A third of gamers prefer playing over the internet
A survey from two American universities has found that online gamers are more likely to feel comfortable with the time they spend playing games online, compared to those players that regularly visit casinos.
The authors of the study, June Cotte, from the University of Western Ontario, and Kathryn A. Latour (University of Nevada-Las Vegas), found that online gamers enjoyed gaming at home more than playing in their local casino. The research was conducted with 30 regular gamers in Las Vegas. A third of these questioned said they preferred to play at home rather than travel to a casino.
The study, released in the Journal of Consumer Research, focused on how the attitude of online players differs from those who play in casinos. Involving a series of in-depth interviews with players, the study was designed to examine the motivations and habits of players in online casinos compared to those who regularly play real-life slots, roulette and blackjack games.
The report comments that online gaming has become a regular pastime in the lives of many players and it is a hobby viewed as a regular part of 21st Century life. Similar attitudes towards gaming at home were echoed by the participants in the survey. It was found that casino players enjoyed playing in the company of others, while in contrast, online gamers preferred to play alone.
The report also states that while internet users were more likely to play longer than those in casinos, they felt more comfortable with the time they lent to their pastime.