Posts Tagged ‘Online Casinos’

A Brief History Of Online Gambling

John Mce asked:


It all began in 1994 on Antigua Barbuda in the West Indies, the home of gambling licences. This is still an online gambling Mecca with most online gambling companies still based in Antiqua in order to take advantage of this licence.

Before the games could begin gaming software needed to be put into place in order for the online casino revolution to begin. This was where the Isle of Man becomes an important place and the company Microgaming, the god fathers of the first fully operational inline casino software, leading the way for many other online gambling sites.

In 1995 Cryptologic was founded with a goal to develop a series of software packages that can securely and effectively process transactions to keep online gamers safe.

By 1998 Cash Splash a progressive online jackpot slot was operational, but there is stiff opposition from the US. Senator Jon kyl apposed online gaming with the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, this would make it illegal for any US company to offer online gambling to US citizens, but the act was not passed.

Throughout 1997 and 1998 online casinos continued to develop improved software and refine their operations. Due to the slower bandwidth speeds and servers of the time, there were many connectivity issues and network dropouts in the early days of online gambling, however business research and consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan, reported that the industry still generated 834.5 million dollars in revenue in 1998 alone.

Party poker quickly grew to become the world’s largest online poker room, and it’s parent company, Party Gaming was one of the first online gambling companies to go public, listing on the London Stock Exchange in June 2005.

Broadband has increased speed and atmosphere within these sites, making the graphics and experience pretty much like you have taken your comfy office chair and placed it round a table full of high rollers. The sounds and personas can be recreated with online characters, the only thing missing is the lack of ability to order a drink while you play as you can in the real world.

After the US passed a bill that stops residents from some states partaking in online gambling, many online gambling sites have become wary when accepting bets from members in the USA. This could come as a blow to online casinos as the US makes up half of their income. France, Italy and Austria are set to ban online gambling, but the rest of Europe for now online gambling is still legal. So advertisers will be targeting online advertising campaigns at them to gain revenue.

It is estimated that by 2010 UK clients will double and revue will increase from 660 million pounds to roughly 1.6 billion pounds.

As technology develops soon it will be possible to take part in gambling from your mobile phone. The future of the industry is promising and user interactivity and online atmosphere set to make casino’s more and more exciting. It’s not been easy for the industry but it has created stable foundations for the industry to continue to grow.



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Online Gambling Directory - a Source of Online Gambling Games Information and Resources

Roberto Luongo asked:


The fun involved in the gambling attracts everyone. If you are one of the gambling enthusiasts and love to try your luck at casinos, online gambling can be the perfect choice for you. Online gambling offers you unlimited opportunities to enjoy different kinds of exciting games such as poker, blackjack, bingo, baccarat, roulette and more. With online gambling, you don’t have to stand in a queue to wait for your turn. In fact, you can enjoy playing in any of the listed cardrooms and choose your games. Furthermore, players in online casinos choose their payment mode and continue playing as long as they wish.

If you are a beginner in the game, try searching through an online gambling directory that offers complete online gambling games information. An online gambling directory helps gambling novices to gather relevant information about how to play and what to expect from an online casino. Via online gambling games resources, you will find a good and reliable casino wherein you can get your favorite games. Besides accessing numerous entertaining gambling games, you can lean about tips and strategies helping you to win easily. Knowing few tricks may limit your chances of winning and you may not win a large pot. Hence, it is advisable to go through casino guides given on various casino websites.

An online directory also offers so many facilities and services to gambling enthusiasts. You can read reviews posted by players and learn their playing techniques. If you are playing with an intention to earn a jackpot, you should check sweepstakes and tournaments being offered by online casinos. Beginners can also learn a complete glossary explaining exact meanings of common terms used in various casino games. In addition, at gambling directory, you can learn about affiliate programs that help you to earn easy rakeback.



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Online Gambling: Legal or Illegal?

