For those new to betting and gambling, it can be difficult to understand the major differences between casino games played at land-based and online casinos versus betting on the outcomes of sporting events with a sportsbook. While both fall under the general gambling umbrella, casino games and sports betting have some distinct variances that beginners should recognize before getting started.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between these two major betting verticals to provide betting newcomers with a solid base of knowledge before they place their first wager.
House Edge & Odds
One of the biggest differences between casino games and sports betting lies in how the house edge and odds operate.
Casino Game House Edge
In virtually every game at SpinBit, including slots, blackjack, craps, roulette and more, the house maintains a built-in mathematical advantage worked into the game rules that ensures the casino profits over millions and millions of wagers. This is known as the house edge.
- For example, in European roulette, there is a single zero on the wheel, leading to a house edge of 2.70%. Over time across all roulette bets, the casino will earn 2.70% of all money wagered.
So in games like roulette, slots and other casino game offerings, the player is fundamentally at a small disadvantage against the house. The house edge ranges between 1% and 15% across different casino games.
Sports Betting Odds
Conversely, with most sports betting, while the sportsbook will build in a small profit margin on the odds offered, the player is not necessarily at an inherent disadvantage against the house on the actual wager.
- For a basic spread bet in an NFL game, if the Patriots are a 7-point favorite against the Jets, they might be listed at -7.0 (-110). The Jets would be +7.0 (+110).
- The -110 means you would need to bet $110 to profit $100. Plus or minus 7.0 is the spread margin set by the oddsmakers.
The sportsbook aims to get equal betting action on both sides of a matchup to guarantee a small profit from the differing odds, known as the vigorish or “vig.” But your wager against the spread has an approximate 50/50 proposition, far more favorable than casino games.
So in summary, casino games ensure a house edge for the casino over time, while sports betting odds aim to tempt you into wagering on both sides of a matchup without a built-in disadvantage.
Chance Versus Skill
Another area where casino games and sports betting diverge for newcomers is the role of chance versus skill in impacting outcomes.
Casino Games Chance Based
Table games like craps and roulette are entirely predicated on random chance, with no skill involved. Slot machines also offer no opportunity for skill to provide an advantage. A slot spin or roulette wheel spin has the exact same house edge for every player on every wager.
- While blackjack and poker allow players to make decisions that can improve their odds, ultimately major elements of chance still dominate the games. A bad beat on the river in poker or dealer pull of 21 in blackjack can wipe out great play.
So casino games are overwhelmingly dominated by luck rather than skill level. Sports betting contrasts sharply here.
Sports Betting Skill Matters
Though upsets and unexpected outcomes are always possible, sports betting markets offer skilled sports fans and handicappers ways to improve their odds versus simply picking games at random.
- Studying matchups, trends, statistics, injuries, coaching, weather reports and many other variables allow bettors to make informed picks on spreads, over/unders and prop bets.
Sports betting still involves luck at the end of the day when it comes to unpredictable last minute touchdowns, player injuries influencing matches and more. But over the long run, demonstrating skill in researching teams and matchups separates serious sports bettors from novices throwing money randomly on the latest game.
Range of Offerings
The types of games and betting offerings also showcase noticeable differences between the casino and sports betting worlds that newcomers should recognize.
Casino Game Range
Casinos offer a wide variety of gaming “products” to appeal to player tastes:
- Slots – Wide range of slot machine varieties with different volatility, bonus features, themes and jackpot sizes
- Table Games – Classic games like blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette
- Poker – Texas Hold’em, Omaha, stud and more available in poker rooms
- Specialty – Keno drawing, bingo and unique offerings like Big Wheel or Pai Gow
This allows casino patrons to shift between many chance-based options vying for their bankroll, outside of any one specific game or machine getting “stale.”
Sports Bet Types
While not as visually flashy as a casino floor, sportsbooks allow bettors to wager on a multitude of outcomes across dozens of sports:
- Spreads – Wager on teams covering margins like -7, +3, etc.
- Moneylines – Bet on teams to win games outright as underdogs or favorites
- Totals – Wager over or under set points total between both teams
- Props – Special bets like player yardage gained, exact final score, etc.
And bet types can be combined across an endless array of team sports, from NFL and NBA to golf, MMA and more obscure leagues. This allows informed sports bettors to target the wagers where they feel they hold an advantage.
Getting Started at Each
Finally, we come to the actual process of getting started betting at online and land-based casinos versus sportsbooks.
Casino Access
To get in the action at casino games, you can either visit renowned resort casinos in gambling hotspots like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Macau, or create an account with an internet casino site to play real money games and slots from home.
- At live casinos, you simply need to either insert cash into slots and table games or exchange it for chips to demonstrate you have the funds to back your wagers.
- For online casino apps and websites, you’ll fill out an account form, deposit funds via various payment methods and access games instantly from anywhere.
As long as you meet minimum age requirements where you live, getting started playing real money casino games is a straightforward process whether physically on-location or via internet casinos.
Sports Betting Sign-Up
While the barrier to entry on casino games is essentially just demonstrating you have cash to play, sports betting has a few additional prerequisites needed to start placing real wagers.
- At live sportsbooks in jurisdictions where betting has been legalized, you’ll still need to provide ID to prove your age and identity meets state standards.
- For online sports betting sites, nearly all states require geo-tracking your location and undergoing a full registration process before you can sign-up and deposit funds.
This registration requires personal details, SSN and address verification mandated by gaming commissions.
There are also limitations around using unapproved devices and networks to access real money sports betting in legal states.
So casino games generally offer simpler access, while sports betting has regulatory guardrails that force bettors to clear eligibility checks first before getting started.
Key Takeaways
While casino games and sports betting both offer exciting gambling action, newcomers to betting should note some definite differences between the two as highlighted here before jumping in:
- Casino games have built-in house edges, while sports betting relies more on balancing action on both sides
- Random chance dictates casino games, but skill matters long-term in sports betting
- Casinos provide diverse gaming offerings, while sportsbooks focus on different wager types within various leagues
- Getting started requires just buying chips at casinos versus undergoing eligibility checks to bet sports online
Understanding these core differences from the outset provides beginners with a solid base to determine which gaming vertical aligns better with their interests and betting aptitude as they look to get in the action.