A great deal of attention has been paid to the world of online gambling lately, as government, industry, and the population at large try to understand difficult issues such as locality on the Internet. A large number of people have a keen interest in the differences between online gambling and land-based casinos.
Too little attention though, has been paid to the end user experience. What about the players, the ones all of this attention is based around? GoldenPalace.com feels it's time to take a look at the issues from a player's perspective. A good question to start with would be, "which is superior, online slots or land-based machines?".
Land-based slots are the most popular casino game in the world. The slots pay out more money to players than all table games combined. Can this prolific section of land-based gaming truly translate to the digital Internet? An overwhelming number of slots players think it translates beautifully. Online slots have quickly become the most popular form of Internet gaming, partially due to the easy access to online slots (land-based casinos also provide easy access to slot machines), and partially due to the fact that they are so easy to play.
Land-based slot machines have been digital for decades, so the transition to online games is a fairly smooth one. Some people are confused when they are told that regular slot machines are just a computer inside a cabinet, but this is precicely the case. Land-based slot machines are operated by a computer chip with a random number generator built in. The slots "software" is simply hard-coded onto the computer chips in the machine, and it works exactly like an online slots game.
Consequently, there is very little difference between online slots and land-based machines, at least when it comes to how the game works and what your odds are like. What differences do exist then?
Land-based casinos can certainly offer flashier lights and sounds than the online slots version. The graphics on online slot machines have advanced to the point that they are very realistic and entertaining - but of course, you can't reach out and touch it. This will always be the defining difference between the two styles of play.
Online slots offer a host of other no-so-obvious benefits. How easy is it for example, to play slots from the most comfortable chair in your house? It's hard to bring your own furniture into the casino. In the same vein, it's hard to bring your own fridge, music, and pillows into the casino too. Many people are drawn to the fact that playing from your own house gives you all the creature comforts of home as well as exciting casino action - right at your fingertips! If you're playing online and you choose to pause in the middle of a session to grab a sandwich, nobody can come and steal your machine!
Perhaps the most compelling difference between online slots and land-based casino play is the way in which you are comped. At the casino, if you are an avid slots player and put in several hours in a day, you can expect to garner a small comp, or coupon, as a reward. Online casinos reward players in a different manner altogether. Since there is so much competition online, and location is no longer an issue, all of the online casinos in the world are vying for your business. This means you get comped, not for how much you've played at a casino, but simply for choosing to play at that casino in the first place. Sign up bonuses are commonplace online and offer you a large amount of real casino credit, which you can use to increase your bankroll, enjoy more time at the slots, and enjoy more chances to win.
Being comped ahead of time instead of as a reward for your level of play is a refreshing change for many slots fans. Combine this with all of the other benefits of online slots, and it becomes very clear which one serves the players needs best.