As you’ve probably guessed, the abyss between your comfy couch and the blinking craziness of Las Vegas is my attempt to place a unique slogan on the ultimate battle of land-based vs. online casinos. It’s a very discussed topic now that online gambling has proven to be such a world mega success. And even though both options offer nothing but a gambling platform, they couldn’t have been more poles apart. So, let’s dig in and find out which choice is better for you!

Gambling in your Pyjamas

There is no doubt that online casinos have one huge (or should I call it hygge) advantage. Betting from the comfort of your own bed or couch while looking like a mess, drinking beer and eating junk food or if you’re one of those healthy-living enthusiasts – let me rephrase – sipping on a cup of tea and enjoying apple slices. So, whatever your cosy, dream place may look like, online betting can bring the authentic casino excitement straight into your living room. You’re allowed to surround yourself with thousands of strategies, calculators or whatever else you feel could assist you in making optimal decisions. There is no one watching or judging, you can scream and curse, cry, and laugh as much as you want, no need for a classy etiquette behaviour. You can even play on a headstand if this is how your brain functions better.

The next best thing when playing online is you can do it whenever your heart desires. Any spare time that you have may be a short trip to Las Vegas, but instead of buying a plane ticket you just have to open your laptop or load the casino app on your phone or tablet. Last but not least, online casinos offer a much more diverse game selection than the land-based ones! Interactive live dealer platforms, the latest and most spectacular slots, various table games, you name it, you will get it x1000 in almost any online casino out there!

The Glory of Land-Based Casinos

Being glamorous has nothing to do with convenience, though! Going to a land-based casino requires much more effort such as dressing up, taking the time to go and following a set of etiquette rules when playing. But then again, betting the old-school style comes with a bunch of high-profile and socializing aspects. It’s а whole different vibe. You can communicate with the dealer or your table mates, drink an expensive whiskey, make it an exciting night out. There’s no doubt, it’s definitely much more time-consuming and expensive than online wagers but I would compare it to eating at a fancy restaurant once in a while to feel extra special, enjoy the polite service, and taste gourmet dishes. Of course, cooking your comfort food at home every evening it’s super nice as well, but then again, the occasional treat helps us appreciate the ordinary even more.

At the end of the day, the choice is all yours – convenience vs. social excitement. My tip is to explore both and find your personal balance between the two.

And my answer is absolutely NO! So, if you have any inbuilt bias, I’ll kindly ask you to leave them at the door. My personal story is the perfect evidence that gambling is so much more than a modern addiction which leads to troubles only. In fact, betting has cast all my demons out and has provided me with a fresh new start. For that reason, I felt like I needed to at least try and switch the perspective of those of you believing that there is nothing but negativity in gambling. So, before starting with the in-depth casino related topics here is my most dedicated attempt to make you see how everything has a positive and a negative side and it’s totally up to us which one we’ll acknowledge or how we will find the perfect balance between good and bad.

All skill-based casino games require a heavy mental activity, or to say it simpler – you have to think in order to allow your intellect to win against the unpredictable dynamic of chance. It’s a well-known fact that it’s wrong and almost a sure disaster to put your trust in fortune alone. I’d like to think that gambling trains our brain to handle risk as no other activity out there. And life is full of risks, every day and everywhere! Making important decisions quickly and effectively is not something that we all do well, so if gambling really trains us to get better at lowering the risk, why do we never state the benefits and always rather emphasize how dangerous it is.

I know what you’re going to say now! What about games like slots and roulette which have nothing to do with your skills but with odds only? And in fact, they have quite the opposite effect on your brain. Not only will they make you think less but can also trick you into believing that randomness follows some kind of a pattern which might be absolutely mind-blurring. This is the risk, though, and as I said above, risks can never be avoided, they should be balanced instead. We all know that moderation is the key and to train moderation, chance-based games are the perfect exercise. They challenge us to develop self-discipline, to make clear judgments or to put it in other words – to play only as long as we can afford it. Managing your bankroll includes knowing when to walk away from a game, never going in with all your hopes or savings – all things that are a valuable lesson not only in gambling but in life in general. The power of self-control is a habit and the secret of our success depends on how well we have instilled that habit into our lives.

So, I can easily conclude that gambling mimics life and is our most fun training playground!