How much do you REALLY know about online gambling?
When it comes to online gambling, you know how to place bets, you know your favourite games, and you might know a few helpful strategies too. But how well do you really know all the ins and outs? Take a look at our list of the things most people don’t know about online gambling, and see how clued up you are about online casino gaming as a whole.
It’s big business
Take a wild guess as to how much of the gambling industry’s profits are made from online casinos. What would you say? Maybe 40%, 50% or even 60%? Nope, all wrong, thank you for playing. The real number is 70%. 70% of the entire gambling industry’s profits coming from online gaming alone. It’s an astonishing figure, particularly when you consider that if 70% of profit is made from online gambling, then only 30% is made from actual real-life casinos. That’s just how big an impact online gambling has made over the years, and it’s a massive one.
How big? Well, according to the Online Poker Report, revenue for online gambling in June of 2019 was approximately $38 million – and in 2020, it’s now worth almost $50 million, with analysts reporting growth of over 10% year on year. It’s rapid, it’s lucrative and it’s a profit juggernaut that shows no sign of slowing down. Big business indeed!
It’s free
It might seem wildly contradictory to say that online casino gambling is big business, and then to immediately follow that by saying that it’s free as well – but both statements are actually true. If you’re an existing casino player, you’ll know about the free part already, but if you’ve yet to dip your toe in the online gambling water, this might be news to you – and good news at that.
Yes, online casino gambling can be completely free if you sign up to play for free, and what’s more, it’s a good beginner strategy too. Taking some time to try out the games and the casino environment with no risk attached can help you to familiarise yourself with online gambling, and become comfortable playing games and placing bets. Then once you’re satisfied that you know what you’re doing, you can upgrade to real money play and start placing actual bets. Practice makes perfect, and if you can practice without losing any money along the way, so much the better!
It’s all about the RNG
You know that the outcomes of casino games are completely fair and completely random (or at least, you do now), but do you know why? Three words. Random Number Generator. Known as the RNG, the Random Number Generator is the algorithm behind each and every online casino game, bingo game and poker game you play, and it’s what ensures that your gaming is always fair every time you hit the bet button.
So how does it work? Well, it’s complicated, but essentially an RNG is program that generates random numbers, and assigns each of those numbers to a different potential outcome within a specific game. While you’re playing, the RNG will cycle through each of these various numbers thousands of times a second – and as soon as you hit a button to spin the slots reels or deal a Blackjack card, the RNG will stop on a particular number at the same time – and you’ll have your fair and random outcome.
Even better, all reputable casinos will submit to regular auditing by third party testing agencies such as eCOGRA or TST to ensure that their RNGs are fair and compliant – so you can be sure you aren’t being cheated or scammed in any way. Because it’s all about playing fair, and that’s exactly what the RNG is there for.
It’s a slots-crazy industry
What’s the most popular type of game in any online casino? If you answered ‘slots’, you’re bang on. Slots have always been a hugely popular draw card of land-based casinos, and they’re every bit as well-loved online too, generating a significant amount of profit for the industry too.
So what’s the reason behind their enduring popularity? Firstly, it’s the fact that they’re completely engaging in every way. They’re bright and colourful and flashy, they’re loud and attention-grabbing, and they’re filled with millions in jackpot winnings too. Who wouldn’t want to take a spin? Secondly, they’re so easy to play. There’s no intricate gaming strategy needed – just sit down and play, no complex gaming knowledge needed. And finally, with a wide betting range available, they’re designed to suit every kind of budget. You don’t need to be a high roller or a loaded VIP – just choose a bet size that you can afford, and you’ll be in with a spin. They’re fun, they’re simple, and they’re affordable too. What’s not to love?
It’s hassle-free
How much do we love land-based casinos?! They’re awesome right? The electric atmosphere, the thrill of going up against Lady Luck, and even just dressing up for a night of something completely different – it’s an experience all its own! That said, there are a few downsides to it as well. There’s the trip there, looking for parking, having to wait for a certain slot machine or a seat at the tables, paying money for food and drinks while you’re at the casino, and then often having to pay for parking on the way out too. There are pros, but there are definitely cons to land-based gaming as well.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Those little negatives about real life casino play? Not a thing when you’re playing online. There’s no need to drive or pay for transport or look for parking or shell out money for it afterwards. Just log onto your online casino right from your computer or mobile device, wherever you are. There’s no waiting to play either, because at your online casino, you always have priority seating – just play what you want, when you want. No stress, no fuss. And there’s no need to pay for extra food or drinks – just pay a visit to your fridge, pour yourself a drink and fix yourself a snack. It’s just you in your fluffy bunny slippers on the couch. Or you in your swimsuit on the beach. Or you in your casual best on the train. Wherever you are, whenever you log on, that’s your casino, and it is meant to be enjoyed!
It’s impossible to count cards
So don’t even try – it’s honestly the biggest waste of time. Can it be done in land-based casinos? Of course, there are plenty of books and movies about it (like the movie 21, with Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess, just saying). Can it be done in online casinos? That’s a big fat no.
Why? Because unlike land-based casinos, when you play Blackjack at an online casino, the deck is reshuffled after every hand. This would take time in a real-life casino, but online where a computer is doing the shuffling, it’s a matter of mere seconds. So if the deck is freshly shuffled after every hand, counting cards won’t help you at all. What will help you is staying alert, focusing, and trying to make the best decisions you can in every game. It’s a way of keeping the playing field evenly balanced, and while it probably won’t make for as action-packed a movie, it will make for a more fair gaming experience – which means more fun at the end of the day, and that’s what it’s all about!
It’s not rigged
You might wonder about the fairness and legality of it all (how hard can it be to hack an online casino?) but in fact, online casinos are notoriously hard to rig – plus from the casino’s point of view, it’s just completely unnecessary too. First and foremost, as we’ve previously explained, online casinos have an RNG in place to ensure the outcome of every game is always guaranteed to be random and fair. Secondly, with a built-in house edge on every game, it’s not necessary for casinos to rig their games, because they have an advantage anyway. And thirdly, the penalties for rigging games are so severe if caught, it’s just not worth it ever, whether in terms of the heavy financial consequences, or the bad publicity that’s almost certain to follow. So if this is a point you’ve been worried about, rest assured that playing online is always a safe bet.
It’s so much fun!
Yes, you probably already knew this, but it’s worth mentioning anyway because it really is the most important point. At the end of the day, online gambling is just plain FUN! It’s pure entertainment at its best, it’s thrilling, it’s engaging, and it’s exactly what gambling is supposed to be. So don’t take it too seriously – take it for the light-hearted pastime it is, manage your bankroll, play responsibly, and enjoy yourself! Because whether you’re playing at a land-based casino or logging onto an online one, that’s just what gaming is all about!
Happy Spinning 🙂