10 Reasons I Despise Land-Based Casinos

There are currently 1,511 land-based casinos in operation in the United States. From gas stations with a few video poker machines to large Las Vegas mega resorts, these are available. With almost every state becoming more lenient on gambling, a casino will almost certainly become a part of your local community soon. Just because you have a casino nearby does not mean it is superior to gambling online.

We have a beautiful brick-and-mortar casino practically in my backyard, but I rarely visit. I just don't have the time these days to drive down there because I spend so much time gambling online. One could argue that there are a few advantages to gambling in brick and mortar casinos, such as the ability to play with cash, meet new people, or simply enjoy the convenience of a casino-hosted restaurant/hotel/bar.

I prefer to play online; it's far superior, which is why I compiled this list of reasons why I despise land-based casinos.

10. Parking and Parking Lot Traffic

Not only must one physically get to the casino, but one must also contend with traffic in the parking lot. You might sigh and think it's not so bad, but rest assured you've never been to a casino, or you're part of the problem.

Most casinos have spaces available, but because of the draw, it appears that the larger the parking lot, the more parking lot drama there is. I've witnessed more accidents, fights, and car break-ins than you'd find in any grocery store parking lot.

We're talking about angry people leaving after having too much to drink, or people who have had too much to drink and decided to visit the casino. People who leave are usually upset because they've hit a super deep and terrible gambling low. People who arrive drunk or high are your gambling addicts. The amount of drinking and drug use in the area casinos is higher than in most taverns.

This always seems to get much worse on weekends, when most people prefer to do this type of thing, so go during the week to avoid it. Another thing you can do to completely eliminate this from your life is to gamble online.

9. Players' Clubs

"Do you have a business card, Sir?" It's beyond annoying to have to sit down for a round of blackjack or Caribbean poker every time. When you finally give in and get the card, you're in casino promotion hell. We are constantly receiving new promotions in the mail, via email, and they occasionally leave "ringless" voicemail drops.

The club cards that are distributed assist casinos in rewarding their players based on how much they wager from one week to the next and even day to day. Some people obsess over their promo clubs and won't even gamble until they've signed up at each casino.

I'm not saying I dislike promotions or comps in general, but the vast majority of them are designed to reward slot players. Personally, I'm not a slot player, not that there's anything wrong with it. I simply don't play enough to justify the majority of the'rewards.'

The annoying thing is that once you've broken down and joined the club, they won't stop sending you stuff. They will not stop until you are a member of the club. It's not something I miss when I play the same games online.

8. Distraction's Odds

Casinos are built to make money from the ground up. The carpet colors, the sound system, the processes... everything is working against you. You're playing their games by their rules once you're in their house. As an online gambler, if I'm having a bad streak, I can switch to another site or limit myself to games where I can handle the swings.

You're physically present in the casino, and you're more likely to be social rather than just focused on your game. When I have the opportunity, I enjoy playing poker online. When I go to the casino's poker room, I usually put a few dollars in the slots while I wait for a table. The trap is set in such a way that the odds are stacked in favor of the casino.

You could argue that the odds are the same, but sitting in a casino environment reveals far more distractions and a stronger intent by the house to accept your money by any means necessary.

7. Availability of Games

Assume you're a slot machine player. You enjoy playing the double diamonds slots because you won once and have developed a crush on that machine. You drive all the way to the casino, walk through the double doors, nod to security, and then seek out a double diamonds machine.

If you go to the casino on the weekend, you have little to no chance of finding the game you want. It usually happens because someone else is playing it when you arrive. If you're the first one on it, someone will approach you and bother you, watch you, or play the machine next to yours. It's like urinals in the bathroom, which should be a source of amusement or relief but instead become an awkward social situation.

You can always find a session of your favorite machine if you play online. There are many more games available online, and you never have to wait.

6. There are no clocks or windows.

Is it just me, or does the lack of clocks seem like a minor quibble? Whether you believe it or not, if you spend enough time in a real casino with no clocks, this will have an effect on you. It's more than just an inconvenience; it's a new strategy.

