Why Casino Players are Embracing iGaming Access in the U.S.?

Casino enthusiasts are loyal people. Every opportunity they get, they love playing games of chance for cash, whether it be in a retail casino or online from the comfort of home. Today, casino players are trending to online casino sites in droves, but it wasn't that way in the beginning. Let's take a look at the history of online casinos and why said casinos have gained so much popularity over the last few years in the U.S.

The History of Online Casinos

It's a little-known fact that online casinos have been available for well over 25 years now. In the early years, online sportsbooks ruled the online gambling community. That started in the early 1990s. By the middle of the decade, online sportsbook operators went in search of ways to keep sports bettors engaged in between games. They quickly learned that the average sports bettor had an interest in playing casino games to pass the time.

The early online casinos were crude by today's standards. The platforms were generally connected to sportsbook platforms and offered only a handful of casino games. That typically included a couple of dozen "fruit slots" and a small selection of basic table games like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. It was enough to get by.

At around the turn of the century, several of today's top online casino software developers were moving to the forefront of the online gambling community. That included big brand names like Microgaming, NetEnt (Net Entertainment), and Playtech. As these companies worked hard to create meaningful casino game content, the gambling community took note.

It was the competition between these top software developers that drove the future of online casinos. As the games got better, stand-alone iGaming sites started popping up in Europe. These sites slowly became the rage both abroad and in the U.S. Of course, one has to remember that sports betting and online gambling were illegal in the U.S. until May of 2018. With that said, dedicated gamblers showed no fear as they flocked to offshore gambling sites to do what they loved doing most, betting on sports and or playing slots.

The online casino community got the boost it needed around 2006 when HTML5 software development technology was introduced. Using this new technology, gaming software developers were given a creative license to innovate casino games that boggled the mind. The slots got better, and the quality of basic table games improved immensely. This gave rise to the start of the iGaming revolution.

Online Casinos in America

As stated above, American gambling enthusiasts were always ready to embrace all forms of online gambling, even if the U.S. government wasn't ready to let them do so legally. Since the government's early law enforcement efforts were directed at offshore operators and not the gamblers themselves, American casino gamblers were empowered to gamble online.

In May of 2018, the SCOTUS lifted the nation's ban on sports betting, allowing states to decide for themselves if they wanted their residents to have access to such activities. At the time the sports betting ban was lifted, so too was the ban on online gambling. That made access to online casino gambling a possibility in states that wanted to head in that direction.

To be clear, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania had already found a loophole that allowed them to legalize online casino play as long as it was restricted to residents in those respective states. This happened around 2015, long before nationwide online gambling was legal.

Today, it's fascinating to see that only seven states have completely legalized access to iGaming sites, those states being:

• Connecticut


• Delaware


• Michigan


• New Jersey


• Pennsylvania


• Rhode Island


• West Virginia
  

• Tribal communities holding exclusive rights to all casino gaming activities


• Moral and religious considerations


• Fear of competing with race tracks and lotteries for wagering dollars


• Possible proliferation of problem gambling issues


• Political disagreements
  

Sooner or later, other states will move forward and legalize online casino access. After all, it's becoming difficult for financially stressed states to ignore the benefits they could derive from an influx of tax revenue coming from iGaming operations.

Why Casino Players are Embracing iGaming Access in the U.S.

No one should be fooled into thinking the U.S. gamblers in 43 states are not partaking in online casino gambling activities. They most certainly are, mostly through having the same offshore access they have had for close to two decades. To be clear, we are talking about millions of U.S. players, wagering billions of dollars every year. This begs the question: "Why are casino players embracing iGaming access in the U.S.?"

This question pops up at a time when many U.S. states can lay claim to having retail casinos operating within their respective states. Still, U.S. players have shown a great fondness for playing online casino games of chance for real cash. Why?

1. Convenience - Access to retail casinos is often limited to lands owned by Indian Tribes, which are seldom located near highly populated metropolitan areas. Why should they travel to a retail casino if they can get equal access from an online option? Saving travel time and money is just an added benefit.

2. The Comforts of Home - Instead of getting all dressed up for a night on the town, there is much good to be said about being able to play slots at home. Players can sit in their favorite chairs, eating their favorite snacks, and drinking their favorite beverages while maybe winning a little money in the process. Oh, avoiding all the hustle and bustle of a noisy casino might also be considered a perk.

3. Game Selection - The knock against retail casinos is that they have limited floor space for casino games. After all, they have to save room for restaurants and other entertainment options. Limited space translates to limited gaming options. Online casino platforms face no such barriers. It's all about the games. While retail casinos might offer access to 500 slot machines (covering 30-40 different titles) and a couple of dozen table games, some online casinos are offering access to thousands of video slot titles and upwards of a hundred table games, including multiple versions of blackjack and roulette.

4. Bonus Promos - Aside from free drinks, today's retail casinos offer very little in the way of bonus promos. They don't need to with very little competition in close proximity. Conversely, U.S. online casino players might have upwards of a dozen online casinos from which to choose. That forces operators to compete for new business and figure out how to retain existing customers. They do that with bonus promotions and VIP programs. If a player wants to play slots and online casino A is offering 200 free spins or $200 in free casino dollars, would it not make sense for players to embrace the online options and all those extra perks? Truth be told, this is the main reason that online casinos are thriving in America.

Conclusion: Motivated casino gamblers in the U.S. are going to gamble one way or another. As the advantages of staying home to do so increase, so does the growing number of players who are doing just that. Good news for online casino operators. This trend is still picking up steam. Billions are being made in the seven states where online casino gambling is legal. One can only imagine what the numbers will be as more states agree to join in this massive online party.