Are Brick and Mortar Casinos Thriving?

Gamblers have a lot of options when they want to play casino games. With the world of online gambling growing rapidly, many start to wonder if brick-and-mortar casino locations will survive. Virtual casinos allow people to choose from thousands of games at any time of day. People don’t have to leave their houses to play their favourite games.

So, how does this affect local casinos? Gambling is a growing industry. As more online casinos come on the scene, it may actually be a good thing for local casinos. We’ll discuss this and more below.

The Brick and Mortar Casino

Before we get started, you might be wondering what a brick-and-mortar casino actually is. A Brick and mortar casino refers to a physical casino building that patrons visit to play real-money games and enjoy entertainment. The term emerged in the past couple of decades to distinguish between playing at a traditional location vs online gaming.

Is Online Gambling A Threat?

Online gaming has a lot of advantages for the average gambler. People like this option because they can choose from thousands of games without leaving their homes. Online casinos are open 24/7, so players can have fun whenever they want. One of the best parts is they never have to wait on slot machines or table games. They can connect within seconds.

While online casinos are convenient for gamblers all over the world, they aren’t putting the state of land-based casinos in jeopardy. It’s quite the opposite. Online gambling could give brick-and-mortar casinos an advantage.

Land-based casinos are most popular among people ages 50 through 70. On the other hand, online games are more popular with people in their 20s and 30s. But, brick-and-mortar casino locations can still attract a younger generation. It’s how they adapt moving forward that will determine how successful they are.

Local casinos that have started bringing new technology into their locations have seen an increase in younger visitors. Millennials and Generation Z are more interested in skill-based games. They tend to get bored with games like baccarat and classic slots.

As long as casinos are willing to adapt to future demographics, online games shouldn’t hurt the business of local casinos. After all, there are certain aspects of a brick-and-mortar casino that can’t be replicated online. The atmosphere, live tables, and socialization aren’t the same online.

Casino Revenue

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, land-based casinos experienced a decline in revenue while online casinos had soaring profits. Luckily, over the past few years that has started to change. There are still people that used to visit local casinos often that now gamble at home instead. But, local casinos have gained new customers because there were people who learned how to gamble by playing online.

From 2021 to 2022, New Zealand land-based casinos earned a revenue of $387 million. Popular land-based casino CitySky Auckland had a sales growth of 11.15%. In the US, land-based casinos earned a revenue of $3.97 billion.

Online Games and Casino Games

Whether you’re playing online or at a local casino, the general idea of the games will be the same. Players will still follow the same rules. While the games are the same, there are a few things that make online gambling different from what you experience at the casino.

Online Games

With online casinos, you can choose from thousands of real-money betting games. Most casinos allow players to try the games out for free using the demo version. The catalogue of titles is usually more extensive at online casinos because local casinos have limited space on the game floor.

One of the unique things about games like online slots and online poker is that players can receive bonus offers from the platform allowing them to play for free. These offers include free spins, deposit matches, and no-deposit bonuses.

Casino Games

When it comes to quality entertainment, you can’t go wrong with brick-and-mortar casino games. This is where people can get the full-on casino experience. From pulling the trigger on the slot machine or playing poker face-to-face with other players, the games are always more exciting when they’re played at brick-and-mortar casinos.

The games are more social when there’s a physical presence at the casino. Visitors enjoy the atmosphere while getting to socialize with other players and gamblers. It’s easier to stay within budget because there’s still a lot of entertainment watching other players on the table games after you’ve played a few rounds.

One of the best advantages of local casino games is that it’s easier to keep problem gambling under control. With online gambling, people can burn through money very quickly and there’s nobody there to tell them when to stop. At a local casino, players tend to play the games slower and enjoy the moment. There’s also trained and qualified staff on-site at the brick-and-mortar casinos to keep an eye out for problem gambling.

A Final Thought On Brick And Mortar Casinos

Brick-and-mortar casinos are still profitable and thriving. The convenience of online casinos has gained a lot of attention since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they haven’t stopped visitors from playing their favourite games at the local casino. As long as brick-and-mortar casinos continue to adapt to new technology and pay attention to what games patrons prefer, they should continue to thrive.

Resources:

American Gaming Association

Department of Internal Affairs – Te Tari Taiwhenua

Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory

The Motley Fool – The Millennial Problem: Why We (Don’t) Gamble