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What Is More Popular Among Online Gamblers: Sports Betting or Casino Games?

Arun - June 26, 2023

Online casino gaming and sports betting are the two most popular types of virtual gambling out there, and both markets generate extremely high global revenues. The worldwide online casino industry is worth around $270 billion, while sports betting stands at $203 billion. Each category has its own base of passionate supporters who are diligently dedicating their time to wager online. So, let’s go through their core components to see which one is more favored by the punters. 

The Rise of Sports Betting

Wagering on sports is a favorite pastime for many individuals in the world, especially when it comes to sports enthusiasts. Fans can bet on different sports categories including football, basketball, tennis, golf, horse racing, NFL, Formula 1, NASCAR, and many others.

Thanks to the growth of the internet and the increased availability of smartphones, more and more users turn to online and mobile betting. In the UK, for example, almost 80% of sports wagers are placed using mobile devices. And due to other tech innovations, sports betting has been enhanced with exciting options like in-play betting, improved prediction accuracy, live streaming mobile apps, and more. All that led to the sports betting market showing a faster growth rate than all other commercial gaming sectors in 2022 with a 75% increase in revenue per year. 

The Growth of Online Casinos

Online casino gaming is an incredible source of entertainment for a large number of people. In the UK only, 17% of the total population engages in online gambling, while in other countries these figures are even larger. 

People are drawn to online casinos because of their ease of use and the variety of games they can access in one place. Passionate punters can quickly engage in all sorts of games like online slots, poker, baccarat, blackjack, and other interesting categories. Moreover, due to their greater business efficiency and lesser expenses, online operators offer better benefits for their customers than traditional establishments.

Consequently, online casinos have experienced significant growth in many areas of the world, including regions like South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana. When it comes to South Africa, thanks to the country’s increasing economic prosperity and the recent expansions of stable internet connections, and higher mobile and digital tech usage, the locals embraced the perks of online gambling as well. Today, South Africans can access a large number of real-money online casinos where they can try their luck with all sorts of exciting game categories, and the country is considered one of the most lucrative markets in the world.  

How Similar Are Online Casinos and Sports Betting?

Online casinos and virtual sportsbooks share a number of similarities. For starters, both types of gambling treat players with exciting bonuses and promotions. Most of the time, new players can expect to receive attractive welcome packages that usually include valuable no-deposit deals. Additionally, online casinos often add some free spins as well, while bookies tend to include free bets. 

Other features you will encounter in both online sportsbooks and virtual casinos are various payment methods, advanced security options, and strict licensing regulations that ensure the safety of personal and financial information. 

The Main Perks of Online Gambling and Sports Betting

Let’s go over some of the main reasons why people choose one or the other:

Both Involve Tactics

Even though many online casino games are luck-based, genres like poker and blackjack, or even roulette, make room for different tactics that can help you increase the odds of winning. This involves well-known systems like the Martingale, the Fibonacci, the Paroli, and other smart wagering schemes. As a player, you can implement other people’s strategies, and after a while, you can even come up with your own. 

Sports betting also welcomes the use of strategy, and many punters continuously explore new ideas that can help them win. There are many online portals where players can keep track of the recent performances of their favorite teams to use the data to their advantage. Sports wagering, therefore, implies a vast knowledge of teams, players, leagues, and other related details in order to place smarter bets.

Sports Betting Features a Higher Winning Probability

Although strategies can help in both types of gambling, making informed choices significantly boosts the odds of making accurate predictions about sports events. On the other hand, if you opt for casino games like slots, craps, baccarat, and bingo, all outcomes are entirely random. Only poker stands out as a skill-based game.

Moreover, online casino games come with built-in math advantages called the house edge making casinos always one step ahead. Even though the house edge varies from one game to another, it is irreversible. When it comes to sports betting, however, even when a team is massively favored to win, a sportsbook will still allow punters to bet on it. 

Online Casino Games Offer Higher Rewards for Less Money

If you’re a fan of online casinos, you should know that with games like jackpot slots, you can win massive rewards worth several million dollars. On the contrary, in order to win even hundreds of thousands through sports betting, you would need to wager huge amounts of your own money. 

Even though the odds of hitting a jackpot in online casinos are pretty slim, you can play slots with pretty low wagers that can easily fit your budget. 

Both online casino games and sports betting provide their fans with incredible perks. If you are a passionate sports enthusiast who enjoys researching the odds and exploring previous stats, you will be thrilled after joining a reputable online bookie. But if you’re more into luck-based games and chasing after huge jackpot rewards, you should opt for online casinos.

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