The UK gambling market is on a roll! Last year the overall value hit £14.4 billion (April 2017 to March 2018) with online gambling accounting for about 37% of the total market. The reasons many gamblers pick online options for casino, slots, bingo, and sports betting are varied but here are some of the main ones:
1. Convenience
This is easily the main reason many UK gamblers prefer online gambling vs. brick & mortar options. If you already placing bets online try to look for some more games available.
You can play your favourite games at home using your PC/Mac desktop or laptop. The process is faster and easier than traveling to the nearest casino, for example. The whole process lets you save time, effort, and money.
Another major benefit of online gambling is you can bet day or night. This differs from casinos that sometimes have limited hours of operation and are closed on weekends/holidays. This has a big effect on how often you can bet money on poker, slots, bingo, etc.
2. Rewards
Internet casinos often provide rewards points for every slot spin or table game hand a customer plays. You accumulate the points in your account then you can cash them in to earn extra games.
Yes, land-based casinos offer loyalty points. However, they take more time to accumulate than online casinos. So you could end up spending/losing a lot more money before you can earn meal/hotel comps, for example.
3. Selection
The sheer number of online casino, slot, and bingo titles is exponentially higher than those at land-based casinos. For example, the number of online slot titles is sky-high. You can find a wide range of 3 and 5 reel slot games and even video versions.
Just consider the limits of physical casinos due to floor space. Since it’s not an issue with online games, you’ll have the chance to find a new game to try when you get tired of playing the current title.
4. Banking
Today online gambling gives UK players the chance to enjoy fast and secure banking options. For example, some common options include credit/debit card, e-wallet, e-cheques, and bank accounts. This provides more versatility than physical casinos that often require customers to play in cash.
Sometimes you can even enjoy bonuses for using a particular p payment option at an online casino. This is related to the industry becoming increasingly competitive.
5. Freebies
Yes, the best things in life are free. Many online gambling sites offer freebies like free bingo games and slot spins. Sometimes there’s also a free version of games that lets you try them out before betting real money. Keep in mind that free games can also be tons of fun even if they don’t increase your bankroll.
6. Mobile
Newzoo Reports that games accounted for three-quarters of the $92.1 billion global revenue for mobile apps. That includes a spike in global gambling in the UK.
Today consumers have access to gambling through mobile-friendly sites and mobile apps. The latter provides an optimized user experience. Meanwhile, some companies design their websites so users have a similar experience whether they use web or mobile browsers.
Mobile gambling also provides more flexibility since mobile devices are more portable than PCs/Macs. You can use your smartphone or tablet to place a football bet, spin a slot, play a bingo game, and so on.
All you need is your device and web connectivity. Mobile gambling is something you can do when you’re taking public transport, waiting in a queue, or drinking a cappuccino at a coffee shop.
7. Stakes
Another plus of online casinos is you can bet any amount you want. This differs from land-based casinos that set minimum limits since they have salaries and overhead costs to pay.
These issues are less of a problem when you place online sports bets or play mobile slots, for example. You could play free games or bet real money and increase your bets if Lady Luck is on your side.
8. Bonuses
The competition is tough with new slot/bingo/casino titles and websites being launched constantly. This has resulted in a cornucopia of bonuses being offered.
This includes different types of bonuses like welcome, first/second deposit, match, etc. In many cases there are wagering requirements so you’ll have to bet a certain amount before you can claim real money you win. In addition, sometimes the bonuses give you free slot spins, for example, but you can’t win real money.
That’s OK. What’s important is these bonuses aren’t available at land-based casinos. The competition keeps getting tougher, so this results in more player perks like bonuses.