HOW MUCH IS AN ONLINE CASINO
LIKE THE REAL THING?
Playing casino games like blackjack and poker, or spinning the reels of a slot machine, can be exciting. However, not everyone lives close to a land-based casino where these games are readily available. So, playing at a brick and mortar casino can involve a lot of effort, just to get to the venue in the first place.
This problem was partially addressed when online casinos first started to appear, in 2006. However, they did not have quite the same feel as a land-based casino, in terms of excitement and atmosphere. Now, there is a different aspect of online casino play that tries to address this, the live casino. Many top casino brands have a live casino section on their websites. The question is, how much is an online live casino like a brick and mortar venue? In order to answer this question, let’s start by taking a closer look at live casinos online.
What is an online live casino?
If you visit an online casino, you will often find a live casino section listed on the homepage, like you can see here. You simply need to click to enter the section and you can start to enjoy the live casino experience. This means that you can play table games like blackjack and roulette with a live dealer present. For some games, you can also compete against other players in real time. This is especially the case when it comes to poker. Some live casinos also include a chat feature, so you can interact with other players. This mimics the social interaction that you would expect to get from visiting a land-based casino.
Online live casinos are popular with many casino enthusiasts. This is partly because random number generators (RNGs) are not used as they are for normal online casino games. It’s also largely due the fact that they provide an experience that is as close to a land-based casino as you can get without actually attending one.
Comparing a live casino online with the real thing
You can see that a live casino section of a website aims to create an authentic casino atmosphere. So, how close does it get?
When it comes to experiencing the noise and colors of a brick and mortar casino, an online live casino does not really come very close. There is something special about walking through the doors of a casino and being met with the flashing lights of an array of slot machines and the shouts of winning players.
Visiting one of the top casino resorts is also more of an experience than merely an opportunity to play casino games. You can visit a restaurant on site or have a drink in one of the bars. You cannot recreate this while sitting in your own home.
However, even though an online live casino does not completely capture the atmosphere of a land-based venue, it does have its advantages. These advantages include:
- Convenient casino play wherever and whenever you choose.
- More games available than in most traditional casinos.
- Less distractions if you are playing a game where you need to concentrate like poker.
- The opportunity for new players of games like blackjack to get experience without the pressure of sitting at an actual table.
It’s clear that playing at a live casino online is not exactly the same as playing at a real casino. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, if you are more interested in playing the games than in the overall experience.