Busting The Five Biggest Myths About Illinois Online Casinos
Online casinos in Illinois are not yet authorized. However, before they are, it’s crucial to dispel several myths.
Play Illinois debunks five major misconceptions about online casinos in Illinois.
Myth #1: Illinois online casinos will cannibalize retail casinos
A major worry about permitting online casinos is that gamblers who presently wager in-person at physical casinos will merely shift their gambling activities to the internet.
This is known as cannibalization in the gambling world, where one type of gambling “consumes” another.
The positive news is that the majority of evidence confirms that cannibalization does not happen.
Actually, a significant 2022 US gaming study discovered that online casinos actually enhanced retail ones.
GP Consulting conducted a study for MGM Resorts, a company that runs both land-based and online casinos. A primary discovery of the research was that the demographic of individuals who enjoy visiting casinos differs significantly from those who prefer online wagering.
Dr. Kahlil Philander stated, “When examining the demographic question, it becomes clear that these are, in fact, two distinct user groups.”
Philander is a renowned scholar in the gaming industry and the principal author of the GP/MGM cannibalization study.
“He stated that from a sociological perspective, regular casino visitors often perceive a sense of community in such environments. Thus, it is not clear whether online gaming, which primarily occurs at home, can wholly or partially replace this experience. In fact, the studies we conducted across various markets did not indicate any significant impact of the legalization of online gaming on physical casino gaming,” he said.
Benjie Levy, the President and COO of theScore Bet, informed PlayCanada that online gambling has not impacted casino revenue negatively in the four US states where theScore is operational. Instead, it has been a beneficial addition to the commercial market. He emphasized that there have been no job losses and the overall market has witnessed growth.
Myth #2: Online casino games are rigged
Some gamblers may falsely believe that digital casino games, whether played through an app or a website, are rigged. Some find gambling in-person at a casino, whether on a slot machine or with a live dealer, to appear more legitimate. However, online gambling games that are legally regulated offer Return To Player statistics, which show the percentage of money that is returned to gamblers.
Furthermore, every game in a casino undergoes regular tests and certifications to ensure fairness. A trustworthy casino provides a list of its games’ theoretical Return to Player (RTP) and publishes the actual payout rates. These figures are certified by independent gaming laboratories and testing authorities.
Evaluating a casino’s overall worth greatly depends on the payouts across its games. The Return to Player (RTP) consistently serves as a reliable measure of the games’ fairness and integrity.
Since Illinois hasn’t legalized online casinos so far, we can use Michigan and Ontario—two nearby jurisdictions—as examples of how to identify a game’s Return to Player (RTP). In these places, most games have a section outlining the game rules and/or settings. This usually includes a clickable menu that gamblers can use to view the game’s RTP.
Suggestion #1: Players ought to seek games with an RTP exceeding 97%.
Advice #2: Always opt for a gaming operator that is legal and regulated in Illinois when gambling. If you risk playing with an unregulated option like an offshore casino, you won’t have any guarantees or protections.
Myth #3: You’ll never get paid if you win
If you adhere to the second tip and only gamble with operators that are legally regulated in Illinois, you will not have to worry about receiving your winnings. This is mandated by law.
The Illinois Gaming Board has regulations in place to guarantee that winning gamblers receive their payouts. As of now, online casinos in Illinois are not legal. However, you can refer to the rules that govern online sportsbooks in the state. Also, you can peruse the complete Sports Wagering Act.
Knowing the legal operators is crucial. At present, seven legal options are available for online sports betting in Illinois:
Gambling with anyone else is a risk.
Myth #4: The games freeze if you are winning too much
In simpler terms: Freezing or slowing down online games is not beneficial for the gambling operator.
Why is this so? The fundamental rule of gambling is that the odds are always skewed in favor of the gambling operator. Therefore, if a person continues to gamble for an extended period, the house will inevitably come out on top. This explains why gambling operators aim to extend your playing time rather than curtail it, in an attempt to maximize their profits.
This doesn’t imply that you can’t be victorious. Undoubtedly, you can.
However, while playing online, technology can malfunction for a variety of reasons, such as:
- An unstable or interrupted internet connection.
- The crashing of your device or computer.
- A power outage.
- A technological malfunction at the operator’s side.
However, none of those reasons suggest that an operator is deliberately causing your games to freeze or slow down.
Furthermore, if your game gets stuck mid-play, there’s no need for concern. The casino server is aware when gameplay has halted. Usually, when you reboot the casino software, it will resume from where it stopped.
Myth #5: There is no way to ensure Illinois online gamblers are 21 or older
In Illinois, only individuals aged 21 or above are allowed to gamble. However, one might think this is easy to circumvent when gambling on the internet, correct?
Nope.
To sign up for an Illinois online sportsbook, individuals need to provide their names, birth date, and the last four digits of their social security numbers. Everything must be accurate and verified before an account can be created.
Of course, the same age-verification protocol would be implemented for online casinos if they are introduced in the Land of Lincoln.
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