On the eve of the new 2022, we will try to resolve a dispute that has been going on in recent years – are online bookmakers better than traditional land-based betting shops and will they provide you with better odds. If we are, to be honest, even if we move heaven and earth, it would be a hard time finding arguments in favor of brick-and-mortar betting premises. However, nothing is just black or white, so let’s take a look at what the two options offer to nowadays punters.
Physical Betting Shops
Although being the obvious underdog in this emulation, traditional land-based betting stores have a few things to boast about. A clear advantage of placing a bet in a betting shop is that your betting experience cannot be tracked. As there are no accounts like with online bookies, sharp bettors can rest assured that their betting action may continue no matter what type of wagers they make and how high profits they gain.
Another fact that deserves attention is that in case your bet placed within a betting shop is successful, you can get your winnings almost immediately. In online sportsbooks, on the other hand, the access to your own funds is highly dependable on the payment method chosen.
One more thing you cannot enjoy while betting online is face-to-face communication with other sports betting aficionados. Betting stores allow you to watch certain events on the TV, discuss the players’ performance and possible outcomes with bettors present in the premise, and place your bets at the same time. Whether such socialization is an advantage today, we leave it to your discretion.
Advantages of Online Sportsbooks
It is no wonder online betting platforms have become hugely popular in the last few years since they provide punters with a plethora of advantages. First of all, the diversity that the internet offers can in no way be compared to that of brick-and-mortar bookmakers. There are hundreds of online sportsbooks and with just a couple of clicks, you can find the one that best suits your preferences.
No matter how experienced punters are, they always look for better odds and it is definitely the online bookies that provide them. The reasons are very simple and one of them is that physical betting stores have significant operating costs to cover. Their advertising possibilities are quite limited and are not considered a major source of income. Owners of betting shops have no choice but to compensate the high margins with lower odds.
Top online sportsbooks are a kind of cornucopia in terms of betting markets diversity. They allow registered punters to wager on 25-30 or even more sports, sometimes supplemented by additional products such as live casino and virtual sections. Betting shops on the other hand, in most cases, focus on highly popular markets only.
Online bookies offer a highly varied selection of betting features, bonuses, prizes, and promotions that are unattainable for brick-and-mortar betting shops. By that, we do not mean betting stores have no perks for their customers but their volume is much more limited. Early cash-out and bet builder for example are highly sought-after features that can be used only online. Some of the biggest names in the online sports betting industry maintain special blogs with interesting and useful publications as well as comprehensive statistics sections, which bettors can consult at any time.
Last but not least, online sportsbooks offer almost unlimited flexibility, convenience, and ease of use. Regardless of what time of the day it is and where you are currently located, you can always use your laptop or smartphone to place a bet.
So, the verdict is clear – despite the long traditions and the large number of people employed in this field, land-based betting shops are slowly losing ground, while betting sites are gaining more and more users.
