Should You Bet On or Offline? The Main Considerations

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Stacks of dice and chips in front of a keyboard

According to official statistics from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the gross gaming yield (GGY) grew by 6.8% year-on-year to £15.1 billion in the year ending March 2023. At the same time, offline gambling saw its share of the total GGY grow from 35% to 41% during this period.

The growth of brick-and-mortar gaming has come of something of a surprise, particularly across verticals such as sports betting, casino and bingo. We’ll touch more on this trend below, while comparing online and offline gambling to see precisely which option is best for you! So, let’s get into it!

The Latest UKGC Figures and the Resurgence of Brick-and-Mortar Gambling

As we’ve touched on, the offline gambling GGY on these shores grew by 6% in the year ending March 2023. Interestingly, the GGY across arcades, casinos, bookmakers and bingo halls experienced even more substantial growth of 20.6%, peaking at an impressive £4.5 billion during the reporting period.

Because of this, land-based gambling revenues have returned to and even exceeded their pre-pandemic levels (by 0.2%), while the gaming machine GGY grew by an incredible 23% to hit £2.4 billion. This level of growth is unmatched during the digital iGaming era, highlighting the fact that offline gambling is enjoying a popular resurgence among the masses.

What’s more interesting is that this unexpected surge in offline gaming revenue has come despite a raft of closures nationwide, with no fewer than 186 brick-and-mortar locations shut down during the reporting period. Overall, the total number of open betting premises in the UK fell for the ninth consecutive year, declining by 2.2% year-on-year to leave 5,995 locations.

Explored – Is Offline Gambling a Viable Option for You?

Clearly, offline gambling continues to enjoy support and patronage from UK gamblers (despite closures), with double-digit growth evident across multiple verticals through 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. While this highlights the enduring relevance of offline gambling, however, the question that remains is whether brick-and-mortar betting locations are right for you? Here are some of the key pros and cons to consider?

The Pros and Cons of Offline Gambling

Let’s start by addressing the pros and cons of offline gambling, which continues to appeal despite the obvious allure and convenience of online casinos and betting hubs. There are both advantages and potential pitfalls to gambling offline, each of which can be viewed subjectively depending on your own tastes and preferences.

The Pros

  • Offline Gambling is a Social Experience: Of course, land-based casinos are often diverse entertainment complexes, which help to create undeniably social experiences. This is highly appealing to some, especially those who consider a little gambling to be part of a much bigger night out!
  • There are Opening and Closing Times: For those who worry about problem gambling, brick-and-mortar outlets offer reassurance as they have fixed opening and closing times. It’s much harder to access a broad range of payment methods or wager with credit too, which can also lend itself to responsible gambling.
  • You Can Forge Friendships with Like-Minded Players: While online casinos are becoming increasingly authentic and interactive, offline establishments are where you’re more likely to connect with fellow gamblers and forge long-term friendships. This is often overlooked benefit of betting offline.

The Cons

  • Offline Casinos Lack Diversity: Sure, brick-and-mortar casinos can feature a wide range of games, but this pales when compared to the sheer number of titles (particularly slots) and verticals available online. This makes it less than ideal for newbies or inexperienced gamblers.
  • There’s a Lack of Customer Service: Online casino brands often live and die by the quality of their customer support, but the same cannot be said for offline establishments. So, you may find the service somewhat underwhelming when gambling in person, depending on which location you visit and whether or not it belongs to a chain.
  • Offline Slots Offer Lower Payout: Slot games dominate the iGaming space, with a growing number of titles carrying a return-to-player (RTP) rate of 96% and above. However, most offline slots offer an RTP of around 90%, meaning that you’ll recoup less of your bankroll for every £1 wagered on average.

The Pros and Cons of Online Gambling

Now we turn to the iGaming market and online sports betting, which has enjoyed exponential growth during the digital age and continues to dominate the marketplace. There are more obvious advantages to gambling online, of course, but it’s also important to consider the potential risks before you started betting.

The Pros

  • Online Gambling is Accessible: This is a huge boon for online gambling, as virtual casinos are accessible to anyone with a functional and secure Internet connection. What’s more, most operators now boast native apps and responsible websites that can be seamlessly accessed using mobile devices.
  • There are Welcome Offers Abound: As the iGaming market has become increasingly competitive, brands have sought to incentivise new customers with generous welcome offers. These usually take the form of 100% deposit matches up to a predetermined value, while online gamblers can often access a finite number of free spins on the most popular slots.
  • Online Gambling is Demonstrably Fair: All online casino verticals are governed by so-called “Random Number Generators” (RNGs), which guarantee fair and completely random outcomes in individual games. This means that you can enjoy a fair and secure experience when wagering online at a licensed UK casino.

The Cons

  • Online Casinos Can Cause Isolation: This is a growing concern among some lobbyists, who feel that the remote nature of online gambling can cause isolation among dedicated players. This has caused huge levels of concern as we become increasingly aware of mental health issues, as isolation may make it harder to seek out help for problem gambling.
  • There Are Potential Issues with Problem and Underage Gambling: Similarly, some studies have suggested that problem and underage gambling has increased in the age of online and social games. While this is a little tenuous, it may be a concern when you consider the increased accessibility of online platforms.

The Bottom Line

The growth of the offline gambling market has been pronounced of late, so land-based casinos and bookmakers continue to offer value to punters. However, online gambling verticals are also incredibly accessible and can unlock significant bonuses, so there’s really no wrong answer when deciding where or how to bet.

Ultimately, you’ll need to make a decision based on your own tastes and preferences. For example, if you gamble as a social pastime, you may be best served by betting your money at a brick-and-mortar location. However, if you want to wager from the comfort of your own home and access sizable bonuses, you may want to transition from offline gambling and start betting online!