The terms ‘gaming’ and ‘gambling’ are often used interchangeably in the casino industry, but there is an important distinction between the two. Gaming and gambling refer to very different activities although they have a few things in common. Gambling refers to playing a game by wagering real money while gaming means playing a video game without any money. The outcome of gambling depends on luck or chance whereas gaming is based on skill and strategy.
Playing video games and playing casino games are both very popular, but it all depends on what each person is looking to get out of a game. For those who are looking to win real money, casino games are much more rewarding but others might prefer getting immersed in the atmosphere of a video game. Despite their difference, the elements of a video game and a casino game sometimes overlap. Video games can include elements of gambling while casino games may also include elements of playing a video game. In this article, we’ll compare video games to casino games to find out which of the two is the most rewarding and how they overlap at times.
Video Games vs Casino Games – Which is the Most Popular?
Playing video games on a computer is the most common form of gaming and these can include role-playing games and multiplayer online games. Video games have been immensely popular since their invention in 1958 and it’s easy to see why.
With life-like graphics, realistic sound effects, and often an intricate storyline that’s easy to get hooked into, video games offer great entertainment value. Players get immersed in the story and become part of it by completing missions and moving through different worlds as they unlock different levels. There are video games for every skill level as well, from simple video games to difficult games that take a lot of skill to beat.
On the other hand, there are no skills involved in playing casino games. The outcome is all based on chance and there aren’t really any ways to influence it. Taking slots as an example, the gameplay involves spinning the reels by placing a real money bet and waiting for the result: that’s all there is to it. However, much like video games, online slots and casino games also use the latest cutting-edge technology to create visually stunning games with interesting themes and features that can also offer a lot of entertainment value.
What attracts players to casino games is, of course, the possibility to win real money prizes. Whenever you’re playing any casino game with real money, you have the chance to win a variety of prizes, ranging from as little as twice your original bet to jackpots that can go up to millions (albeit rare). Considering that no real money can be won by playing video games, casino games are generally considered a lot more rewarding.
Finding the Best Real Money Casino Games
Casino games aren’t just limited to online slots and some of the best real money casino games include Roulette and Poker. To find the best real money casino games, it’s important to look at the RTP rate or the house edge.
The RTP stands for the return to player rate which is an indication of the rewards a player is likely to win when playing that slot. A good RTP rate is usually between 96% and 99%; the higher the RTP rate, the higher the chances of winning that game. Similarly, the house edge refers to the advantage that the casino has and this applies to table games like Poker and Blackjack. Unlike the RTP rate, the lower the house edge, the bigger the advantage for the player.
Video Games Meet Casino Games – Slots Inspired by Video Games
Earlier on, we mentioned that elements of video games and casino games sometimes overlap. Casino game providers often take advantage of these similarities by creating online slots with elements of video games. Many top slots offer a video game-like experience with missions that can be completed within the game, a detailed storyline, and even the possibility to unlock differents worlds or destinations within the slot. The difference is that these features are randomly triggered in the game and have nothing to do with the player’s skill.
The great thing about these types of slots is that they combine the most entertaining elements of video games with the chance to win real money. For video game fans who want to experience gambling like Duke Nukem, slots like Hitman or Tomb Raider – Secret of the Sword from Microgaming are the perfect kind of games to try out.