Online casinos versus land-based casinos in Ireland
Not many countries have deep connections to gambling the way Ireland does. It's the good old "luck of the Irish", which is a phrase that has stuck to Ireland for generations, continuing to connect Ireland to casino gaming. The strong themes flowing through prominent areas of casino betting, such as slot gaming, also ensure that bettors connect the country to certain casino games.
Ireland continues to create excitement in its own unique corner of the gambling industry. Sports betting in Ireland is vast, as is horse racing, a sport world renowned for its betting markets. Although land-based casinos may have started the current trend we're seeing today, there's a lot about online casino gaming that has allowed it to rise as a legitimate competitor to most casinos worldwide, with Irish bettors following a similar mindset.
Advantages of online casinos
Just like other industries that started to flourish in the digital age, online casinos were able to appeal to a massive global audience. The internet broke down many barriers, meaning localized businesses suddenly had to compete against the best online overnight. Competition like this came in many forms, and with great risk came great reward, as the local businesses who got it right soon had an international clientele.
Online casinos that set their sights bigger and got their brand out there in the early days of the internet could sell the idea of gambling from home as a more accessible and convenient option. Just like Amazon did with shopping and food delivery websites proved, if there's a more straightforward, more convenient way of performing a task you enjoy, the human psyche will inevitably develop an interest towards it.
Ultimately, online casinos embodied this with bonuses, increased convenience, fair play, large varieties of specific games and a battleground of welcome promotions and bonuses, where you, the customer, benefited as online operators went head-to-head to offer players the best deals.
Advantages of land-based casinos
If online casinos dominated convenience, security, a wider range of games and the best promotions, land-based casinos would cease to exist. Land-based casinos are still a global multibillion-dollar sector, so you can make an argument regarding their positives.
Casinos have explored their options and the angles available to them to bring in people and sell their product as a better all-around package than online casino gaming. Land-based casinos often have live music or hospitality offers where you can claim free drinks. If you book a big group of friends or family, you could potentially bolster this social experience by having your own private room and live dealer.
The combination of the casino atmosphere, human connection, other amenities and live music and entertainment still brings millions of people through the doors of land-based casinos globally every year. Also, older gamers might not be internet-savvy and want to avoid online gaming altogether.
Drawbacks of online casinos
As with any avenue of casino gaming, there are pros and cons. Online casino gaming has many drawbacks to be aware of; some bettors develop secretive gambling patterns due to the level of convenience, as they can ultimately bet whenever they want from home or away. Clearly, for those who are prone to developing a gambling issue, this can spell trouble.
However, you can shield yourself from the most harmful levels of problem gambling by ensuring you only gamble with money you can afford to lose and by setting up time and deposit limits to stop you from playing for too long. By not having a social setting like a land-based casino, bettors must be wary of losing track of time and not having a watchful eye telling them to call it a night.
Some online casinos can pose security risks, so by ensuring that you check the site's licensing and explore social media reviews that detail the pros and cons of playing with that provider, you should be able to avoid rogue operators.
Drawbacks of land-based casinos
Land-based casinos are most active during the weekend, and depending on the size of the casino, this can spell problems for you if you're looking to play a popular casino game. If you've been to a small casino in a big town or city, you'll know what we're referring to.
Games such as roulette and blackjack, which can attract hundreds of bettors on any given night, can become extremely crowded, often with people leaning across each other to place bets and being unable to see the table after placing their wager.
For those bettors looking to relax and unwind, a packed, loud casino with limited accessibility favourite games and tables can essentially end up having the opposite impact. Unlike online casinos, which have no physical space limitations, there is a limit to how many casino games and tables land-based operators can set up across the casino floor.
The regulatory landscape in Ireland
Since the turn of the 21st century with technological advancements and the meteoric rise of the digital landscape, all countries that have revamped their gambling legislation have covered both land-based and online casinos. Although the UK was one of the first to do so in 2005, Ireland is another European country with strong, lucid laws that allow casino companies to set up digitally in cities across the country and expand land-based operations throughout the Emerald Isle.
Although the regulatory landscape often changes and adapts to cultural pressures and behaviours, Irish gambling is in a great position. Within the next five years, the size of the Irish gambling industry is set to grow above €1.25bn. With legislation in place to protect bettors and businesses, there shouldn't be any significant regulatory changes for at least the next few years.
Key differences in user experience
Casino gamers have access to more casino gaming options than ever before. Prior to the internet making this once-in-a-generation impact, land-based casino games played in Ireland were a relatively small market. Although gambling is something Irish people have enjoyed for centuries, the legislative landscape made it difficult for certain types of gambling activities and bettors.
Ultimately, it boils down to a handful of factors. If you're more of an extroverted person who enjoys the atmosphere of a casino and the social backdrop, then this key difference will often drive you to land-based providers. Conversely, if you want to unwind on your own and relax by playing a few slot games from your mobile device at home, online casino gaming will more often than not be your choice.
Some bettors who have worked in an office or remotely all week will want to get involved in a social environment and speak to people in a land-based casino. Again, it depends on physical location and your personality, as the home-based online betting alternative is the main attraction for many, but with welcome bonuses, promotions, virtual reality and cryptocurrency gaming all beginning to make serious noise in the industry, the wise money seems to be on online casino gaming continuing to grow its market share.
What type of gambling do Irish people prefer
With so many online markets and thousands of betting companies providing platforms for Irish bettors to explore, a certain cluster of games seems to appeal to Irish punters more than others. Gaelic sports and horse racing are synonymous with Irish culture, and they often see a lot of activity, both online and in land-based branches.
From a casino perspective, Irish-themed slots are a huge attraction, often featuring tales from Irish folklore or instruments that are again synonymous with Irish culture. The ease of using slot machines in gaming and the simplicity of being able to just sit down and play in both land-based and online casinos make it one of the most consistently popular gambling methods in Ireland. Card-based games attract a huge audience too, as does roulette.
Irish gambling FAQ
Are online casinos better than real casinos?
Well, that depends on who you ask. Given the pros and cons of both that we have detailed today, it is a subjective decision — the ball is in your court. However, one definite is that they both have many positives to consider.
What are the differences between online and land-based casinos?
Convenience, accessibility, bonuses and gaming choice. However, this isn't ironclad, and some factors drive both. For instance, land-based casinos are beginning to base their bonus offers for VIP customers or points-based systems on the success of those used in the online world of casino gaming and are starting to experience success themselves.
What is the difference between online casinos and live casinos?
Live casino gaming is just one element of online casinos. While online casinos encompass the entire industry, live casinos refer to tables with human dealers where the gameplay is streamed over the internet. Regardless of the game, be it poker, roulette or blackjack, a live casino will have a human dealer operating each game and often interacting with the bettors via a live chat.
Why are online casinos better than offline?
Online casinos are increasingly looking for ways to socialize their offer, whether through the live dealer option, as we discussed in the last question, or by offering methods for gamblers and bettors to have live chats with each other. In addition, many are now veering towards virtual reality to make their approach even more immersive and capture more of a land-based audience. However, there's no right or wrong opinion on this matter; it depends on player experience and what you most enjoy.
What are the popular online casino games offered in Ireland?
It seems Irish slots like Rainbow Riches are always popular, but traditional poker games like roulette also attract a consistent stream of bettors too.