Regardless of whether you are a player or not, you are probably aware of how big online casinos are nowadays. Now, if you are not a gambler, you might not know why that is so. To learn more and see whether this is something that might interest you as well, keep on reading.

Playing from Home

One of the biggest reasons why individuals decide to join an online casino is the fact that it allows them to play casino games from the comfort of their own home. For one, there are no crowds of people that can distract players from the game and mess with their focus. Being at home means that everyone can create the perfect atmosphere they like to play in. Maybe they need silence, maybe they want some chill or loud music in the background – playing from home makes all that possible. Then, there are no lines at certain games or tables. If all the slot machines in a land-based casino are taken, players have to wait. This is not an issue with online casinos. Finally, there are simply no traditional casinos in certain cities and people would have to travel far just to gamble for a few hours. It’s oftentimes not doable on a regular basis.

Mobile Apps On the Go

However, playing at home is not all online casinos are good for. Most reputable operators have released apps that people can use to play games when on the go. Whether it’s on their smartphone or tablet, these apps allow individuals to play during their commute to work, when on a lunch break or while they are waiting for an appointment.

Wide Variety of Games

Another big reason why people love playing in online casinos is the range of games they provide. When compared to traditional casinos, the online model simply has more to offer. While you can find the classic table games and slot machines in land-based establishments, there are more varieties of every single game online. From poker, roulette and blackjack through thousands of different slot games all the way to keno, there is truly something for everyone.

Live Events

In addition to the variety of games, online casinos have also started offering live casino games. People that love the real-life casino experience but cannot travel to a land-based casino most often choose this approach as there is a real croupier as well as players that can interact with each other using a chat system. Games such as live roulette, live blackjack and live Texas hold ‘em are just some of the available options.

Free Bets and Bonuses

Online casinos often offer free bets to individuals to show them what they can expect from their website or app. These are usually a free spin in a slot game and are given in a current game. On the other hand, there are also all sorts of bonuses that players that sign up can expect. From welcome bonuses that are offered when someone joins to refer-a-friend bonuses that are pretty self-explanatory, these deals allow people to play a few extra games that they don’t need to spend their own money on.

Special Promotions

Besides the aforementioned bonuses, online casinos are also aware of the importance of marketing. This is why they often include special promotions in their marketing strategy. Some players use this opportunity to only then deposit money into their account. For example, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Black Friday all come with certain offers, which players are ready to jump on and get a great deal.

Ease of Depositing and Withdrawing Money

Just like one can play from the comfort of their home, they can also put money into their account from the same spot. Most reputable casinos accept Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards as well as various e-wallets and regular bank transfers. The same goes for the withdrawal of one’s winnings. This means that there is no risk of being robbed on the street while carrying huge amounts of money that were just won in a land-based casino.

High Security

Other than not having to walk around town with loads of cash, online casinos also implement the latest security technology to keep their users’ data safe. The encryption they use means that no personal information can be stolen. Knowing that the casino is verified and licensed gives the players confidence that they will not be scammed.

As you can see, there are many reasons why someone would choose to play at an online casino. The variety of games on offer and continually advancing technology, designed to immerse you into the gaming experience, are hard to dismiss positives. Add to that the ability to safely test your skills for free, gain bonuses and promo offers, the appeal of the online gaming experience becomes clear.

The Coronavirus has affected the gambling world in a drastic way. Sports betting has effectively been halted in the United States, with all major sports postponing their seasons. Las Vegas and every other land-based casino in the country have also shut their doors.

Instead of March being the massive wagering month that Nevada and sportsbooks around the country are used to, the cancellation of March Madness led to the worst sports betting handle since 1993 in the Silver State.

However, there has been one sector of gaming that has been flourishing in a big way, and that is legit online casinos.

Online Casino Revenues Explode Amidst COVID Pandemic

Although gambling revenues are down for states across the board, one area that is exploding is online casino gambling. Poker has seen a surge as well, but nowhere near where casino gambling has gone in the past two months.

For example, with Atlantic City casinos closing their doors, revenues have skyrocketed for online casinos in the month of March in New Jersey. Gambling sites took in $64.8 in revenue that month. It was a near 25 percent increase from February and over a 65 percent increase from March 2019 numbers.

In Pennsylvania, we see similar numbers for online play. Though overall gaming revenue was down 51 percent, the state set new records for online casinos, bringing in over $24 million in revenue, setting records for monthly revenue, and the total amount wagered.

There are states around the country with similar marks for revenue and amount wagered.

