How Sports Betting Differ from Online Casinos Posted on October 11, 2022July 3, 2023 by Millard Aubé Who among us doesn’t dream of making a big profit and becoming a millionaire in one fell swoop? The modern world offers you many different ways to turn boredom into an exciting pastime and try your luck for real money. The most popular options are online sports betting and online gambling. For people who like to take risks and can’t imagine their lives without thrills, choosing between sports betting and online casinos like RTP Live is often a difficult thing. Although the difference between these two options is not so great, there has always been an invisible boundary between them. Here we explain how online casino games and online betting differ from each other and what legal status they have in Europe. Sports betting and online casino games – What is it all about? Betting on the outcome of a sporting event has a long tradition and many fans worldwide. While sports betting used to be offered exclusively by special (offline) bookmakers, this type of entertainment has now largely shifted to the virtual world. The range of betting opportunities is enormous these days. The most popular sport is without a doubt football (Champions League, Premier League). In other sports, tennis, handball, basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, baseball, and boxing always enjoy great popularity. Most betting providers offer a wide variety of bet types for these sporting events. A casino game is a real money game where winning depends entirely or largely on the player’s abilities but on chance. Unlike sports betting, you don’t need any special knowledge and experience to make real profits in online casinos. For example, if you play video slots online, you can hit the jackpot after a few rounds. You do not have to choose a strategy, each round is independent of the previous one and has no influence on the next one. If you are looking for skill-oriented casino games, casino sites offer a wide range of card games such as blackjack or poker. When you play these card games at a digital casino, your personal experience is just as important as your luck. It should be noted that there are dubious companies at both online casino sites and betting shops. Therefore, it is important to carefully select the portal. A reliable provider has a license from the EU country and offers an extensive range of reliable payment options. You can pay with Paysafe at most online casinos. And all good portals also offer numerous reliable alternatives – credit cards (such as Visa, Mastercard) and e-wallets (such as Skrill, Neteller). Even cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Dogecoin are increasingly accepted. The difference between online casinos and sports betting In most casino games, the outcome depends only on chance (random number generator) and personal luck. In sports betting, the player himself can analyze the future and alternative events and partially influence the final result. Sports games are real events, the outcome of which can be calculated, taking into account many different factors of the upcoming game. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key differences between sports and casino games. House edge and chances of winning Every casino always has a mathematical advantage over its players. The house edge describes the percentage advantage that the casino company has over the players in a bet. On average, the house edge is between 1 and 15 percent. However, this does not mean that the house always wins. Then there would be no point in playing, would it? You have to understand that thousands or even millions of rounds or spins are taken into account. When it comes to sports betting, there is no specific house edge. An experienced player can influence and improve the probability of winning. But of course, randomness also plays an important role here. There are special betting odds that indicate how likely it is that the corresponding result will be achieved. In order to make a profit and stay in business, the analysts of the betting shops calculate the odds not only on the basis of the actual probabilities of the outcome of a sporting event but also taking into account the margin contained in the coefficient, which brings the bookmaker profit from each bet. Experience and strategies Gambling in virtual casinos varies in complexity. For example, there is practically no strategy in slot machines. All the player needs is simply press the “Start” button, and the random number generator does the rest. Blackjack and poker are complex card games. Sports betting requires much more knowledge and experience than blackjack and poker. You can’t just find a scheme on the Internet that shows you how to place bets seriously and safely and always win one hundred percent with it. Variety and numerous betting opportunities A good casino provider provides numerous variants of video slots, blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, and live casino at any time. The most diverse category is, of course, slot machines – thousands of slots in the game portfolio are already the norm. Book of Ra and its high-quality alternatives (Book of Ra Deluxe, Book of Dead, Ramses Book, Aztec Idols) have won millions of hearts around the world. As far as betting options are concerned, the world of sports betting is even more diverse. The best providers of sports betting offer a variety of sports as well as various betting options: Basic bets: single, combination, and system bets Special bets: handicap, long-term, and live bets With live betting, you can place bets shortly before or during an event. A special attraction of this betting option lies in the live character and flexibility. Bonuses The best casino and betting providers offer a variety of interesting bonus offers to their new and regular customers. However, you should always read the terms and conditions carefully before making a deposit and accepting a sports betting deposit bonus so that you can meet all the conditions in a timely manner. As a new player, you will quickly find that casino bonuses are more generous than sports betting bonus offers. As a rule, a new player receives a first deposit bonus in the casino, which doubles his deposit amount. Some casino sites even offer a casino bonus of 300 percent. Free spins on the most popular online slots are often a supplement to the deposit bonus. Regular customers can also participate in a variety of tournaments, and benefit from cashback, loyalty programs, and regular promotions. ALSO READ: How to Track Your Sports Betting on Mobile the Right Way Legal situation of sports and casino betting in Europe The topic of online betting shops and online casinos in Europe is still extremely controversial. The gambling market is not yet regulated in all European countries and is therefore subject to the laws of each individual country as well as general European standards and applicable EU law. Germany Online gambling in Germany was banned for a long time and was in the legal gray area. For this reason, many players have registered on foreign casino sites to get the opportunity to enjoy popular slots and table games for real money. Many major international casino providers have Maltese licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority, which means that their operations comply with European law. The demand for foreign casino sites and the only exception of Schleswig-Holstein (where gambling licenses have been granted) have shown that gambling on the Internet is a sought-after pastime for Germans. Although only land-based gambling halls, online and offline sports betting, and horse racing are currently allowed in Germany, the new State Treaty on Gambling for Sports Betting and Gambling is to come into force on 1 July 2021, open up the gambling market for private providers and legalize online gambling. Austria One of the peculiarities of online casinos in Austria is that the management and control of gambling are completely in the hands of the state. This applies to both the real (offline) and the digital world. Casino Austria AG has a gambling monopoly. However, there are many casino site alternatives that players from Austria are happy to accept. Online sports betting The legal situation in Austria differs from that in Germany – sports betting is officially not one of the games of chance here. Switzerland The online casino legal situation in Switzerland is regulated by the Gambling Act of 2019. According to the law, only the casino hotels licensed by Switzerland are allowed to make various games of chance available on the Internet. Although unlicensed casino sites are to be blocked, many gambling fans simply bypass the IP ban, register on foreign portals, and even receive a casino or sports betting bonus for the first deposit. Sports Betting vs. Casino Game: Which Is Better? The choice between online casino games or sports betting depends on what you want to get out of your pastime. Do you have enough patience to learn all about your favorite sport? Or do you want to rely on pure coincidence? Be that as it may, few people stay on one side and try their luck at both casino games and sports betting.