Jim Pretin asked:


Internet casinos and sportsbooks have grown immensely in popularity over the past several years. From playing cards to betting on the Super Bowl to playing roulette, you can literally have Las Vegas in the comfort of your own home. However, is it legal to gamble online?

The answer is, yes and no. Currently, the law stipulates that online gambling is illegal, but given the fact that most online casinos continue to operate unfettered, it might seem that it is in fact legal to run an online betting or casino business.

What forms of gambling are available online? Well, you can play poker and other card games, you can bet on sports, or you can play games of chance, such as roulette, craps, etc.

Betting on sports seems like a perfectly legitimate form of online betting - the computer does not control who wins a pro football game. Games of chance should probably be prohibited. A computerized roulette wheel can easily be fixed, resulting in a few winning bets, but enough losing spins to insure the house wins.

So, of these activities, which ones are legal? According to the Wire Wager Act, betting on sports is the only form of online wagering that is illegal. The Wire Wager Act reads as follows:

“Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers, or information assisting in the placement of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years or both.”

This means that it is illegal for American based internet companies to accept bets on sports or other “contests.” However, most online gambling enterprises have moved their operations offshore to countries in Central America and other countries around the world. It is common for most of these companies to be incorporated in places like Antigua or the Caribbean islands. PartyPoker, the most popular website for playing poker for money online, is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar.

Online sportsbooks, often run by Americans offshore, still accept bets from Americans, and this is where the problem arises. Americans are the biggest betters, and most of the income stream for online sports betting comes from American wagers. These companies usually provide wire instructions to the gamblers so that the player can wire money into a pre-funded betting account before they can begin wagering.

So, the question is, is it legal for an offshore company to run their business offshore but still accept bets from the United States, where online sports betting is technically illegal? Yes and no. Theoretically it is illegal, but it is very difficult to compel an online sports betting service to shut itself down if they operate under the laws of a foreign government where it is legal.

It is been very difficult for the Department of Justice to enforce the Wire Wager Act when it comes to offshore companies, and the offshore betting business continues to get bigger and bigger. In 1998, the sum total of all internet wagers was estimated at $600 million, and has grown by 10 or more times that between then and the year 2006.

The Wire Wager Act was upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court, during 2001 and 2002, refused to review the conviction of Jay Cohen, who had been running an internet sportsbook based in Antigua. And, even though the Department of Justice has said in recent years that that the Wire Wager Act also declares online casino games, not just sports betting, to be illegal, the Federal Appeals Court has ruled that that interpretation is not correct.

However, in July of 2006, everything changed. On a vote of 317-93, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ban financial payments to offshore casinos as part of the The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 H.R. 4411. The legislation also compels banks and credit card companies to cut off payments to the estimated 2,300 gambling sites located outside of U.S. jurisdiction. This legislation bans all forms of internet gambling, including card games and sportsbetting.

Ultimately, the U.S. Government is just trying to protect betters from getting screwed by online casinos that accept bets over the internet but do not pay out when someone wins. However, it does not seem fair to allow major casinos that operate in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to have a monopoly on the betting industry.

Online casinos and sports betting over the internet should be permitted. The United States simply needs to implement a system whereby the online casino industry is regulated, making it mandatory for these companies to disclose the details of their operations and apply for a casino or sportsbook license.



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Online Gambling Gets Shut Down

Jim Pretin asked:


Internet casinos and sportsbooks have grown immensely in popularity over the past several years. From playing cards to betting on the Super Bowl to playing roulette, you can literally have Las Vegas in the comfort of your own home. However, is it legal to gamble online?

The answer is, yes and no. Currently, the law stipulates that online gambling is illegal, but given the fact that most online casinos continue to operate unfettered, it might seem that it is in fact legal to run an online betting or casino business.

What forms of gambling are available online? Well, you can play poker and other card games, you can bet on sports, or you can play games of chance, such as roulette, craps, etc.

