Industry News
The difference between online casino and real casino

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be that much of a difference between an online casino and a bricks and mortar casino establishment. Essentially, both do offer a similar selection of games. However, the subtle contrasts between the two can make a big difference in how much you win and also the flexibility and options in how you may want to play. Despite both having their different pros and cons, between the two options, online casinos are definitely a step ahead. Don’t believe me? Here are just a few of the reasons why.
Free Money
Well, not quite free money, of course, but there is a chance that Lady Luck may be more on your side if you choose to play online. This is because most online casinos nowadays offer free money in the form of free spins, bonuses and special offers to entice new customers and keep regulars choosing their site above their competitors. There is so much competition these days between online casinos and this means a wider variety of offers to take advantage of.
As well as being able to essentially give away free money to keep you coming back, studies have proven that online casinos have a better pay out rate than their bricks and mortar rivals too. This is because the overheads of running an online casino are so much lower than a real casino, so they can then in turn pass these savings on to the customer. The RTP rate – an acronym for ‘return to player’ – has been proven to be up to 97 percent and higher for some sites, so it definitely pays to play online.
Complete Flexibility of Time and Place
One of the biggest differences of playing in an online casino over a real casino is that you can play literally anywhere and anytime. Whether you prefer using a computer, tablet or mobile app there are now so many ways to access your favourite casino games online without any restrictions. Although it can be fun to visit a real life casino from time to time for a special occasion, for the daily player online casinos are a much more practical option and provide the opportunity to play at your pace from wherever you are, whether you are looking to pass the time commuting or fancy spending a quiet night in.
Easier to Keep an Eye on Your Budget
Gambling, however you choose to do it, should always be done responsibly. This means making sure you set a spend limit and stick to it. When playing online, it can be easier to track your bets and take the time to really assess how much you are willing to spend. When playing in a real casino however, things can quickly get expensive. Betting in a group of friends can easily see peer pressure adding a few zeros to the bets you are laying down and it is easy to get swept away by the buzz.
Moreover, real casinos tend to have higher limits when it comes to placing bets, whereas online betting is usually much more affordable, with many online casinos allowing you to play games for mere pennies. When placing your bets online, most casinos will allow you to pay in a variety of ways including convenient methods such as PayPal. However, a real casino will usually want not only a larger deposit but in general be more restrictive about the methods in which you are able to pay.
Greater Game Selection
Unlike real casinos, which are generally tied into a small selection of games, online casinos are able to switch up which games they offer at any time. This keeps things interesting and means you can try your hand at learning a new game whenever you fancy as well as the fun of playing old favourites. As online casinos are constantly trying to innovate and find the next new great game, many will often allow players to have a go at games for free first. This means you may have a greater chance of a win as it allows you to familiarise yourself with the game and brush up on your skills before committing to placing your bet.
As well as offering players a much wider selection of games, online casinos still stay true to a more traditional style of play too. It is still completely possible to play favourite classics, such as roulette and black jack, often in real time. This provides all the feel and benefits of being in a real casino without the inconvenience of having to leave your sofa. It also means that you have more flexibility in the games you wish to play – a single online casino site can provide it all in one place for you.
So what are the perks of real casinos?
Firstly, there is one major way that real casinos still beat out their online counterparts every time. Despite that fact that online casinos can offer pretty much everything a real life casino can, sometimes even better, the one thing they can’t do is create the glamour, excitement and atmosphere of a casino in real life. There is nothing quite like stepping out onto the floor of a casino and seeing the other players and games in motion. Real casinos also provide the opportunity to experience the interaction with dealers face to face, which can ramp up the excitement for some of the more traditional table games. There is also nothing quite like the tangibility of holding your winnings in your hand the moment your numbers come up! Although many online casinos have great community chat rooms, the real life experience of sharing a win is hard to beat. Moreover, some online casinos have a threshold before you collect your winnings whereas a bricks and mortar establishment will pay out immediately.
Despite these great pros of real casino play, overall it is hard to deny that online casinos are streets ahead and are clearly the winner of the two. You can check this online casino comparison to find the best and most suitable one for you to play. The choice is huge so take your time to analyze and compare.
Industry News
TipRanks to Become Official Sponsor of 5-Time U.S. Chess Champion Hikaru Nakamura

TipRanks, a leading financial research platform with more than 9 million monthly active users, has announced a strategic sponsorship with Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, a 5-time US Chess Champion who is currently ranked 2nd in the world. Powered by a new set of AI tools, the partnership is designed to help investors make better, data-driven decisions through the combination of TipRanks’ cutting-edge tools and Nakamura’s strategic mindset.
As part of the partnership, Nakamura will create and manage a Stream Portfolio on TipRanks. Viewers and fans of Hikaru will be able to track his investment research in real time on his widely followed video channels and social media — plus share ideas in the stream chat to help shape the portfolio’s holdings. Working with TipRanks’ award-winning platform, Nakamura will showcase how he evaluates opportunities, while emphasizing that all content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Nakamura’s dominance in chess stems from his ability to absorb vast amounts of information, analyze multiple outcomes and make decisive moves under pressure—skills that closely mirror successful investing.
“TipRanks offers a wide variety of insights on thousands of stocks and equities, helping me to think strategically about all of my investments. Just like in chess, beating the market depends on making wise, fully informed decisions. Harnessing data to think several moves ahead is second nature to me,” said Nakamura.
“While other investing websites might sponsor more popular spectator sports such as soccer, our partnership with a chess champion is pitch perfect. We are tailor-made for investors who seek to act strategically, just like Hikaru does,” said Uri Gruenbaum, Founder and CEO of TipRanks.
The post TipRanks to Become Official Sponsor of 5-Time U.S. Chess Champion Hikaru Nakamura appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
PENN Entertainment Celebrates Grand Opening of Hollywood Casino Joliet

