An evening at the theatre or a night at the casino are great ways to spend your Saturday night if you’re partial to a touch of luxury, but while these sophisticated favourites will always have a place in our free time, the ways we’re sourcing our entertainment are changing and increasingly moving online.
While spring and summer will always remain social seasons, with garden parties and cocktail soirées quickly filling up our calendars each week, as the temperatures drop and the nights draw in, the thought of having to head out and brave the weather for a dose of fun and excitement suddenly becomes less appealing, and the idea of hunkering down for a night at home all the more so. And gone are the days when that meant reading a book by candlelight or a limited selection of programmes on terrestrial TV, because thanks to rapid evolution within the digital entertainment space, options now abound.
From streaming services like Netflix and Now TV to virtual concerts and shows and immersive gaming experiences, the choices are now seemingly endless, and the fact that they can be accessed anywhere, anytime without leaving the comfort of your sofa if you’d prefer not to has seen their popularity positively soar.
In particular, the rise of premium online entertainment options which offer elevated experiences for a slightly higher price, have come into their own of late, and those who enjoy the finer things in life can now enjoy personalised recommendations from the platforms they love, private concerts streamed from iconic venues, immersive activities and thanks to the latest technological innovations immersive casino gameplay.
There’s no denying that the internet has, over recent years, reshaped just about every facet of life at its very core – and the world of entertainment is no different. As the industry clamours to stay ahead of modern and ever-more discerning demands, here, we take a look at how the internet has transformed it in ways that could once never have been imagined.
High-end online casinos and VIP experiences
While you might argue that there’s nothing like the glitz and glamour of a night at a real life, land-based casino, recent developments in the online casino space have put that notion well and truly to the test. While once, the digital equivalent could barely compete, these days, leading gambling platforms have undergone an opulent new makeover that not only offers an elevated experience but that has captured the attention of even the world’s biggest high-rollers.
From exclusive games and immersive experiences, the latter of which has been made possible with the introduction of virtual reality (VR) technology, the best UK online casinos according to 1337 Games have all the trappings of the iconic bricks-and-mortar venues we know and love, but with the added bonus of being accessible from wherever you happen to be. And along with high-level live dealer games and exclusive high-stakes gambling in private VIP poker rooms, users can expect generous VIP programmes and white-glove service that truly rival those of the legendary gaming halls of Las Vegas and Monaco.
Premium streaming services
We’re all familiar with streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, which were some of the first to offer users on-demand access to an expansive library of TV series and films via smart TVs and computers before eventually expanding their offerings to cater to smartphone users with the creation of mobile apps for watching on the go. But over the last ten years or so, streaming has been given a new and more luxurious makeover for those seeking a premium experience, with exclusive and high-quality entertainment made a priority by leading platforms seeking to capitalise on the demands of a more discerning audience.
These days, they’re spending eye-watering amounts on productions designed to capture the attention and win the approval of those with even the highest of standards. From impressive special effects to incredible screen-writing, it’s no longer about churning out quick, mass-market watches but investing heavily in original films and series that area as good – if not better than – the blockbusters you’d expect to see in the cinema, and drawing in iconic A-list casts that are guaranteed to draw viewers in.
The differentiation between standard and premium streaming services is also becoming more pronounced; just last year, Netflix bumped up the price of subscriptions for those wishing to continue to enjoy ad-free streaming and introduced a more basic, ad-funded model for those seeking a cheaper option. Other platforms, like Apple TV+, have also introduced premium packages, and for affluent consumers, it’s more than worth the small extra expense.
Virtual events
As modern technology continues to advance, live-streaming and virtual experiences offer a new form of entertainment that really is the pinnacle of luxury. Try, for a moment, to imagine sitting at your dining table at home and being granted exclusive access to a VIP virtual Taylor Swift concert or Coldplay gig, with just a handful of other elite guests on the invite list – or enjoying a show-stopping theatre performance from the comfort of your virtual private box. Well, now you don’t have to, because these are very real options that for the right price, are being made available to an affluent audience, with events now unrestricted by physical location.
So there’s no need to jet off across the globe to track down your favourite artist or show, and no need to battle crowds or queues to get to your seats; instead, you can settle in for the night and attend a live-streamed event virtually from wherever you are, enjoying a fully immersive experience that feels just like really being there in the flesh.
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