Betting on sports seems like a perfectly legitimate form of online betting - the computer does not control who wins a pro football game. Games of chance should probably be prohibited. A computerized roulette wheel can easily be fixed, resulting in a few winning bets, but enough losing spins to insure the house wins.

So, of these activities, which ones are legal? According to the Wire Wager Act, betting on sports is the only form of online wagering that is illegal. The Wire Wager Act reads as follows:

“Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers, or information assisting in the placement of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years or both.”

This means that it is illegal for American based internet companies to accept bets on sports or other “contests.” However, most online gambling enterprises have moved their operations offshore to countries in Central America and other countries around the world. It is common for most of these companies to be incorporated in places like Antigua or the Caribbean islands. PartyPoker, the most popular website for playing poker for money online, is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar.

Online sportsbooks, often run by Americans offshore, still accept bets from Americans, and this is where the problem arises. Americans are the biggest betters, and most of the income stream for online sports betting comes from American wagers. These companies usually provide wire instructions to the gamblers so that the player can wire money into a pre-funded betting account before they can begin wagering.

So, the question is, is it legal for an offshore company to run their business offshore but still accept bets from the United States, where online sports betting is technically illegal? Yes and no. Theoretically it is illegal, but it is very difficult to compel an online sports betting service to shut itself down if they operate under the laws of a foreign government where it is legal.

It is been very difficult for the Department of Justice to enforce the Wire Wager Act when it comes to offshore companies, and the offshore betting business continues to get bigger and bigger. In 1998, the sum total of all internet wagers was estimated at $600 million, and has grown by 10 or more times that between then and the year 2006.

The Wire Wager Act was upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court, during 2001 and 2002, refused to review the conviction of Jay Cohen, who had been running an internet sportsbook based in Antigua. And, even though the Department of Justice has said in recent years that that the Wire Wager Act also declares online casino games, not just sports betting, to be illegal, the Federal Appeals Court has ruled that that interpretation is not correct.

However, in July of 2006, everything changed. On a vote of 317-93, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ban financial payments to offshore casinos as part of the The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 H.R. 4411. The legislation also compels banks and credit card companies to cut off payments to the estimated 2,300 gambling sites located outside of U.S. jurisdiction. This legislation bans all forms of internet gambling, including card games and sportsbetting.

Ultimately, the U.S. Government is just trying to protect betters from getting screwed by online casinos that accept bets over the internet but do not pay out when someone wins. However, it does not seem fair to allow major casinos that operate in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to have a monopoly on the betting industry.

Online casinos and sports betting over the internet should be permitted. The United States simply needs to implement a system whereby the online casino industry is regulated, making it mandatory for these companies to disclose the details of their operations and apply for a casino or sportsbook license.



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Why Online Gamblers Should Join An Online Gambling Blog Site

Sarah Harrigan asked:


All online gamblers should join an online gambling blog site, because this is the place where you go when you want to discuss your online gambling experiences, whether they were good or bad.   Here you will meet online gamblers like yourself anxious to talk about their online gambling experiences and share ideas with their fellow online gamblers.  You will be privy to all the inside scoop on all the latest news and events taking place in the online gambling community.

An online gambling blog site is the place to make new friends, meet your online gambling peers, and have fun chatting about your favorite online games and the various online casinos you have visited. Your fellow bloggers won’t get bored listening to you talk about gambling or concerned that you’re spending too much time partaking in the fun, they’re just like you! They get excited about a good roll or are sympathetic on a bad luck streak and they can help you determine if you might actually be spending too much time online.  It’s the place to get to know the who’s who in the online industry, find out which online casinos are the best, which ones offer the best bonuses, where the competitions are taking place and the latest promotions out there.  Here you will get first hand info on which online casinos you should stay clear away from, (the scammers) the ones who are only out to get your money, without a thought for your wellbeing.  

