The coronavirus pandemic has influenced the daily lives of people across the globe for several months and will continue to do so until a vaccine is ready to be rolled out. With lockdowns and rigid curfews, individuals have been forced to deal with disruptions that have been challenging to deal with. The stress and the boredom of being restricted and unable to find entertainment at sports matches, cinemas, theaters, clubs and other venues have seen social media use rise.

Gamblers move to online casinos

Traditional brick-and-mortar casinos have been closed to the public due to the risks of spreading the coronavirus. Gamblers who miss the physical gambling venues and cancellation of sports events have been quick to migrate to online casinos, which is one of the rare industries that have been boosted during the pandemic, with online slots, poker, casino gaming and virtual sports the most popular interactions.

Licensed operators protect their customers

For those who have moved from offline to online casinos, the time spent gambling has decreased, but the number of sessions increased. According to baccarat.net, licensed operators are using the data they hold to protect their customers and if necessary, can limit or block further play until affordability checks have been concluded and supporting evidence obtained. It also means that operators can prevent bonus offers or inducements being offered to customers who are showing any sign of harm.

Reasons for rise in online casino play

Increased choice

Brick-and-mortar casinos offer fewer games than online casinos. What is lost from the lack of physical social interaction is compensated by hundreds of table and slot games to choose from. These games offer high-quality graphics to include animation, 3D-motion effects and background music that add up to a good play experience.

Convenience

Online casinos are seeing a rise in the number of players not only because gamblers are missing land-based casinos which have been shut down as a non-essential activity but by people new to casinos who are looking for ways to offset the boredom caused by being unable to enjoy usual entertainment or because they are stuck at home. Being easily accessible on mobile phones, casino games have become a new form of entertainment for many. 

Mobile devices

By 2020, mobile casino gaming was well established, offering hundreds of top slots and table games like blackjack and roulette available to play for real money on smartphone and tablet. With the high use of mobile devices worldwide, it has been easy for players to try online casinos for the first time or to make the shift from a PC so that they can play wherever they are, whenever they want.

Slot games are popular

Online casinos offer entertaining games that also offer good payouts, this is particularly true for online slots. Online casinos also offer generous welcome bonuses to new players and other bonuses and promotions to existing customers. If players want to try a new game, online sites also offer demo sites where players can practice to see how the game works before depositing their own money.

Live betting

Players who enjoyed playing at brick-and-mortar casinos before the pandemic have been able to take part in live games online.  Thanks to advanced technology, live poker and other games allow players to interact with other players from all parts of the world or with their friends, while on the same table being virtually served by a live dealer. Players can also chat with the live dealers via a chatbox and use software to communicate with players on stakes and bets.