Online gaming and gambling are extremely popular around the world, and the revenue the sector generates is growing year on year. The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviours can’t be overlooked in this case, with many turning to mobile technology for social interactions and betting.
Rules and regulations in different areas limit the access people have to mobile betting sites, but that doesn’t mean that people are completely prohibited from playing the type of games available in casinos.
Instead, social casinos offer a range of casino games, including;
- Slot machines
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Casino table games
- Bingo
- Multiplayer card games
- Roulette
Keep reading to learn about how social casinos differ from real money casinos and how they work.
Real Money Casinos Explained
Real-money casinos offer players the opportunity to play online casino games for money. This is possible through a deposit and withdrawal system through the player’s account.
Because gambling for money is heavily regulated, local laws must be adhered to by players and operators alike. This includes ensuring those taking part are of legal age.
Most countries will have a minimum age requirement for online betting. In the UK, the minimum age for betting with online casinos is 18. The U.S. is much more challenging to regulate, with individual states regulating all gambling activities. This means that online gambling is subject to different regulations with minimum age requirements varying from 18 to 21.
Online casinos where people play for money typically limit interactions between players, with most games being individual.
Another benefit of playing casino online in mobiles is the convenience it offers. Players can link bank accounts for easy deposits and withdrawals and have the opportunity to play at any time of the day or night from the comfort of their own homes.
Pros and Cons of Real Money Casinos
Online casinos offer users a great level of benefits, but there can also be some downsides that must be considered. These pros and cons help to show both sides of online gambling sites.
Pros of Real Money Casinos
- Convenient gameplay at any time of day or night
- Wide variety of casino games for players to choose from
- Incentives and bonuses are often offered to new and existing players
- International reach allows players from around the world to compete against each other
- Flexible stakes that allow players to set their own budgets
- Players can remain anonymous when betting at online casinos
- The best online casinos offer robust security measures to protect player information
Cons of Real Money Casinos
- Fraudulent sites can appear, so it is essential players use legitimate online casinos
- Online casinos do not have as much social interaction as in-person alternatives
- Some casinos have lengthy withdrawal processes or charge fees to cash out winnings
- Technical and connectivity issues can disrupt the user experience
- Offshore online gambling sites might operate outwith the jurisdiction of regulatory bodies
Social Casino Explained
The main difference between real money online casinos and social casinos is the use of money to gamble. Social casinos don’t allow users to bet real money stakes and don’t offer winnings that can be withdrawn.
Instead, social casinos offer players the opportunity to enjoy the games just for fun, using virtual coins. Coins can be won and built up to be redeemed for in-game benefits.
While online casinos mainly focus on solitary betting, social casinos allow significantly more interaction. Because it is closer to gaming, social casinos can use pop-ups or links to social media to offer incentives or let people know when their friends are online.
Social casinos are designed for repeat engagement with leaderboards, the ability to send gifts to friends, and different levels and achievements made possible by gameplay.
This contrasts with online casinos where people typically play for the purpose of winning money, with the enjoyment of the game often coming second.
Pros and Cons of Social Casinos
Despite not being able to win money, social casinos can still offer users a great experience. Here are the top pros and cons of social casinos that set them apart from real-money casinos.
Pros of Social Casinos
- Social casinos offer a risk-free form of entertainment for people that enjoy casino games
- Players can enjoy casino games without having to spend any money
- Social casinos focus on building a community with social interactions
- Many social casinos offer bonuses and rewards for regular play and achievements
- Mobile social casino games are easily accessed, so players can enjoy games whenever they want
- The ability to play casino games without real money allows people to practice and improve their strategy
Cons of Social Casinos
- Players are unable to win money
- Social casinos often rely on in-app purchases to improve gameplay
- Personal data can be collected from social casino sites
- Less exciting atmosphere or gameplay with a lack of stakes
- Social casinos can lead to excessive time spent gaming as players try to work their way up the leaderboards
Final Thoughts
Determining whether real money casinos or social casinos are better is an impossible task because they are completely different. While they both offer similar games to play, the purpose of social casinos is to play the games for fun and interact with other users. Real-money casinos focus on playing with money and offer the opportunity to win and withdraw.
Both options can be enjoyed by people with mobile devices and social casinos can be a great way to learn casino games without playing with real money.