Mila Roy is a talented writer with a degree in journalism and a strong passion for iGaming entertainment. She works as a content strategist at Gambizard and loves to blog on topics related to online gambling. Mila enjoys organizing poker nights and playing board games, she also loves to go hiking and fishing.
Casino Gambling vs Sports Betting: What is Better?
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The term gambling usually refers to betting on sports or playing online casino games. However, gamblers are always eager to point out the stark differences between the two. Many don’t like that these activities are in the same category and often the law agrees.
There are multiple instances where hosting football (or other non-racing sports) betting and race betting requires a different license, and the same applies to hosting, bingo/lotteries, slots and poker. In other words, there is a difference between these two types
Programmed RNG vs. Statistical Data
The big difference is that casino game odds are always static or pre-programmed in the case of digital games. If you play a hundred games of roulette your odds do not shift with each passing minute. In sports, the algorithm uses statistical data to determine the odds of each specific match or race. These odds can continue to change, especially if you look at live betting where odds are constantly changing.
This is one of the reasons why it’s a lot easier and safer to come up with casino rewards bonuses. If you play online you will find tons of Casino Rewards free spins promotions across multiple gambling sites. These are great for Canadian players who wish to cut down their spending and practically gamble risk-free. Of course, there are free bet slip promos as well, but the terms of the bonus will dictate that you include multiple matches on the slip to reduce your chance of winning. In other words, more limitations need to be present to prevent players from abusing these promos.
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Player Agency and Gameplay Experience
In betting, once you put your money on a team, or a particular outcome, you no longer have any control over what happens next. Everything is up to the athletes and you just have to wait for the match to finish. Table games like blackjack and poker allow you to assess the situation at the table before you make a decision. They can be played using strategy, and player agency matters.
Slots on the other hand only allow you to change your bet size, and you really don’t have any control over the outcome. You only get to pick which slot game you wish to play. Many younger players opt for video game slot machines as they bring up nostalgia. There are some bonus rounds with a hold and spin feature where a player can decide to stop the reels sooner in hopes of getting the symbol that they want. Still, the way these are programmed it’s difficult to say if your action affects the outcome. In other words, it’s just an illusion of choice or agency.
It’s worth pointing out that many casinos have added video game arcades and adjusted them for gambling. Here players have the same amount of agency as in regular video games. The payouts are more limited though.
Player vs. the House and Player vs. Player
Sports betting, poker, and bingo can be categorized as player vs. player games. Here you win money that other players have lost in the match.
- In bingo, the game continues until someone wins
- In poker, the one with the strongest hand wins
- Those who guess the right outcome of the match, win the money from players who guessed wrong.
There are even arcade machines like Pac-Man battle royale where players compete against one another and wager money. Gambling establishments only take a portion of the stake in hosting the games. However, it’s more profitable for them if it’s player vs. the house. Casinos have adjusted many of these community gambling activities to a single-player experience. You have different sports betting options now, live bets, video poker, and video bingo. This allows them to take a bigger cut from player losses, rather than just collect the fee for hosting the game.
Conclusion
In essence, betting on sports and playing certain casino games can allow you to use personal insights to improve your odds. However, luck will always be a factor. Although some games don’t allow for the use of skill, they are perceived as more fair for casual players. Paying slots that have the highest house edge will still give you better odds than playing poker against pros, or placing bets at random. Those who closely follow sports will always prefer betting, as they can analyze the situation outside of the presented odds. Those who like quick-paced and dynamic entertainment will always pick casino games.
