Gambling in Montreal continues to be popular, with online casinos competing for customers with their old-fashioned land-based equivalents.
There remains a place for land-based casinos, but it is not impossible to envisage a future where a lot of them have closed down as a result of a lack of customers.
A night out with friends in a casino is still a fun experience but, for many, online casinos are a much better way to have a game of blackjack or try their luck on a slot machine.
Why land-based casinos are on their way out
There are a lot of departments where online casinos have a strong edge over land-based casinos. A lot of land-based casinos have games that are outdated, and they have not embraced new developments in technology that has brought slot machines into the 21st century.
Heading into a land-based casino can sometimes feel as if you have stepped back in time as a result. The experience is much the same as it would have been 20 years ago with very little having changed to make it a more modern night out. While some land-based casinos have entertainment such as live music, or they show the big match or fight on huge screens to bring in the crowds, others have done little to persuade people to come through their doors.
Online casinos thrive in this world as they offer the freedom and flexibility that a lot of people crave. You can play at any time of the day – or night! – and take breaks whenever you like. Home comforts are at hand and many people find playing at a land-based casino to be frustrating, while the sights and sounds of these places are off-putting for many others too.
Bonuses make online casinos worthwhile
Promotions and bonuses are another area where land-based casinos simply cannot compete. When visiting somewhere like Las Vegas, it is common to get all sorts of perks when you go to a casino. They might even cover the cost of your accommodation if you play at their casino. This is not the case for casinos in Montreal, who have relatively little to offer in comparison.
Bonuses are always going to be more attractive at online casinos. There is so much competition that each online casino has to fight with many rivals to get people to sign up for an account. This means bigger and better bonuses, with things such as free spins and deposit bonuses offered.
In addition, existing customers can also make the most of even more online casino bonuses. Promotions are regularly updated in order to give people a reason to keep coming back. Heavy users will also get the chance to join VIP schemes where even better promotions are offered. There is no competition between land-based casinos and online casinos in this department.
Things to look out for at online casinos
Security could be one of the issues that hold people back from using online casinos.
It is widely assumed that there is a lack of regulation across the industry, allowing some dodgy operators to thrive. This is not necessarily the case, however, as the vast majority of online casinos are run very well and have no problems whatsoever.
You can use an expert guide like CasinosCA.org to find online casino sites that have been tested to be fair and secure.
Scam online casinos are now always easy to spot but there are some things you could look out for. At the bottom of most online casino sites, there will be details about how they are regulated and where their licenses are held. If this information is missing, treat it as a red flag. The United Kingdom and Malta are two of the places that commonly give out online casino licenses.
You can check out reviews of online casinos to see what customers think of them. The internet is ideal for research like this as there is no reason for users to lie about their experience at an online casino. Most people who play at online casinos will have a fairly positive experience.
Believe it or not, amazing promotions offered by online casinos can sometimes be a sign they are a scam. If it looks as though an offer is simply too good to be true, the chances that it is.
Welcome bonuses do not usually go any higher than 100-300 per cent of your deposit, so anything more than this should raise a question in your mind. Look at their terms and conditions for things such as their rollover requirements as well, as these could be another red flag.
Overall, though, it is clear that online casinos have land-based casinos beat in every way.