Every house strategy used by casinos is designed to help you lose money. One of them is the lack of clocks and windows, which is another compelling reason to choose online gambling over your local casino.

5. Safety

When is a lack of security a problem? When you dislike authority in general, this is the answer. Some may argue that casino security exists to keep you and everyone else who enjoys gambling safe. We all know that the true purpose of casino security is to protect the security.

In a casino, there are cameras everywhere; I feel like I'm being watched even in the restroom. I'm aware of the facial recognition software, additional hidden cameras, and the security staff's rent-a-cop attitude if you find yourself on their action side.

Only once have I been escorted out of a casino by security because I was too drunk at a blackjack table. They were courteous because I was a hotel guest. It wasn't a big deal, but it would never have happened if I had been playing blackjack online at home.

4. Social Responsibilities

I have a short list of people I don't want to run into in public, but where could I find them? You guessed correctly if you guessed the casino. I live in a small town where the local casino is a draw. There are always tourists there, but I always run into familiar locals.

Sure, socializing isn't bad in and of itself, and you might prefer to talk to people over gambling. Personally, I'd rather gamble at the casino than engage in small talk with someone I didn't know well enough to talk to before going.

I also meet a lot of people who want to socialize with me. I'm always polite, but deep down, I just want them to shut up and play the game. Forcing yourself to say "Hi" to strangers is a social obligation you won't find online.

3. People / Seating / Drinking

People in America who enjoy gambling also enjoy drinking. Gambling and drinking have always gone hand in hand in our country's history. The majority of gambling regulations are similar to the prohibition of alcohol. It is commonly stated that people can have a drinking and gambling problem. In a casino, you'll be exposed to the worst of both worlds.

It's not always alcohol; sometimes it's drugs, which can be even more socially dangerous. Sometimes the people are sober and just plain crazy; they might as well be drunk because you'd hope they'd sober up over time, and if they're only crazy, you're there with them in a social setting.

Gambling is a social activity, and some of us would rather have a drink or two to deal with the social energy. Things are frequently taken too far at the casino. There will be people who are too inebriated to sit at a table, let alone place bets. Bid farewell to rational social behavior. Goodbye, bad breath, loud voices, and invasions of your personal space. Allowing customers to get their drink on only benefits the casino because of the impaired judgment, but it's another reason for me to stay at home and gamble online.

2. The Smell

When I refer to 'The Smoke,' I mean the cloud of tobacco smoke that hangs in the air even in the 'non-smoking' sections of most casinos. People who have had health problems as a result of working for a casino are referred to as having 'ETS,' or "Environmental Tobacco Smoke."

If you've ever been to a casino, you've probably noticed that most gamblers enjoy smoking. This could also be a good time to remind everyone that there is no safe level of exposure to this stuff.

It not only is toxic to your overall health, but it also stinks. My wife always knows when I've been to the local bar or the casino. Even if I'm only there for 20 minutes, it's all over your clothes. Avoid the odor by gambling online.

1. The Long Journey Home

When you go to the casino, one of two things will happen: you will either win or lose money. You're usually going to be in the losers' club, and you're not going to be happy about it.

The minutes fly by like crazy when you're driving yourself home from the casino. It's like a flight to Vegas; people say it's quick, but the return flight can be the worst. If I've suffered any kind of loss, even if it's minor, the car ride home gives me far too much time to reflect on it.

I'd prefer to get my mind off of it as soon as possible. Instead of letting the 'I just sold the kids for crack' feeling sink in during the long ride home from the casino, I'd rather clean up the kitchen or let the dogs out.

Summary

I've gone on a bit of a rant about casinos here. Don't get me wrong: I'll still go out and spend a few dollars and a few hours every now and then. Local casinos help the economy and employ my friends and family in the area, so I try to visit once in a while. But, for the time being, I'm perfectly content to keep my regular gambling action online.