PENN Entertainment has officially opened the doors of its new Hollywood Casino Joliet on Monday, August 11.
The $185 million state-of-the-art casino replaces the former riverboat property that operated on the shores of the Des Plaines River since 1992.
Legislators and area dignitaries, Illinois Gaming Board officials, Chicago Bears executives and NFL legend and Joliet native Tom Thayer joined the PENN team members for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hollywood Casino Joliet then opened to the public at 4:00 p.m. and welcomed guests to experience approximately 1000 of the newest slot machines, 43 table games, a retail ESPN BET sportsbook, upscale national and Chicagoland celebrity-led dining and, above all, a premier guest experience.
“We would like to officially welcome players and guests to the all-new Hollywood Casino Joliet. After approximately 20 months of construction, we are thrilled to open the doors to this land-based entertainment destination. We are proud of our 30-year history in Will County and are committed to continuing our investment in the community by creating new jobs, providing important tax revenue, and serving as a new attraction to bring even more visitors to the area,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment.
“This opening marks an exciting new era of entertainment in Joliet. We’re grateful for the support from the city of Joliet, the Illinois Gaming Board, and our business and community partners who contributed to the successful development of this new property. We look forward to delivering an elevated experience with world class dining, entertainment, and gaming options for patrons across the region,” said Todd George, Executive Vice President of Operations for PENN.
The roughly 189,000 square foot entertainment destination employs approximately 600 team members and generated around 450 construction jobs. Open seven days a week and 24 hours a day, the fun and excitement will continue 365 days a year.
The post PENN Entertainment Celebrates Grand Opening of Hollywood Casino Joliet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 4-10

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
SA Gaming has announced that its game portfolio and Remote Gaming Server have officially obtained Gaming Laboratories International certifications in Brazil. This milestone underscores SA Gaming’s commitment to delivering premium gaming experiences, with a particular focus on the Brazilian market. The regulated Brazilian online gaming market, which launched on January 1, 2025, is projected to become the largest in Latin America. Under the new framework, only licensed operators are legally permitted to offer online gaming and betting services.
The National Indian Gaming Commission announced Gross Gaming Revenues of $43.9B for fiscal year 2024. This historic figure reflects a $2.0 billion increase over FY 2023, representing an overall growth of 4.6% across the Indian gaming industry. The GGR figure is calculated from independently audited financial statements from 532 independently audited gaming operations owned by 243 federally recognised tribes across 29 states. Two NIGC regions, Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C., reported double-digit growth over the previous fiscal year.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued cease-and-desist letters to six unlicensed online gambling platforms attempting to target Michigan residents without state authorisation. The action underscores the MGCB’s relentless, ongoing efforts to shut down illegal gambling operations and protect Michigan consumers from financial risk, identity theft and unfair play. The targeted sites—Crypto Slots, NitroBetting, NewVegas, Las Vegas USA Casino, Grand Rush Casino and Slotgard Casino—were found to be operating in violation of Michigan laws that require licensure for internet gaming and sports betting. This enforcement action is part of the MGCB’s larger crackdown on illegal online gambling platforms.
Partnerships
Table Trac Inc announced that a new Nevada casino partner is installing the CasinoTrac CMS system, and a long-time customer is upgrading from its classic system to the latest comprehensive technology stack featuring enhanced capabilities for Loyalty, Bonusing, & Operations. Barton’s Club 93 Casino Hotel, under new ownership, GLM Gaming, as part of a significant property remodel and renovation is upgrading the slot system to CasinoTrac’s high-speed, Secure, Unified and Stable PlayerLINQ network, which drives player engagement through the programmatic, custom SlotSUITE platform while turbocharging efficiency and time on device with SelfPAY. Border Inn Casino will deploy CasinoTrac’s high-speed, Secure, Unified and Stable PlayerLINQ network, NV Tech Standard 3-compliant accounting and CTLoyalty for Patron & Club Management, powered by CasinoTrac’s bonusing, auto-tiering and reflexive rewards functions.
Caesars Entertainment Inc announced it is the first in the industry to launch IGT’s newest installment of its beloved slot title, Kitty Glitter Grand. The game is now live across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino, and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Ontario. It’s also available at Caesars Rewards destinations in Atlantic City, including Caesars and Harrah’s, with Tropicana set to join the lineup soon, subject to final regulatory approval. This debut marks IGT’s first simultaneous exclusive launch of a game both online and in casinos in the US. As a result, Caesars is currently the only place where fans of the Kitty Glitter franchise can experience this latest installment, whether in person or online.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 4-10 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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