In light of the ongoing global pandemic, bricks-and-mortar casinos around the world have been forced to close their doors for lengthy periods over the past two years, leaving many jet-setting high-rollers unable to get their beloved gambling fix. There’s nothing quite as alluring of the glitz, glamour and all-round opulence of a night at the casino when you’re a lover of the finer things in life, but although lockdowns in many regions have now begun to ease, ongoing entry restrictions to some of our favourite luxury travel destinations are continuing to curtail our fun.
With the United States having recently flung open its borders to British travellers, the bright lights of Vegas, at least, are beckoning once again – but testing and vaccination requirements mean that getting there is no longer the simple experience it once was. And as for Asia, much of it remains off limits – so what has a self-confessed whale got to do to get their fill of Blackjack, Roulette and other casino favourites?
The answer, for many, is by playing online, and we’ve seen a dramatic surge in the number of online casinos since the pandemic began in March 2020, with those already in existence forced to up their game to compete. Once upon a time, a remote game of poker simply couldn’t offer up the tension and adrenaline that comes with a real life game, but thanks to the introduction of live dealers and interactive experiences, you can now enjoy all the edge-of-your-seat action from the comfort of your home, sun lounger of luxury yacht – whichever you prefer.
Meet the crypto casino
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for online platforms when it comes to winning the approval of the world’s high-rollers – who are accustomed to being spoiled with lavish gifts, free luxury suite stays and First Class flights in exchange for their custom by land-based venues. To keep them sweet, many online casinos have ramped up their VIP programmes to offer bigger bonuses and better perks – and the approach, it seems, is working. Add to this the introduction of artificial intelligence to up-level their customer service provisions, and it seems that the wealthy have been well and truly won over by this new breed of online casino.
Those that are seeing the greatest success, however, are the ones which are able to tailor specifically to the high-net-worth client in every way, and some of today’s most popular online casinos, which are extensions of the big global names we already know and love, have garnered additional respect by allowing their customers to gamble with Bitcoin.
We’re seeing an increasing integration of cryptocurrencies as payment methods amongst the most forward-thinking providers, with players able to make deposits, place bets and play games using a Bitcoin wallet, as well as claiming their winnings in this popular digital asset, too. For whales who have amassed impressive crypto fortunes, it’s a huge draw, and the additional anonymity and privacy offered by swapping cash for crypto makes for an even more attractive prospect.
Standard bank transactions can be traced back to the person who made them with relative ease, but thanks to the innovative blockchain technology on which Bitcoin is based, and because it is on the ‘peer-to-peer’ network, the provision of personal information to online casinos is not required to make a transaction using Bitcoin.
Add to that the fact that fees at Bitcoin casinos tend to be considerably lower than those who use traditional means of payment to place their bets, and a preferential exchange rate for foreign currencies, and it’s easy to see why the world’s wealthy are flocking to the online casinos that allow them to play with crypto.
Of course, not all online casinos have jumped aboard this growing trend just yet, but those that have adapted quickly are certain to prosper. The best of them, it seems, have thought of everything, with even cashback and bonuses provided in crypto – and the prospect of being able to not just spend their Bitcoin, but to grow their cryptocurrency fortunes even further without partaking in standard trading is understandably a huge novelty.
Many experts believe that Bitcoin is the future of worldwide currencies – although some nations, like China, may disagree. While some governments are embracing the trend, others are banning the use of the currency entirely – instead, making plans to come up with their own alternative.
Nevertheless, it seems that cryptocurrencies in general are here to stay, and in 2022, we can expect to see their possible uses continue to expand into a vast number of new fields. Now, you can book first class flights and luxury holidays, purchase expensive cars and even original works of art with crypto – so the appeal of the online crypto casino is only expected to grow amongst the wealthy.
Over the next year, we’ll no doubt see a flurry of online casinos clamouring to get up to speed and retain their most high-rolling clients. Bitcoin and the like are going nowhere, and with huge growth predicted in 2022, it’s an exciting time for both investors and gamblers alike.
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