Gambling is usually done in one place where people could witness the outcome of the event. Casinos started out as rooms in gentlemen’s clubs that were exclusive for, well, the men. Eventually gambling, especially poker, made its way into everyday society and became the bread and butter of the old west. Brick and mortar casinos became very popular and still today, Las Vegas is one of the most popular vacation cities for people who enjoy the night life, bright lights, and the bells and whistles of the slot machines.

As technology has advance through the years, and the Internet invaded everyone’s homes and businesses, the face of gambling started to change. The first functional online casino and gaming software was developed and introduced in 1994. It was followed by CryptoLogic and Inter Casino, and Antigua and Barbuda became the first place in which online gambling was legalized. The launch of the first online casino room caused a big stir and gambling online in the United States in particular had changed forever. Now it was no longer necessary to travel to get your kicks in. Online Gambling has now been banned entirely and Casino players find it increasingly difficult to be able to do certain things if they gamble online, such as withdraw their cash winnings.

The success of the first online casino should have been a sign as to how the industry would catch like wildfire and burn out of control. 18 games were offered at that first online casino and in 1997, online casino gaming revenues were one billion dollars, six hundred million of it from the United States. It has tripled ever since, but the original predicted figure of twenty-five billion dollars by 2010 has been severely reduced thanks to the laws in the United States regarding online casinos.Under the Bush administration a draconian Federal Bill was passed on the back of a the Port Security bill.  The name of the Internet Gambling provision attached to the main bill is UIGEA – that is short for Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Although this act did not make online casinos illegal it did choke the lifeblood of the industry by banning banks from making transactions with online casino operators.The fight against UIGEA still continues to this day and various countries have lodged disputes with the World Trade Orginization re this odiuos piece of legislation.

eCOGRA (eCommerce and online gaming regulation and assurance) was organized in 2003 and their function is to make sure online casino and poker rooms are operating legally and fairly. They have helped all the online rooms settle under the umbrella of a standardized set of rules. In 2003, online poker was added beneath eCOGRA’s rules umbrella and the World Series of Poker became a household name after Chris Moneymaker, a young man who won a seat at the tournament by solely playing online poker.

Three years later, the United States Congress made it illegal for any online casino player to deposit or receive money pertaining to online gambling from credit card companies and banks. The online gaming industry was set to reeling for a bit, but it has bounced back, bigger and better before. This is a short brief history of an industry that really started to blossom and bring entertainment to millions of people worldwide. In recent times legislation and regulation in the European casino markets has paved the way for online gambling to become a lot more regulated and taxed.

History of Online Casinos was written by Greg.

The History Of Online Casinos is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

The last thing a person wants to do is get involved in any legal or binding agreement – and when you register for an online casino account, you are entering into a legal and binding agreement. If you do so with a Casino that is not properly licensed it leaves you open to losing your money and not being able to recoup it because not all casino operators are bound to follow regulations as a licensed operator would be.

Online casino licenses are granted by the country, jurisdiction, or area in which it was created and operated in. These online casinos that have been granted operating licenses are bound by law to follow the rules and regulations that have been set in place for operating a business. Don’t get confused here. These laws are for business operation only. We will talk about the gambling rules in just a minute. By granting a license to an online casino, the issuer is stating to the public that they have found the site to be fair, reliable, credible, trustworthy, and secure. These are all things you want to be reassured about before placing any of your money into the website.

Regulation now comes into play to make sure that online casino ioperators  continue to be fair, reliable, credible, trustworthy, and secure. Each country, jurisdiction, or area that grants one of these licenses add specific rules, terms, and conditions that govern the gaming aspects of the site. They make sure that the site operates within both the licensing laws and gambling regulations that have been set forth by the issuer’s particular government.

Some countries do not allow online gambling, forcing the owners of online casinos to become licensed ‘offshore’. This means that they can go to a country that does allow online casino gambling and ask them to license their site. Antigua was one of the first to introduce and license online casinos and gambling, and to this day being licensed by them is high praise. Licensing seals should be very visible on the front-page of the online casino website you wish to join. If it is not there and you cannot easily find on the page, such as in a section specifically for licensing and regulation, look for another site to invest your money in and gamble on.

