Internet vs. Live Gambling
Gambling games are the same whether played on the computer or in person but Internet and live gambling offer completely different experiences. The rules of the games are the same but that’s where all similarities end. Each gambling venue has its own characteristics and advantages. The following list of advantages should help you pick the best venue for your real money gambling needs.
Advantages of Internet Gambling
Internet gambling is my first recommendation for the average gambler. It’s easy to get started, it doesn’t require a full day (or week) dedicated to the occasion and the gambling limits range from penny-sized bets to thousand dollar bets. Out of all the advantages Internet gambling offers, convenience is probably its greatest.
1. Convenience
Online gamblers don’t have to live near a casino or get up and drive somewhere to place bets. Internet gambling requires nothing more than a computer, a connection to the internet and a little bit of money. If you have those three things, you don’t even have to leave the house.
2. More Options
There are hundreds of online casinos to choose from and each one of those casinos offers hundreds of games. Internet gamblers aren’t stuck with just the closest casino and its limited selection of games. They have an advantage of choice that not even Las Vegas can compete with. Don’t like your current casino? No problem; a new one is just a click away.
3. Easier to Get Started
Imagine the new gambler who doesn’t know anything about craps. Now imagine him wanting to try craps but then looking over and seeing a bustling craps tables crowded by a group of people shouting, screaming and yelling out bets while using all sorts of craps lingo. That would be a pretty intimidating sight to see for the inexperienced gambler.
Online gambling doesn’t offer that same disadvantage. New players can get started with any game they want and take their time learning while they play. When you play online, you have every table all to yourself so you can move at your own pace.
4. Online Gambling Is Safer
Many traditional gamblers don’t trust Internet gambling but it’s actually safer than live gambling. I say this because Internet gambling is all done from the privacy of your home. You don’t have to carry lots of cash to and from the casino and if you win a big jackpot, it isn’t announced all over the casino.
There are numerous cases of gamblers and poker players being robbed at gunpoint after leaving the casino. Famed poker pro Greg Raymer was once held at gunpoint outside his hotel room in the Bellagio after leaving a high stakes poker game in 2004. The same thing goes for home poker games and underground casinos. You never hear about armed thugs breaking in to virtual casinos and demanding all the money.
5. Internet Gambling Is Cheaper
Internet casinos have a lot less overhead than live casinos so it’s cheaper to gamble on the Internet. The house advantage is usually smaller online and Internet casinos even offer smaller stakes because it costs nothing to start up an infinite number of tables. Live casinos can’t offer micro stakes casino games because they have to pay dealers and save space for the games that make money. Additionally, you don’t have to pay for gas and parking or be tempted to splurge on food and drinks at an Internet casino.
Advantages of Live Gambling
Live gambling definitely has its advantages; the biggest one being the experience. People often plan entire vacations around live casinos. Tourist destinations such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City are full of people who come from all around the world to gamble. If you have a lot of time and money on your hands, live gambling offers the richest experience.
1. Live Gambling Is a Bigger Experience
Live gambling, especially in a major destination like Las Vegas, offers a bigger and better experience than gambling on the Internet. Live gambling is comparable to a vacation whereas Internet gambling is just an activity used to pass time at home. Nothing can compare with the experience of visiting a major casino gambling resort, taking pictures and playing games alongside high rollers from all around the world.
2. Live Gambling Isn’t Done Alone
Gambling in a brick and mortar casino is a more social experience. In a live casino, you can talk and joke around with other people. The social interaction adds something to the experience that Internet gambling can’t offer, even in multi-player games.
3. High Stakes Games
Internet casinos offer some pretty high stakes but live casinos take the cake. Some casinos in Las Vegas allow players to bet $50,000 or more per hand at the blackjack tables. These high rolling games might not be for everyone, but it’s still cool to see them in action.