Will This Spur Online Gambling Legalization Across the US?

It’s possible, but just because it becomes more economically viable or the opportunity presents itself, it doesn’t mean states will act.

One could draw the comparison to sports betting legalization, which has happened rapidly in the country after the Supreme Court overturned the Federal sports betting ban in May 2018. Since then, 16 states have regulated and legalized recreational betting in some form in their states.

However, we have to remember that the green light for legal online casinos and poker sites has been around since 2011.

The Wire Act Flip Flop

After much of the online poker world got wiped out by the US Department of Justice, in what became known as the “Black Friday” of poker, the online gambling world changed dramatically.

However, the DOJ quickly changed course on the legality of online poker and casino gambling. They stated in December of the same year that only sports betting fell under the scope of the 1961 Wire Act.

That was changed with the 2018 decision for sports betting, but the ability for states to legalize online casino gambling has been around since 2011. However, only 13 states have decided to tax and regulate the activity within their borders.

Will More States Act Now On Online Casino Gambling?

It’s possible but still seems unlikely. Most states that have legalized sports betting often don’t have an online component for wagering sports, making online gambling an afterthought.

As it stands now, only three of the 16 states that have regulated sports betting have also legalized online casinos. So, even though states are moving quickly with sports betting, casino gambling has not been a part of these gambling expansions.

Don’t Worry, Players Still Have Options

Regardless of how states act in regards to online gambling expansion – players have all sorts of options for online casino gambling. There are lots of legal online casinos operating that accept players from all 50 states and across the globe.

Their games offered, bonuses and casino software are also better than land-based options. Most of them also offer sports betting and poker from the same account.

Players may be moving towards online casinos because of the Coronavirus, but it’s been the better choice, all along.

Player-friendly approach to casino comparisons sees audience grow to new highs 

In January 2019, two iGaming enthusiasts from southern Finland, Paavo Salonen and Jonas Kyllönen, created an affiliate site which follows a different path to competitors in the sector – Mr-Gamble.com was conceived to provide a user-friendly service that details the key benefits for different online casinos.

In a little over a year, the team at Mr-Gamble (owned by CashMagnet Ltd) has grown from two to sixteen people, and their site is attracting millions of views and an audience of thousands, eager to find a more discerning comparison site for online casinos.  With such impressive growth, the company is now moving to bigger offices in their adopted home town of Tallinn, Estonia.

Putting the players first has been key to this success, with the team’s focus to build a casino comparison site which highlights the various benefits from leading online casino operators.  Easy-to-use filters allow players to match specific search criteria to their needs, such as high quality casino bonuses, with a brand promise to help users “find a 200% bonus in under one minute”.

Moreover, with responsible gaming high on regulators agendas for 2020, not least due to COVID-19, Mr-Gamble’s onboarding policies for new casinos include strict criteria to ensure player protection.  Time-out periods, self-exclusion options, financial limits, and more are all in place to reassure players that beyond the entertainment factor, their well-being is key. 

Jonas Kyllönen explains, “While our competitors focus simply on the bonus offer and a select few aspects of gaming, Mr-Gamble.com highlights things like hidden T’s & C’s and other small details that make up the overall quality of a casino’s service and the bonuses they offer. We even include a section purely for casinos that offer free spins, allowing players to find free spin offers without deposits.  This sets us apart from old school affiliates and builds trust with our audience, resulting in a high proportion of returning visitors.”

Kyllönen, who leads on all aspects of marketing for Mr-Gamble, also realises that staying plugged in to media platforms such as Twitch and Instagram enable the company to attract some of their users from the elusive millennial market.  

“In just six months”, says Kyllönen, “we became the most watched slots channel on Twitch in Finland, and alongside our Instagram following, this allows us to stay in touch with our audience across multiple touch points – it’s been key to our growth. We still see SEO and PPC as the main pillars of the casino affiliates sector, but complimentary channels like Twitch are both entertaining and good for business.”

This well-rounded approach to the casino comparison sector is both innovative and forward-thinking, standing the company in good stead for the coming decade, during which adapting to change and staying on top of market trends will separate the men from the boys.

Mr Gamble’s affiliate offering is already well-established in Finland, and in April 2020 Mr-Gamble expanded operations to more English-speaking markets including the UK and Canada. The company also plans to target the US market, with licensing currently underway, and is looking at opportunities in Asia. 

Alongside Finnish casino enquiries, the company invites English language operators from international markets, particularly in the UK and Canada, to contact silver@cashmagnet.money for more information on deals and listings.