Always make sure that you are aware of the gambling laws that are in place where you live. You may be allowed to gamble at online casinos but not withdraw your winnings, or the practice may be completely illegal in your area. Also make sure that the online casino you wish to play in is licensed and regulated. This not only protects you and your money, but it also protects the online casino from legal retribution if something should happen that cannot be resolved without resorting to legal means.

There are a number of  online casino jurisdictions to look out for and we have listed some of them below.

1. Curacao – Netherland Antilles – most products can be trusted
2. Kahnawake – most products can be trusted
3. United Kingdom – products can be trusted
4. Isle of Man and Alderney – products can be trusted
5. Malta – main European gambling licencing jurisdiction . There have been complaints re the Malta authorities lack of response to player issues on some products. For the most part products are safe to play at.
6. Costa Rica – tread with care.

Online Casino Licencing and Regulation was written by Greg.

Licensing And Regulation of Online Casinos is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

So how does legalized gambling at online casinos affect the rest of the world? It’s the rest of the world that are turning these gambling websites into the multi-million dollar business that the online gaming community has become. That does not mean, however, that playing is willy-nilly and anything goes. On the contrary, each country has their own rules and regulations regarding online casino and poker room gaming. Players can safely game at online casinos if they also do their homework and make sure that the site they are playing on is legally licensed to operate and follows all the appropriate laws as stipulated.

Online casinos and poker rooms have actually been coming under fire from other countries besides the United States. Germany recently attempted to pass a law banning its citizens from being able to gamble online. The German government in turn came under fire from the European Union , and so the ball keeps rolling. The legality of online gaming is quickly becoming a hot topic throughout the world. Discussions have ranged from who is liable if a player is caught gambling in an area where it has been restricted, the player or the website?

And then the question of hackers and identity theft is also one that is raised as part of the legality issue. This is one of the very big reasons why legitimate, fair online casinos take the time to get licensed and invest in a software package from recognized online gambling software companies like Microgaming or Playtech that ensures security. Sites that do not have these safety precautions in place leave their players personal information wide open for theft and fraud. Add to that the question of online casinos being used for money laundering schemes, its no wonder that many countries and governments have bills on the agenda discussing the situation. That’s without even going into concerns over gambling addiction and the effect of the loss of taxes to the different nations governments.

At this point in time there is no country that has outright outlawed gambling on online casinos and poker rooms. Have they made it difficult for their citizens to collect on their winnings? Yes. Have certain jurisdictions places limitations and bans on playing? Yes. The best advice that can be given to anyone interested in playing on these sites is this: check with your local government and find out what the legalities of playing on the site will mean for you and then make your decision about joining.

Written for Online Casino World by Greg

The Legalities Of Online Casino Gambling is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

Gamblers who have the desire to beat their addiction are welcomed into Gamblers Anonymous with open arms. As a matter of fact, that is the only requirement for its members. Help through this organization is free and it operates only via the donations and contributions the members, their families, and other individuals provide. As a first step the organization helps gamblers realize and admit is that they have a problem and through discussion groups, counselling sessions, and the overall support of the gamblers family and friends, they are taught how to resist the temptation of gambling in any way shape or form. Members learn how to change certain characteristics in their make-up to better themselves and they use a ‘spiritual’ guide to unlock better characteristics such as kindness, honesty, generosity, and humility towards both themselves and fellow man.

It is not uncommon to see online casinos having a section on their website devoted to helping people who recognize that they have a gambling problem. The main phone numbers for gambling addiction organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous is clearly posted on the site. The staff and the owners of the online casinos recognize the need to have this here and to assist their players in any way they can.

Players who come to them and request a freeze on their account because of a potential gambling problem are referred to one of these agencies and the online casinos are usually happy to comply with self exclusion requests.

