What are Online Casinos Offering Players that Offline Casinos Cannot Compete Against?

Ireland, known for its verdant countryside and legendary humour, has a strong history of gambling too. Written accounts stretch back to a time when the land was ruled by high kings, between 100 BC and 60 AD.

In a place called the Curragh, now the home of horse racing in Ireland, chariot races were held. People came to watch and place their bets on their preferred chariots.

As with many parts of the world, horse racing made gambling a popular pastime in Ireland. For a few centuries, it was the preferred game to bet on right up until the 2000s.

Throughout Ireland, people bet on other games too, mostly card games such as poker. While the country was under English rule, there were no laws to prevent this.

In fact, Ireland was one of the earliest countries to adopt a Betting Act, which occurred in 1926. This meant that anywhere you placed a bet needed to be licensed, a practice that continues today.

For a country that loves to gamble, there are a limited number of casinos. This is because they are technically illegal in the country.

However, you can find private gaming clubs where you become a member and are allowed to play. These clubs are found in:

Dublin
Cork
Galway
Limerick

And some other cities in Ireland.

For everyone else in the country, games were played informally. Perhaps this is why online casinos have been such a hit in the Green Isle.

How online casinos grew in Ireland

The first online casinos began appearing around 1996. At this time, land-based poker tournaments were being run throughout Ireland.

However, not everyone has the opportunity to commute to the nearest big town or city. This limited some people from participating in poker nights.

It wasn’t until the 2000s when more and more homes in the country gained internet access. Then word spread about online gambling sites, and Irish people began accessing them.

In the past decade, online gambling has exploded in Ireland. 2015 saw an amendment to the Betting Act, which made online gambling legal.

When 200 free spins with real money are being offered, those living in Ireland want to take part. This passion for gaming has been instilled for generations, and now it’s been made easier.

With 91% of homes connected to broadband internet, it’s estimated that 59% of Ireland’s population gamble online.

Why have online casinos become so popular?

In a country like Ireland, it is impossible for land-based casinos to compete with their online counterparts. Here are some of the reasons for that:

1. Accessibility

Previously, people would have to plan to go to a land-based member’s club, it wasn’t just a whim. Now they can play easily on their mobile phone, so the convenience level is high.

If someone wants an immersive experience, they can set it up on a PC in their living room. They can be in a live game in minutes while sitting at their kitchen table.

There’s no commute to anywhere or need to get home at the end of the night. Players aren’t under pressure to buy expensive drinks or tip a waiter.

There’s also the fact that some players wouldn’t have felt comfortable entering a land-based casino. They usually have big burly bouncers on the door to keep troublemakers out and they are intimidating to shy players.

Those who wish to play anonymously now have the opportunity to do so online. This has led to many more trying out new games.

2. Relaxing atmosphere

It can be fun to dress up and go for a night at the casino, but it can also be stressful. Now players can sit at home in their pajamas and still enjoy a game.

Since you’re playing in a setting that suits you, it helps you relax. This is a good state of mind for gambling, as you don’t feel as much pressure.

3. The game selection

With the advent of technology, casino games have all the bells and whistles online that they had on land. In fact, many would say that the games now surpass those in land-based establishments.

Online casinos definitely have the edge when it comes to the number of games they offer. There are hundreds of variations on popular slots, themes and settings.

While casinos in Vegas and Macau are enormous, they still don’t have the floor space needed to match what’s online.

4. Better rewards

Have you ever walked into a land-based casino and been given free money to play with? The short answer is no, however practically every online casino gives you a welcome bonus.

Many let you play games for free to see which ones you like. Sites such as bonusfinder let you discover the best promotions.

When you play regularly, even for small sums, you’ll be rewarded with extra bonuses and free spins.

Online sites have more to offer

While there will always be a place for brick-and-mortar casinos, there’s no doubt that online casinos offer more. The industry will continue to evolve and provide players more options, so it shows no sign of slowing down.

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