The online world is filled with different forms of entertainment, gaming in particular. Two distinct facets of the online gaming experience have to do with video gaming and online casinos. Yet, are the two similar to one another, and is one better?
Online casinos and video gaming are industries that generate bumper annual gross revenue and this begs the question of where the similarities lie and the difference begins. Today, we will explore what video gaming is and how it differs from proper online casino gaming.
For your convenience, we have listed several key points that exemplify how each industry is unique and caters to a slightly different audience.
1. Video Games Tend to Require Skill
Video games are first and foremost more skill-based than most popular online real money casino games. This is especially true for slot machines where the gameplay often boils down to pressing a single button.
Video games, on the other hand, will allow you to build, solve puzzles, move in space, defeat enemies, and more. A single game can call upon a myriad of little skills you would need to apply toward the solving of a particular task within the gaming world.
Online slot games on the other hand are quite fulfilling even though they offer very plain gameplay, free of particular challenge, exertion or skill. However, the overall simplicity and the possibility of winning a huge reward are definitely tempting.
2. Video Gaming Often Has Deeper Narratives
Traditional video gaming is without a doubt one of the most successful tellers of stories in the modern world. While we have had to rely on literature for the better part of human history, the gaming revolution brought on by cheap technology and powerful graphics has been a dream come true.
Immersing ourselves in intricate, complex, and beautiful worlds today is possible through fantastic games such as Fortnite and World of Warcraft, but this is not quite the end of the immersive experience.
Technology is developing to empower new experiences and video gaming has a long way to go, and so do casinos, of course. However, in terms of pure story-telling power, video gaming definitely beats casino gaming.
3. Casinos and Video Gaming Can Benefit from VR
Virtual reality is an exciting piece of technology that is still not as omnipresent as the industry would like. Yet, it promises huge potential for video gaming. In the past, owning a VR set would cost hundreds of dollars for a somewhat lacking gaming experience.
Today, though, from casino virtual reality slots to fantastic VR video games, there is a bountiful choice and a rich catalogue of perfectly valid gaming picks. Interestingly, casino gaming is going to benefit from the mass adoption of VR as would traditional video gaming!
4. Casino Gaming Can Be Free But So Can Video Games
You can find plenty of free casino video games, thanks to a liberal approach by the casino industry towards the player. Physical casinos may expect you to pay for the privilege of accessing its facilities and playing some of the games, but online casinos will usually offer a rewarding free version.
Some casinos call it a "demo," but you have access to the entire range of features. The best casino video games feature quite a few things you can explore, and they are available free of charge. However, this could be a downside if you are looking to win some money, as the free versions don't offer them.
On the plus side, the F2P or free-to-play concept is immensely popular in traditional video gaming, so much so that you have a whole constellation of brilliant video games you can play today, including:
- Hearthstone
- Legends of Runeterra
- Valorant
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
In light of so many free games, we can't help but wonder: is the future of gaming free? It certainly seems to be the dominating model of late in traditional video gaming. Can this trend spill over to casinos, though?
5. Both Video Games and Casino Games Are Engaging
One thing that casino games and video games have in common is their way to engage with consumers. Even if slots invite slightly simplified gameplay, there are many outlets of the casino gaming experience that are quite engaging. For example, the live casino segment brings tons of exciting and worthwhile titles, such as:
- Monopoly Live
- Deal or No Deal
- Lightning Roulette
- Dream Catcher
While casinos have learned how to successfully add a social element to their gaming with live gaming, traditional video gaming has mastered this through genres such as MMOs, MOBAs, and combat simulators, which have all been contributing to a more social experience altogether.
6. Games from Both Industries Find Inspiration in the Same Things
Both video and online casino games will find inspiration in the same things. It may be some myth or legend or the adventure of the movie plot.
The human imagination is often captivated by the same things whether it is zombies with computer games such as Valve's Left 4 Dead and casino games or Spinometal's Zombie Slot Mania, Playtech's Age of the Gods, or Microsoft's Age of Mythology.
Game developers are often captivated by popular tropes such as:
- Space travel (Starburst)
- Werewolves (Wolf's Bane)
- Greek mythology (Hot as Hades)
- Warfare (Call of Duty) and other popular figments
There is a lot of overlap in the type of theme you can choose from, but video games admittedly take the depth of the narrative a little further along.