As with any other addiction, the only way to stop it and put it into remission is by abstaining from the negative action. Online casinos are making an effort to help these gambling addiction organizations do their job by restricting access to those in need and who request it. Of course this has to be voluntary unless the management of the online casino sees an unhealthy pattern forming. They then reserve the right to freeze and ban a player from their site. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing more that they can do.

Every country has a Gamblers Anonymous organization that is ready to assist gamblers who are willing to admit that they have a problem. If you or a loved one have a gambling problem and can admit it, Gambler’s Anonymous is ready to help either support you while dealing with your addiction or someone else’s addiction. The first thing to do upon recognizing this is to pick up the telephone and call them for more help.

Written for Online Casino World by Greg

Gamblers Anonymous Role in the Industry is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

When you are looking at getting into some online gambling with either a casino or poker room, you are going to want to consider these safety matters. You have the potential to win some serious money on an online casino site and the last thing you want is someone to hack into the account and steal it. Before you deposit any money into an online casino account you are going to want to investigate what type of security the site is using to protect you both from fraudulent activity. Any online casino worth playing at will have 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Digital Encryption technology in place. This is the same type of system that banks use so that their customers can conduct financial business online. The technology is layered in such a way that it is very difficult, maybe even impossible, for hackers to get into. Online Gambling establishments normally take the security of their customers very seriously.

Another safe aspect of online casinos is the methods they make available to players  to deposit the money to casino and poker accounts. E-cash payment methods, such as Neteller or Moneybookers and now even Paypal outside of the USA, use the same 128-bit encryption on their sites to secure your money and personal information by making sure that information cannot be traced from one site to another. There are also additional ways to deposit money but whether they are as secure as these internet wallets is debatable. Also, any big win payments back to a player are requires identification verification on the players part before it is transferred into the account. This could be done via a phone call to verify private information that the casino has or the player could receive an e-mail with a special pin number that will need to be entered before payment is made.

Maybe one of the biggest things that should be considered when playing at an online casino is your own safety. This does not mean your physical safety, but your financial safety. An online casino is safe for you if you are gambling safely, not bidding more than you can afford, and making sure that you stop before you lose all your money and make a mistake such as depositing more money that you should. Never log on to your online casino choice when you are tired or sick. Your lack of concentration can cause you to make mistakes and once those are made, you can’t get them back. Always set a time and money limit for play and stick to it. Learn to walk away and if you do, you’ll find yourself having an enjoyable time in a safe and secure environment.

Written for Online Casino World by Eva

Knowing What Is Safe At Online Casinos is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

Etiquette is a set series of behaviour that is part of society and accepted as normal and right. Every situation calls for the appropriate etiquette and manners. For example, you wouldn’t go to a funeral laughing and joking around. Instead you would be serious and show your respect. The same is true when playing casino games regardless of if you are at a land based casino or playing online. If you play at a bricks and mortar casino, the etiquette you use there also applies to the games you play at an online casino on the Internet. Yes, you may be sitting in your robe and slippers with curlers in your hair as you play, but good manners will always prevail.

There are four basic rules of etiquette you should always follow even though you are playing at any online gambling venue. The first rule of thumb is that you should know all of the rules to the game that you are playing. You can do this by reading the posted rules on the online casino’s website, by playing the game for free with fun money, or both. If you wish to get a really good grip on the game, read the strategy guides as well. This will give you a complete understanding of the rules and game play.

Chatting with the other players at multi player tables is becoming very popular and helps players get to know one another. The chat features on online casinos use the same basic features as regular chat rooms that are found all over the Internet. This is one of the few ways in which a land based casino and an online on are similar. If you’ve never used an online chat feature, try to keep all the conversation upbeat and fun. You’re there to have to good time and people don’t want to discuss the troubles of their lives. Never advertise anything while in chat and never type in all capital letters. Chat users consider that the typed equivalent of yelling. There are a bunch of acronyms that are used in chat rooms and it is advisable to learn at least the most commonly used ones so that you are not wondering what LOL (laugh out loud) stands for. There are online games like online bingo that have a language that is specific to their game.

