Online casinos are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. One, they're convenient. You play from the comfort of home, no dress-up, no need to travel to a bricks-and-mortar casino. And online casinos operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can play at whatever time the whim strikes you – in the middle of the night, during lunch, whatever.
And then there's the volume. Land-based casinos might have no more than five or ten pokies and tables, whereas an online casino contains a large catalogue, anything from hundreds of pokies to countless variations of blackjack, roulette, and even live dealer offerings. Online casinos often also have greater return-to-player values, owing to the fact that they cost less to run.
Don’t forget the bonuses! Online casinos offer attractive welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty rewards to keep players coming back. These promotions are much rarer in land-based casinos, where you might only see rewards for frequent players or VIPs.
Finally, online casinos typically allow for lower stakes. In contrast, land-based casinos often have minimum bets that may be too high for casual players. Online casinos, however, give you the flexibility to bet as little as AU$0.10 or even less on certain games.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the benefits of playing at online casinos versus land-based casinos:
Benefits of Playing at an Online Casino vs. Land-Based Casinos
Feature |
Online Casinos |
Land-Based Casinos |
Convenience |
Play from anywhere, 24/7, without leaving home. |
Requires travel, set opening hours, and location. |
Game Variety |
Hundreds of pokies, multiple table games, live dealer options. |
Limited game selection, fewer variations of each game. |
Bonuses & Promotions |
Frequent welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty rewards. |
Few promotions, mainly for VIPs or frequent players. |
Payouts |
Higher payouts due to lower operating costs. |
Lower payouts due to higher operating costs. |
Betting Flexibility |
Lower minimum stakes, with bets starting from AU$0.10. |
Higher minimum bets, often out of reach for casual players. |
Privacy |
Complete privacy while playing and making transactions. |
Less privacy, as you'll be in a public environment. |
Atmosphere |
Enjoy a relaxed, private environment. |
Social, energetic, but can be crowded and noisy. |