evolved into live betting, where bettors can place a wager on an ongoing sporting event. Now, they can often do this alongside streaming the football match or horse race they’re betting on.
Online casinos have also been quick to capitalise on the potential offered by the cutting-edge technology of virtual reality. They use VR headsets to bring players as close to the real thing as possible. They can interact with elements like spinning wheels, shuffling cards, and other players while in the virtual world. You can even customise your avatar, who makes their way through a world enhanced by vibrant graphics and immersive sound design.
So, which do Players Prefer?
It’s hard to determine whether online or in-person gambling is more popular, after all, they offer different advantages. However, when we turn to the numbers, it’s pretty clear that online providers are on the rise at the moment, while physical gambling is being left behind.
A UK Gambling Commission report found that between 2015 and 2024, income received by online providers grew by a whopping 63%, while physical venues saw a drop of 14%. There was also a concerning 28% decline in the number of physical venues in the UK overall, although it’s important to note the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on those providers.
What Does the Future Hold for the Two Sectors of Gambling?
If the numbers continue to follow the pattern we’ve seen over the last nine years, it’s evident that the online sector will grow as in-person gambling shrinks. We’re unlikely to see the complete disappearance of land-based providers, as many gamblers still prefer the sense of tradition and occasion they offer. However, it could be that we see them become more of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, while the online side takes over the everyday.
Overall, it’s hard to say for certain whether players favour online or in-person gambling, given their different options and how much it depends on personal preference. However, when it comes to numbers, it’s clear to see the trend is in favour of online gambling, which is likely to continue to grow in popularity as time goes on.
Gambling statement
Underage gambling is an offence. You must be over 18 years old to gamble.
Any form of gambling should always be fun, playing in a way that is right for you. It’s good to set limits, take time out or set up reminders.
Please gamble responsibly and in moderation.
For more information on the tools available to help to keep you safe or if you want advice or support you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (England, Scotland and Wales or visit Gamblingtherapy.org).
