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4 Ways gambling is different in the UK and USA
| Published: 9th July 2019 12:17 |
Just like the culture, the food, fashion, and a million other things, casinos change with location. The differences are accentuated as your travel between different cities to different countries. This shift can be caused by a wide range of factors — historical influence, distribution of wealth, or government laws — but regardless of how they came to be, it is helpful to be aware of them if you’re planning on gambling during your next international trip.
Read on to know what separates the gambling experience in the UK from that in the US.
The atmosphere
Casinos in the US have outgrown the meaning of the word ‘casino’; they’re now an entire experience. They host shows by popular Hollywood superstars and musicians. They focus on the entertainment aspect of the experience, with big pieces of attractions like the fountains outside Bellagio.
In the UK, however, casinos are a more subdued affair. They might have a band and live music, but it’s unlikely to be a megastar of any kind. UK live dealer casinos focus on creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere for the patrons. This stark difference can be attributed to the cultural differences between the two countries; salespeople in the US go for the hard sell while those in the UK apply a ‘take it or leave it’ approach.
Online gambling
Thanks to the UIGEA of 2006, gambling in the US has become cumbersome and unpleasant. Therefore, US casinos can’t offer bonuses since it’s against the law.
In the UK, though, the online gambling scene is well-regulated and licensed, enabling brick-and-mortar casinos to offer their visitors an extended online experience after they’ve exited the premises. A big example of this is how some casinos in the UK offer no deposit bonuses to players who visit their casino websites.
While it doesn’t significantly benefit the physical casinos, players appreciate it when they get extra freebies and bonuses after an evening at the tables.
The law
The laws strictly govern the entire gambling industry, after all, that’s what’s meant by regulated gambling. While both regions enforce laws to keep gambling from becoming a financial crisis, there are key areas where they differ in execution.
For example, the minimum age requirement in the US is 21, whereas it is 18 in the UK, leading to a younger crowd in many UK casinos. Even the variance of gambling laws within these regions varies. In the UK, the Gambling Act (2005) acts as an umbrella authority over all casinos in the country. In sharp contrast, the gambling laws are different in all the US states because of a patchwork of state and federal laws governing the industry.
Game options
When it comes to game variety, the US casinos are miles ahead of their UK counterparts. Though the Gambling Act (2005) has allowed the incorporation of more game varieties in UK casinos, they still have a lot of catching up to do.
US casinos can have slot areas that are bigger than entire UK casinos, with the best of them offering a measly 150 slot machines compared to thousands in big US casinos.
In closing, there can be stark differences in casinos based on their locations and as a gambler, it is your responsibility to enjoy your game while respecting those differences.
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