Gambling venues have always been known to be a profitable business. First of all, because they were - and are - selling a very specific form of entertainment that appeals to a relatively large audience. Next, because even in a time of crisis, people will hope to turn their luck around by playing games of chance. Whatever the driving force behind the gambling business might be, the fact remains: it has spent the last few decades with constant growth, especially since it has found its way online. Today, more people claim your new player bonus at Euro Palace than ever, thanks to the accessibility of the service, and more players choose to take their favorite Euro Palace games with them wherever they are via the increasingly popular Euro Palace Mobile.
Land-based operators might feel a bit disadvantaged on today's market, perhaps even threatened by the rise of online gaming venues like the Euro Palace. Online gaming operators can offer similar services at a fraction of their costs - a secure server is infinitely cheaper than a casino resort, and the automation of the games at the Euro Palace requires far less manpower than running a real life operation. The latter is one of the reasons why land-based casinos became so fond of slot machines and video gambling terminals - they can save them a fortune each year by requiring no human assistance to function.
Is automation a viable path for land-based venues?
If presented with two similar alternatives, people always tend to choose the more convenient one - and in the case of gambling, it's the internet version that is the more accessible. There are a few aspects where the online version of the activity can't compete with land-based gaming: the environment, the social interaction, and the atmosphere. Being served by a human is usually far more attractive than being served by an automaton, no matter if it's serving cards or drinks. Having human dealers is part of the land-based gambling's charm, along with the unique environment in gambling venues created by the architecture and the decoration of gaming rooms.
Replacing human dealers with automated alternatives might rob land-based gambling of the very feature that makes it unique, so it might not be the best alternative to consider.
Virtual reality could turn online gambling into so much more
Online gambling is far more casual than its land-based counterpart, due in part to the environment. When playing online casino games, players don't really feel like gambling - the experience is similar to playing a social game. This might all change when the first virtual reality casinos get rolled out. The technology was already showcased to industry stakeholders, and it was very well received. With it, online casinos can overcome the main disadvantage they have compared to land-based casinos: that of the environment. But that's only the beginning - by going virtual, online casinos could become much more social in nature, offering their players the kind of interaction they crave.
Virtual reality could become a very interesting path for online casinos to follow, one that might even threaten the supremacy of real life casino operations in the long run.