If you know that you are going to be using a different computer of IP address for any length of time and will be logging on to your online casino account, let the casino staff know ahead a time. By switching your computer or letting someone else use your computer to play the casino games on, you could causing an inadvertent security issue. Each casino treats this differently, but they track the IP address you normally play from as one way of assuring that it’s you. Letting the casino know beforehand will allow them to take steps to allow you to log on.

Always treat the staff of the casino and the customer service personnel the same way you would want to be treated. By being nice, calm, and respectful, you’ll get any issues that you have resolved a lot faster.

Written for Online Casino World by Greg

Online Casino Etiquette is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

There are players who prefer to go to land based casinos instead of playing at an online casino. Yes, there is a distinct ambience that is missing when playing online as land casinos vibrate from the excitement and disappointment of the players at the tables. The physical contact with other people, the ability to socialize with your opponents, and the noise from the many other tables and slot machines are all very appealing when a player is in a land casino.

Of course, at a land casino you may be looked down upon if you were to show up at the table in your house coat, curlers, and slippers, or bare-chested in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. This is one very distinct advantage of an online casino. If you are not used to the amount of noise a land casino can produce, it can be very distracting. Playing at on an online casino in the privacy of your own home allows you to control the noise level around you and you will find that concentrating on your game is easier. Some people can shut out the background noise of a land casino easier than others. And, of course, you don’t have to get dressed when playing at home.

Basic rules of the game will be the same between a land casino and an online casino. Each casino has different, more advanced rules for their games, and this is standard across the entire gambling and gaming community regardless of their ‘physical’ location. However, online casinos offer their players visible bonuses. That is not to say that land casinos do not, but the advertisement of them is not as blatant as it is online. Both have loyalty programs which reward their frequent players. Online casinos have satellite and qualifier tournaments for major poker events that players can get in on that they may not have had the opportunity to try if they were limited only to a land casino. And online casinos have players from the world over and can be played at any time of day or night anywhere the player has a computer connection. They do not have to spend thousands of dollars to go to places such as Las Vegas.

So does this mean that online casinos are better than land casinos? No. It just means that online casinos are more convenient to play at when you do not have a gambling establishment near you. They are helpful in preparing a player for a trip to some place such as Las Vegas, and they are good to learn the game on. Both offer their players the same thing: the chance to win money at a variety of games. That is the purpose behind casinos of all types.

Written for Online Casino World by Greg

Online Casinos Vs. Land Casinos is a post by admin on . Click here for more.

Currently there are three types of online casino software or interfaces that you can play on: web-based casinos or as is often called Flash Casinos; download based casinos; and live casino products. Online Casinos also offer players the option of playing with real cash or ‘play money’ for free.

Web or Flash online casinos require no software downloads to your computer. All of the games are played while you are signed onto the computer and they use browser plug ins such as Macromedia Flash, Shockwave, or Java, or through an HTML interface.

Casino players need to use a browser that supports these plug-ins. Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox both have these plug ins readily available. Players will want to make sure their computer can support the graphics, sound, and animations as well as having enough bandwidth available for continuous play.

In general most computers will have this in place so playing flash casino games is quicker than the download option but the range of games provided is slightly less.

Online Casinos also have a downloaded option for Casino players. These types of casinos connect directly to the client when the program is launched and once it has connected, you can begin to play.

These programs tend to run faster than web-based casinos since the graphics, animations, and sounds are being loaded locally from the software that has been installed on your computer.

Casino players need a consistent connection to the Internet in order to play. It usually doesn’t take very long to download and install the casino software program

Finally, live casino games have the feel of real brick and mortar casinos. This type of online casino gaming allow players to actually interact with other players in a created live environment.

Casino players have the ability to see, hear, and talk to real live dealers and opponents who are gaming at brick and mortar casinos all over the world. These games are played in real time regardless of where you are. Live-based casinos are still fairly new and finding one online to play through may prove to be challenging.

No matter what type of online casino software you decide is right for you, remember that gambling responsibly is paramount. Never overextend yourself and if you fear that you may do exactly that, look for a web-based, free play only online casino.

Written for Online Casino World by Greg

Different Types Of Online Casino Software is a post by admin on . Click here for more.