Knowing which is more popular, online or in-person gambling, is quite an arduous task. On the one hand, you have recently propped up internet gambling with the new and exciting cryptocurrency and blockchain tech. On the other hand, you have the age-old brick-and-mortar industry that has lasted four centuries – it must be doing something right.
So let’s see how they compare:
With the internet age came internet risks; with a few keystrokes, cybercriminals can have your profile in their hands to commit a number of nefarious acts. Now more than ever, it is becoming important to stay anonymous, and this is where online gambling takes the cake. This is largely due to cryptographic technology that encrypts user data and allows for transactions with pseudonymous IDs. These safe casinos allow users to enjoy a great gaming experience without the risk of their data being intercepted.
Of course, you can make the argument that casino enthusiasts won’t have this issue if they visit walk-in casinos, but then you’re not factoring in convenience. It is because these online casinos are able to ensure not just security but convenience that every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants a slice of them.
Not too many places exemplify this shift from old to new, like New Jersey. A quick study of the gaming environment makes it clear that walk-in revenue is not what it used to be, and internet gaming has found its footing in a remarkable surge. As of March 15, 2024, Atlantic City’s nine casinos saw $211.5 million in revenue, down nearly 2% from the previous year. In fact, the last time this can be considered a positive margin was the COVID year when they realized $196 million in revenue. Word on the street is that internet gaming is breaking all the records, and in-person gambling has taken the back seat. Does this mean clearly that online gambling is more popular? Not quite.
The reason it looks like internet gambling has KOed brick-and-mortar casinos is that we are looking at a relatively small slice of time. It is expected that we will see the surge we are currently experiencing with internet gambling; it is a shiny new thing, and with VR and ARR technology to sweeten the experience, many users are convinced there’s no need ever to visit the casino floor. But VR tech is not the same as seeing the roulette ball spin in the wheel in person; it’s not the same as seeing the cards shuffled, and people hustle and bustle down the floor.
Bitcoin casinos, online casinos, or iGaming - whatever you choose to call them are simulators- great simulators, in fact. Still, they can not replace the authentic casino experience. In the near future, as tech continues to advance, but right now, walk-in casinos and online casinos serve and are popular with two different demographics. If you have other places to be, sure, log in on your mobile and place your bets, but if you want to experience the MGM Grand, the Bellagio, The Venetian, or The Monte Carlo, they don’t come to you — you go to them.
