Online Gambling 101

Is there a real definition for 'Online Gambling'?
Online gambling or Internet gambling is basically the placing of bets on sports or casino type games over the Internet. Although the true definition includes sports betting, for our purposes, we will be looking at online gambling strictly from a casino perspective. Online gambling covers just about all casino and casino style games including baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, scratch cards, lottery, keno, and bingo.

How similar is Online Gambling to gambling at a land-based casino?
Slots in real casinos are all driven by microprocessors; virtual casinos work the same way. For example, playing video poker at a casino in front of a video display is the same as playing at a virtual casino in front of your own monitor. Online roulette usually uses a random number generator to produce a winning number. Blackjack is either played with a single deck (one hand per shuffle) or with multiple decks and a shuffle after the deck is about half gone. This methodology is designed to eliminate card counting. In fact, as real casinos move to electronics, and virtual casino software becomes more realistic, the only difference the user will notice is where the game takes place.

What do you need to start gambling?
Really, all you need is a valid credit card, a computer, and a connection to the Internet. Those are the basics, but an important need that is sometimes ignored is the need to have a proper plan. One of the biggest problems facing many casino players is that they sometimes play until they run out of money. For individuals with dependents and various bills to think of, this irresponsible act could potentially spell financial disaster. So the most important NEED on the online gambling 101 list has got to be that you have a plan and you stay within your budget. Gambling from home can offer a lot of convenience, but also a greater ease to stay at the tables longer than your bankroll might appreciate.

Where can you go to gamble online?
There are thousands of online casinos scattered across the landscape of the web today. The task for you in most cases will be to wade through all these options to find the one that best suits you. Obviously, you will stay away from the shady or downright unscrupulous ones. You can usually find out which ones fall into this category by reading the posts on the many gambling forums and message boards that exist online today. After that, as is the case with land-based casinos, gamblers tend to head for online casinos that:
a) Offers a nice bonus or comp
b) Have very appealing and or easy-to-use software
c) Have an established reputation or some 'name-brand' appeal

Check out the numerous featured and recommended online casinos that you will find advertised here at Casino-Start.Net. These casinos have gained a good reputation in online gambling circles because they have been in operation for quite a while, and best of all, they're known to have good customer service, reliability, fast-playing action, and quick-and-easy cash-outs.

How do you start playing?
Once you find an online casino that want to play at, look for the graphic or link that will take you to the 'sign-up' page or form. The next step will be for you to complete this online form. If you're playing for free, chances are that they will ask you only for your name and e-mail address. However, if you're playing for real money, the form is usually much longer. Once you complete this form and get your special username and password, you should be ready to go. Simply download the software, install it, start it up!

How do you make cash deposits and withdrawals?
In all cases you will have to deposit money up front before you can gamble online for real money - unless the casino comps you with a no-deposit bonus. Depositing will mean sending the casino money via Western Union, Moneygram, Paypal, FirePay, cashiers checks, money orders, wire transfers, credit cards etc. Most of them will take money almost any way you want to send it. Most will not take personal checks as they would have to wait up to two weeks for the checks to clear to the overseas location. Having said this, you can normally use personal checks with prior approval from the casino, but your money will not be available for play until it has cleared. Nearly all casinos now accept credit card deposits. In fact, these are highly recommended due to the low cost and speed of the transactions.

All casinos operate on the account system - you send them money and your account is credited for that amount. As you gamble, money is credited or debited as you win or lose. When you wish to withdraw money from your casino account (you don't have to, you can leave it in for future gambling) you can do so in nearly all of the ways that deposits could be made.

Many operations now allow you to have withdrawn money directly placed back onto the credit card that you first deposited money into your account with. This option is recommended as you can access your winnings within days. Casinos charge reasonable fees for other withdrawal options.

Is it possible for online casinos to 'fix' the games?
Online gambling has been around for a while now and thousands of people have participated. Thus, there is undoubtedly sufficient experience now to be quite confident that the 'big-name' software is not fixed. That is, the odds will be the same as in a land casino, with the same rules and payouts, and it's entirely possible to win. However, this same accumulation of statistics from many players has also shown that, in the past, some proprietary software has been shown to cheat. Proprietary means that the casino itself developed the software, they do not lease it from a major company. At several cheating sites it is estimated that blackjack players are up against about a 30% house advantage, rather than 1%. Major companies who sell software depend on players trust. They are also often publicly traded, and do not want to get mixed up in scandals that may end up ruining their business.

Are there any possible legal implications for you when you engage in online gambling?
Legislators, lawyers, and law enforcement in the United States are hotly debating this question as we speak. Strictly speaking, it is illegal for U.S. residents to gamble over a (telephone) wire. This would seem to proscribe online gambling. However, most Internet casinos are physically located outside the United States in countries where their activities are completely legal. Technically, their operations lie outside the jurisdiction of the U. S. authorities. The reality is that the federal government does not have the time, the manpower or the inclination (for now) to pursue individual gamblers who use their home or office computers to gamble on the Internet. Some operators are unsure of the legal implications themselves and bar residents of certain states. Some casinos don't want to anger the US government and prohibit US residents from opening accounts.