The Impact of COVID19 On Casinos Around the World

Casinos have often been a favourite haunt for tourists worldwide. But over the past year and a half, the COVID19 pandemic has had a huge impact on casinos and the gambling industry as a whole. Today, if you’re visiting another country, while there will still always be casinos available to visit, you are likely to see a lot of increased COVID19 measures in place including smaller playing tables, mandatory face coverings, and social distancing rules to follow.

Why Are Casinos Popular With Tourists?

Even people who don’t gamble very often might visit a casino when they are on holiday, and it’s a rite of passage if you’re visiting a destination that is known for its thriving casino scene like Las Vegas or Macau. Visiting some iconic casinos can be a tourist activity in itself even if you don’t place any bets or play any games, like the famous Las Vegas casinos based on European destinations. Casinos have been around for a long time, and in some places, are the main reason why visitors decide to go to a certain destination.

How COVID19 Impacted Traditional Casinos

At the height of the pandemic, many countries decided that traditional casinos were just too risky to keep open. Large gatherings indoors were banned in many countries to prevent the spread of COVID19, with infection rates higher in areas where people are mingling together in closed areas, which is often the case in a casino. Many table casino games like blackjack and poker do not lend themselves very well to social distancing and overall, the risk was just too high for casinos to continue operating without being huge contributors to the spread of the coronavirus.

The Rise of Online Casinos

Online casinos are certainly nothing new. For years before the COVID19 pandemic, many casinos have offered websites and apps where players can enjoy their favourite games online from the comfort of their own homes. Many online-only casino options around the world have become available, making it easy for anybody to access their favourite games even where there is no traditional casino available for them to visit nearby.

Online Casinos During COVID19

While playing at an online casino is never going to be the same as visiting one of the iconic casinos in Vegas, for example, they have provided a great alternative option for people who did not want to miss out on playing their favourite casino games during the COVID19 lockdowns. Although iconic casino destinations are likely to be back to operating as normal after the pandemic has faded into the annals of history, COVID has had an impact on smaller casinos around the world, with many closing down for good as a result and more people switching over to playing online due to the added convenience and the option of being able to play with less from the comfort of their own homes or online with friends.

Did you like visiting casinos around the world pre-pandemic? Has COVID19 and the rise of online casinos changed how you’ll play in the future? Let us know!