Despite all restrictions on gatherings and travel being lifted, and widespread use of the vaccine, we are not out of the woods yet. Nevertheless, we are starting to get glimpses of what a “post-pandemic” society could look like. And naturally, these glimpses introduce a lot of questions about how everyday life, politics, and businesses will change.

One of the industries more sensitive to the changes that took place during the pandemic was that of live casino entertainment. Lockdowns forced people to stay home, meaning they couldn’t visit their favourite casinos to play slots or sit down at tables to play poker or blackjack. This led a lot of would-be casino gamers to find alternative entertainment online, and in some cases their preferences and comfort zones have shifted. This begs the question: With all restrictions having now been lifted (including those regarding travel to the UK, as Sky News reported last month), will live casinos bounce back completely?

The case against

Online poker is thriving

When the first lockdowns began, people started to look into different ways to stay entertained and connected. Under those circumstances, online poker emerged as a great alternative for fans of the hobby. And while there have been numerous reports about the many precautions casinos have taken to make playing poker in person safe again, chances are that a lot of players have gotten used to the idea of playing from home. There might not be much incentive to return to brick-and-mortar gaming locations.

Online games are imitating live environments

In the last few years, online platforms have put a lot of effort into trying to replicate the experience of playing at a casino, as opposed to just offering digital versions of games. Building on the vast and long-standing popularity of slots, the Gala Casino game site in particular has done much to develop Slingo –– which blends slots with elements of bingo people tend to associate with live entertainment and casino bingo halls. The same platform has made a point of developing scratch cards, which again many associate with in-person activity. And at the same time, this and a host of other popular game sites have embraced things like live dealer feeds and game show simulations. In short, these developments have made visiting a gaming site a lot more like live entertainment at a real casino facility.

A looming VR boom

The recent push for migrating to VR environments to replicate every activity people do in real life (aka the Metaverse) may end up largely eliminating the need for live casinos. This may seem like a bit of a stretch for many, but apps like PokerStars VR have already developed virtual poker simulations that feel an awful lot like the real thing when you’re in them. Additionally, developers behind games like Pinball Arcade already use existing software to recreate the physics and feel of real-life locations. It might only be a matter of time before we can visit detailed replicas of famous casinos –– and enjoy all the games inside them, alongside the avatars of other players –– just by putting on VR headsets.

The case for

The labour market is growing

As The Guardian suggests, the labour market is starting to show signs of growth. This is a favourable development for casinos in two ways. First, it likely goes hand-in-hand with people’s growing comfort with going out in public and visiting establishments –– including casinos. Additionally though, it means that those casinos that lost employees at the height of the pandemic will likely be able to get themselves fully staffed once more.

Casinos have a great capacity to adapt

To the inexperienced eye, the gaming scene may seem static. In reality though, the games casinos offer are in constant evolution. Casinos quickly improved their poker offerings when this game exploded in popularity in the early 2000s; slots and other games have become increasingly interactive due to a need to attract younger generations who aren’t content pushing in coins and pulling levers for entertainment. Make no mistake, the people in charge of casinos are clever, and also have a great deal of market research at their fingertips. They’ll be adapting as best they can to recover now that everything is open again, and it’s a decent bet that they’ll ultimately thrive again

In conclusion

Casinos have been around for a very long time, and this makes it difficult to predict their demise anytime soon. The lifting of pandemic restrictions will help them in the short term, and a capacity to adapt should ensure that they remain relevant. That said, online alternatives are progressing in ways that pose legitimate challenges.

If you want to get more news about our constantly changing world, come back to the News Journal again when you get a chance!