Luxury casinos are often lauded as the very pinnacle of the industry, with visitors offered an unparalleled playing experience. When you picture a luxury casino, you might be thinking of the likes of the one seen in Casino Royale, filled with decadent decor and glittering lights. Honestly, that’s not far off! These casinos offer an exclusive experience that players are willing to travel to and pay for to get a taste of.
Online casinos have shaken the industry up considerably, offering all the iconic games without players having to step foot outside their door—making them pretty popular! Although it can be hard for online casinos to compete when it comes to atmosphere, innovative live games could soon change that. So, what exactly is the difference between luxury and online casinos, and is the former really worth paying extra for?
Convenience vs. Occasion
One of the most significant differences between online and luxury casinos comes down to convenience. For many players, online casinos are an appealing option thanks to their greater accessibility; all they have to do is pull out their phone and in a few taps, they can find their favourite games. Convenience is an important selling point for those who might not have the time to commute to their local casino, or for those who have to fit spinning slots around a busy schedule.
Luxury casinos are pretty much on the other end of the spectrum! They’re not likely to be tucked away on your local high street (unless you live in a big city), so it’s not unusual for players to have to travel a good distance to a luxury casino.
Luxury Casinos Emphasise Experience
As luxury casinos are more upmarket than their counterparts, it’s not uncommon for them to have a pretty fancy black tie dress code. While you can play at an online casino in your pyjamas, you’ll have to make more of an effort if you fancy visiting a luxury alternative.
If you’re heading to a luxury casino, it’s likely for an occasion or a planned trip, rather than a spur-of-the-moment thing. That’s why providers really try to emphasise the experience and make their casinos a destination worth travelling to; they do this by offering upmarket bars and fine dining restaurants.
Different Game Offerings
Although both versions are more than likely to offer the iconic casino games you’d expect to see—such as poker, blackjack, and roulette—there are differences as well. In the UK, the most popular online casino games are slots, whereas in-person, it’s often card games like blackjack. It’s no surprise then that the two cater to these different tastes in their game offerings, with a big focus on slots for many online providers.
Luxury venues often have a wider variety than a standard casino, especially when it comes to card games. They’ll also have the most up-to-date versions of games incorporating the newest technology on the block; you should also be able to tell the difference between the other equipment at a luxury casino, with higher quality dice, cards, and counters.
Why are Online Slots So Popular?
Slots are a great budget and lower stake option for players, with spins usually setting them back less than a pound; players are often able to stretch their money even further by making the most of bonuses that offer free spins. While some casino games can be overwhelming when it comes to rules, all players have to do to get involved in slots is spin! Overall, slots are accessible to pretty much all players, and their themes and vibrant graphics make them a really eye-catching option.
Variety is the Spice of Life!
One big selling point for online slots is the sheer amount of variety available—from classics that incorporate the iconic money bags, fruit, and sevens to innovative options. Many slot games set themselves apart by incorporating modern technology, such as virtual reality, to better capture the atmosphere of a brick-and-mortar casino. There are also the cutting-edge interactive slots (or i-slots as they’re sometimes called), which add an additional layer of fun and interaction through mini-games that influence the overall slot outcome.
If you can dream up a slot, you can pretty much guarantee it’s already out there; there are options themed around the likes of the Vikings, iconic bands, television shows, and even other games like Monopoly. The sheer amount of choice means it’s easy to get overwhelmed, which is why many players turn to leading slot experts, Online-Slot.co.uk, to make their lives easier. Their expert team have over 75 years of experience in the industry and make sure to consider things like paylines, themes, RTP, and volatility to select the very best slots.
Inclusive vs. Exclusive
The cost is probably the most obvious difference between a luxury and online casino experience. In the virtual world, games are designed to be accessible to a wide range of players, with individual slot spins starting from as little as 10p. Usually, the lowest deposit available at an online casino is considerably lower than an average casino buy-in—let alone a luxury one! Players can deposit just a few pounds and are often allowed to withdraw amounts as low as £5.
There are also bonuses intended to make sure that all players have the best playing experience and stretch their budget as far as possible. These include no and low deposit options, where players can get bonuses for free or for depositing up to around £10. There’s a wide variety of bonuses on top of this as well, including free spins, deposit matches, and cashback rewards, which are designed to make sure everyone can find the right option for them.
Hey, Big Spender!
As you’ve likely assumed, luxury casinos come with a heftier price tag than their average alternatives. Week memberships to some of the most luxurious casinos in London, for example, start from a few thousand pounds. A year-long membership at London’s Les Ambassadeurs Club—which appeared in the James Bond film Dr No—will set you back an eyewatering £25,000! You can be sure that you won’t be able to stake your spare fiver at any of these establishments.
It’s not necessarily a criticism, though; after all, luxury casinos are intended to be just that, and they look to offer a higher quality experience across the board. While online casinos aim to include players regardless of budget, luxury casinos are exclusive and can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Closer to the Action With Live Games
We mentioned earlier that it can be hard for online casinos to compete when it comes to the atmosphere of a luxury casino, but one of the things helping to change that is live games. These games allow players to interact in real time with a professional dealer or croupier via livestream; they also replicate the casino experience closely by using impressive set and sound design. Effectively, they’re as close to the real thing as a player can get without having to leave their house!
How are Live Games Challenging Land-based Casinos?
For many players, live games are the perfect blend of convenience and the bustling atmosphere of land-based casinos they enjoy. There are already incredibly popular live versions of games like slots, blackjack, and poker that rival land-based casinos in terms of experience. As the livestreaming technology behind them continues to improve, it’s more than likely we’ll see more and more live game options in the future.
So, Should You Choose an Online or Luxury Casino?
Now, this is going to sound like a bit of a cop-out, but neither online nor luxury casinos are the inherently better option. This depends completely on what you’re looking for, whether you’re after the convenience of playing from wherever you like and whenever you like, or if you’re after the ceremony that comes with experiencing a luxury casino.
The two also differ over things like game options and budget; while online casinos focus on making sure all players can find the right option for them, luxury ones offer an exclusive experience. Although live games are helping online casinos replicate the electric atmosphere of their competitors, there’s no arguing that luxury ones are a more unique experience. Each specialises in different offerings, making them hard to compare and meaning that the right option for you depends on what you’re after.
