Unless you have been living under a rock for the last decade, you will most likely have witnessed the rise of online casinos and other gambling platforms.
In fact, so strong has this growth been in the last couple of years that the online gambling industry was one of the few sectors to continue experiencing growth during the pandemic and the economic shockwaves that followed.
In one sense, the pandemic actually contributed to the continued rise of online casinos, which accelerated the shift from in-person to online gambling that was already under way.
Also contributing to this shift has been a broad sweep of regulatory changes taking place around the world, which has seen more and more countries opening up the gambling sector for investment. As such, countries like Canada are readying themselves for an influx of operators and online casino fans as the provinces introduce new regulations.
There is a similar story present in other countries such as New Zealand, which has seen a sharp upsurge in the popularity of online casinos in recent years. And when combined with a relatively open regulatory environment in which casino operators can apply for licenses, the number of online pokies in New Zealand has increased significantly over the last few years.
With all this in mind, however, a question that remains to be answered is what makes online casinos so popular with fans.
The convenience factor
One of the most obvious reasons why many individuals choose online casinos over in-person locations is the convenience factor.
Your time spent playing casino games at an in-person casino can often be filled with many activities that don’t involve actually playing games. This includes lining up to get in, waiting for your preferred table or game to open up, and queuing to get a drink.
For some, this all forms part of the experience. And the thrill of wandering through the casino hall with a drink in hand helps to make the experience that little bit more special.
For others with more limited time, however, this is all unnecessary fluff and takes away from what they enjoy most. As such, for those who have less time to play, the ease with which you can hop into an online casino game is much preferred.
You can get started with online betting in a matter of minutes. And once your account is set up and fully verified, it should never take you more than a few seconds to access a game. What is even better is that as long as you have a stable internet connection, there are few barriers to entry!
A more social experience
Another reason why online casinos have become so popular in recent years is because they bring a uniquely social aspect to the casino experience.
Many online casino platforms now integrate seamlessly with social media platforms and various other forms of online communication. This makes them a great way to spend time catching up with friends, regardless of how far apart you are.
Online gaming is a hugely popular social activity these days and online casinos are no different. Online casino developers are very much aware of this trend and have integrated more and more social dimensions to their games in recent years.
Variety is the spice of life
When you are playing casino games in a physical casino, the choices you have available to you in terms of what you can play will be limited by what the casino itself has on offer. And while many in-person casinos often have a large selection available, this will generally be restricted by the amount of floor space they have available.
Similarly, if the casino is busy on a particular day and there aren’t many free tables or available spaces, this will also limit what games you can actually play.
This is not an issue when it comes to online casinos, however, which will often have literally thousands of games available to play. And not only will there be a wide variety of games on offer, you can also choose a different type of casino based on your preferences. As such, if you only want to play online slots, you can choose a slots-focused casino to play with.
And if you are a fan of sports like the NFL or the NBA, you can even choose an online casino that also offers online sports betting capabilities.
It is this ability to present a platform dedicated to your specific niche preferences that has helped to make online casinos so popular.