Do game version changes impact online vs land-based casinos differently?

The two platforms also differ with respect to version upgrades. Version changes for websites occur frequently and immediately. Features, layout, enhanced wagering options – all show up immediately on a player’s computer screen. The experience of players is rarely impacted by version changes, because they are announced only to those players. Version upgrades keep the web-based audience entertained.

Online, by contrast, the pace is much faster. On a slot machine screen you cannot simply swap out the game for another and expect players to notice. In land-based casinos, new games must be installed on the floor, and staff trained to operate them. Players have a familiarity with the look and flow of a given game. And when something does change, they often don’t notice.

Same games. Same chances of winning. But different. One changes continuously. The other is comfortable. It’s not good or bad. It’s different.

Online casinos can quickly release new graphics and features as the game is updated, simply by having players refresh their browsers. Land-based casinos must swap out the machines, which is expensive and time-consuming. Thus, online players are exposed to new versions of a game more quickly. If a game with an updated feature proves more popular on the web, this could lead to more frequent or longer sessions; on the ground, it might lead to some changes in wager size. And whereas online players put virtual money at risk, those who visit physical casinos gamble with real cash. Consequently, they tend to focus on the odds rather than the graphics. Online players care more about what the game looks like. That’s why an update that adds graphics will have a bigger impact on online play. Both types of gambling are ultimately about entertainment, so it follows that there would be differences between them.

Well, online casinos do it much faster than bricks-and-mortar properties. You get prettier graphics, new bonus rounds, and improved performance all the time. Traditional casinos operate at a lower speed: they have to wait for regulatory approval, testing, and hardware certification. In other words, slots machines at physical establishments remain unchanged over longer periods of time, and, if you are accustomed to constant novelty, can seem to lose their charm after a while. But then again, the social experience in physical casinos leaves the virtual kind trailing far behind. It’s a matter of personal preference.

But the software-upgrade process affects online and off-line games differently. For example, online slots can introduce a new design of the machine display, or a different bonus game, at any time. Players then decide whether to try it out (and they can always revert to the previous version). In bricks-and-mortar casinos, where physical hardware limits the introduction of new software, slot machines must be upgraded one-by-one, and the gaming experience changes more slowly. Moreover, the easier-to-use graphics and new playing options available online might attract new or infrequent players, which would not have been the case for off-line games. After all, there are other ways to introduce fun and excitement in casinos – such as physical interaction. Still, both types of casino benefit from upgrades; they just play out differently. Something to keep in mind when scheduling the next update.

Online casinos benefit from rapid upgrades to game versions, while on-site establishments have to replace their gaming machines slowly and at great cost. This makes online games much more dynamic than those played on-site, but it also means that online players must be prepared for new challenges, such as an unexpected increase in difficulty or a change in graphics.