There is no such thing as normal in these trying times. We all slid into 2020 with no idea that we’d be living in a modern pandemic in only a few short months. But here we all are, in the same isolated trench trying to make sense of things.
There are few industries who’ve managed to escape unscathed from the indiscriminate grip of COVID-19. That goes for restaurants, movie theaters and, of course, casinos. This last industry has taken a big hit as they rely on the steady flow of players who make their way onto the casino floor to spend big and win little.
Lucky for the casino industry, some of these larger gambling operations have a safety net that most restaurants and theaters do not. The pandemic has punctuated the importance of online casinos in the future of gambling. In-person gambling is traditionally an anti-COVID era activity. Players, dealers, cashiers, all of them exchange chips, cash, cards, and other items with such regularity it makes it nearly impossible to properly disinfect and avoid transmission.
Online casinos offer an alternative that allows players to get their gambling fix without also gambling with their health. We’re not talking cute little games like the ones you have on your phone that reward you with little more than Monopoly money when you win.
You can play traditional games in online casinos to win real money. That includes slots, poker, blackjack and more. The variety of games available to play depends on your local gambling ordinances. There have been a number of victories and strides forward in the online casino industry in recent years, but there’s still a long stretch of road ahead before we see online casinos available everywhere and in every state.
The COVID pandemic is an impetus for states to move forward with legislation that allows for online casinos to operate within their borders. With state revenue taking a massive hit when casinos shut down, this would allow revenue from casinos to operate pandemic-proof from here on out.
We don’t know what the future of brick-and-mortar casinos is, but we do know that online casinos have to play a part in the overall operation. It’s a win-win across the boards.
