Will The Growth of Online Casinos Spell the End for Land-Based Casinos in the UK?
The whole gambling industry in the UK has undergone a huge transformation over the past ten or so years. Online casinos have never been more popular - and there are more and more opening up every day… and with such a good selection of new online casinos available it’s only natural that people have started to question whether traditional land-based casinos can survive in the long-term.
To get an expert take on this, we sat down with Jamie Rosen, the CEO and Co-Founder of FruitySlots.com, to see what he thinks of the future of land-based casinos in the UK - and whether they can hold their own in the digital world we live in.
Interviewer: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. So, let’s start with the big question—do you think the rise of online casinos will eventually spell the end of land-based casinos in the UK?
Jamie Rosen: Realistically, no. I don’t think land-based casinos will disappear entirely, but there’s no denying that online casinos have had a massive impact. Convenience is the key factor—players can now access their favourite games anytime, anywhere, without having to travel. The pandemic obviously accelerated this shift, and lots of the players who traditionally visited physical casinos have since transitioned to online sites. That said, I believe land-based casinos still have a role to play, especially for the many people who still enjoy the social and immersive aspects of gambling.
Interviewer: What would you say are the biggest advantages that online casinos have over land-based casinos?
Jamie Rosen: Obviously, online casinos are a lot more accessible to everyone—you can play the various games from your phone, tablet, or computer 24/7 - and you won’t even need to leave your house. Then there’s the fact that they have an even better game variety than most land-based casinos; the top sites have literally thousands of slots and table games which is impossible for land-based casinos as they are limited by physical space.
Then, we have to factor in the fact that online casinos also come with lots of bonuses and promotions that land-based casinos simply can’t match on anywhere near the same scale. Moreover, because they have also started to offer features like live dealer games, it’s a lot closer to the traditional experience than it’s ever been before.
Interviewer: So, there are lots of advantages - but do you think there are areas where land-based casinos still have the edge?
Jamie Rosen: Definitely! Land-based casinos have a real feel and atmosphere that, no matter how good the online casino is, it will struggle to replicate. There’s even more excitement in a real casino—the sound of the chips hitting the table, the noise of the crowd - people winning and losing, and the fact you can actually interact with dealers and other players face to face. That’s impossible to translate to a screen.
Interviewer: Given these differences, do you see a future where online and land-based casinos can coexist?
Jamie Rosen: One hundred per cent. The casino industry is always changing - and that doesn’t mean just replacing one format with another. Instead, some of the biggest land-based casinos are simply launching their own online platforms so players get to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Interviewer: What role do you think government regulations will play in shaping the future of casinos in the UK?
Jamie Rosen: Regulations - always a big talking point in the casino and gambling industry! It’s really hard to predict exactly what will happen in the future, but we can look at what has happened previously to get a better idea. The UK Gambling Commission is very hot on casinos promoting responsible gambling - and this is particularly true of online casinos. There are more restrictions and more red tape than ever.
And this could actually work in favour of land-based casinos. If online gambling becomes more restricted, then some players might simply decide to hit land-based venues instead.
Interviewer: Finally, if you had to predict the future of the industry over the next 10 years, what would you say?
Jamie Rosen: I think it’s fair to assume that online casinos will get more and more popular, especially as we see even more advances in AI, VR, and live dealer gaming - so it will get even more immersive and appealing. We might even see more partnerships between land-based and online casinos.
It’s also pretty safe to say that land-based casinos aren’t going anywhere - but they’ll probably need to reinvent themselves— make the whole experience luxurious and premium - throw in more entertainment and hospitality rather than just being a place to gamble. Like any industry, it will have to adapt. If it’s done properly, land-based and online casinos will work together to give players the experiences they want!
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To get an expert take on this, we sat down with Jamie Rosen, the CEO and Co-Founder of FruitySlots.com, to see what he thinks of the future of land-based casinos in the UK - and whether they can hold their own in the digital world we live in.
Interviewer: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. So, let’s start with the big question—do you think the rise of online casinos will eventually spell the end of land-based casinos in the UK?
Jamie Rosen: Realistically, no. I don’t think land-based casinos will disappear entirely, but there’s no denying that online casinos have had a massive impact. Convenience is the key factor—players can now access their favourite games anytime, anywhere, without having to travel. The pandemic obviously accelerated this shift, and lots of the players who traditionally visited physical casinos have since transitioned to online sites. That said, I believe land-based casinos still have a role to play, especially for the many people who still enjoy the social and immersive aspects of gambling.
Interviewer: What would you say are the biggest advantages that online casinos have over land-based casinos?
Jamie Rosen: Obviously, online casinos are a lot more accessible to everyone—you can play the various games from your phone, tablet, or computer 24/7 - and you won’t even need to leave your house. Then there’s the fact that they have an even better game variety than most land-based casinos; the top sites have literally thousands of slots and table games which is impossible for land-based casinos as they are limited by physical space.
Then, we have to factor in the fact that online casinos also come with lots of bonuses and promotions that land-based casinos simply can’t match on anywhere near the same scale. Moreover, because they have also started to offer features like live dealer games, it’s a lot closer to the traditional experience than it’s ever been before.
Interviewer: So, there are lots of advantages - but do you think there are areas where land-based casinos still have the edge?
Jamie Rosen: Definitely! Land-based casinos have a real feel and atmosphere that, no matter how good the online casino is, it will struggle to replicate. There’s even more excitement in a real casino—the sound of the chips hitting the table, the noise of the crowd - people winning and losing, and the fact you can actually interact with dealers and other players face to face. That’s impossible to translate to a screen.
Interviewer: Given these differences, do you see a future where online and land-based casinos can coexist?
Jamie Rosen: One hundred per cent. The casino industry is always changing - and that doesn’t mean just replacing one format with another. Instead, some of the biggest land-based casinos are simply launching their own online platforms so players get to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Interviewer: What role do you think government regulations will play in shaping the future of casinos in the UK?
Jamie Rosen: Regulations - always a big talking point in the casino and gambling industry! It’s really hard to predict exactly what will happen in the future, but we can look at what has happened previously to get a better idea. The UK Gambling Commission is very hot on casinos promoting responsible gambling - and this is particularly true of online casinos. There are more restrictions and more red tape than ever.
And this could actually work in favour of land-based casinos. If online gambling becomes more restricted, then some players might simply decide to hit land-based venues instead.
Interviewer: Finally, if you had to predict the future of the industry over the next 10 years, what would you say?
Jamie Rosen: I think it’s fair to assume that online casinos will get more and more popular, especially as we see even more advances in AI, VR, and live dealer gaming - so it will get even more immersive and appealing. We might even see more partnerships between land-based and online casinos.
It’s also pretty safe to say that land-based casinos aren’t going anywhere - but they’ll probably need to reinvent themselves— make the whole experience luxurious and premium - throw in more entertainment and hospitality rather than just being a place to gamble. Like any industry, it will have to adapt. If it’s done properly, land-based and online casinos will work together to give players the experiences they want!