Joining an online gambling blog site, can compare to joining your local country club, it’s the place where everyone is on a first name basis with each other, the place they go to meet friends and socialize with each other.  Online gambling blogs are the place where online gamblers gather to socialize with each other, it gives you a feeling of belonging, knowing that everyone in the site has something in common; they have all ended up on the online gambling blog site for the same reason, because of their passion for online gambling. It’s not just a place to share tips and tricks though, it’s a place to make friends who share your passion and a place to complain about how no one else understands the sheer joy and excitement you get from playing these games to people who do understand! They have the same problems as you and some of them have been at the game longer and so have advice to share. An online gambling blog site can really become a community to you.

So what are you waiting on, don’t tell me that you are still not convinced that you should definitely join an online gambling blog site. Are you really serious about passing up the opportunity to get all that valuable first hand online gambling information served to you on a platter from your fellow online gamblers?   What about those great gambling tips, surely you can learn a thing or two from them, to help improve your gambling strategies.  Well what else is there today, the ball is in your courts, so it’s all up to you to decide whether you think it’s worth your while to become a part of the online gambling community blog site or not.



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The Advantages Of Online Gambling Casinos

Sarah H asked:


Online gambling sites have been around for the past eleven years, but have only recently become one of the more favorable forms of online pastimes. Online gambling sites are operated by both public and private corporations, and it can be clearly stated that the industry has flourished and will continue to do so. Due to the ever increasing technology individuals are receiving better and better graphics over time which gives them the feeling as though they are actually present in a casino. However, as with everything else there are advantages and disadvantages for online gambling sites however I am going to highlight the advantages, since when we hear the word gambling all we think about is negative things.

The number one advantage of online gambling sites is it is convenient. For those individuals who enjoy gambling, online casinos have given them easier and quicker access to their favourite pastime. These online casinos have just about anything a normal casino would have; therefore you could cut back on cost on not having to spend a lot of money traveling just to enjoy gambling. The second greatest advantage of online gambling websites is they provide great customer support teams. You should be able to get 24 hour assistance, and in addition to which you would be able to conduct a live chat, email or make a phone call, all of these options should be free of charge. There is also a section present at the site called the ‘FAQ’ or Frequently Asked Questions list that allows you to get instant answers to most of your questions.

A third advantage of online gambling sites is the wide variety of games which are made available to you. Any single casino game you can think about you would be able to find at these online casinos, therefore all you need to do is choose which ones you like best. A fourth advantage of online gambling sites is the bonuses which they offer. Bonuses are a way in which these online casinos attract and keep their customers therefore there are many different types of bonuses such as welcome bonuses, bonuses for making deposits into your account or even bonuses for playing often. Keep in mind though that some of these programs may work automatic, whereas others might need a specific coupon code or referral to activate them.

The fifth greatest advantage of online gambling sites is probably the most favorite among players; you have access to practice play. This option is really great for novice players as they would not lose any money by trying to learn how to play the game. Some online gambling sites have their own tutorials and even classes which you can access to learn how o play the game as well as perfect your skills. A sixth advantage of online gambling sites is global access. You can be just about anywhere in the world and once you have access to a computer with a high speed internet connection you are well on your way to enjoying online gambling at your favorite online casino. Remember online casinos were provided with the intention of providing players with a way faster and easy way to get to their favorite pastime why not check out one today, you won’t know what you are missing out on until you have tried it.



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Tips On Playing Free Games At Online Casinos

Free Online Gambling asked:


Free games are some of the most sought after bonus items that you can find while playing in online casinos. In fact, many players have made a “hobby” out of searching for free games in the casinos. And of course, this can be quite rewarding as this would actually add to your winnings as well as be a delight in themselves.

Free game hunting in online casinos is actually quite very easy. All you need is to constantly watch out for updates that the casino will give out regarding them and also visiting forums aimed other casino related user groups for more info. In order to get the most out of your free games, you also need to know how to use them wisely.

There are several ways that you can get free games. The first is the easiest one to get. These are to try it games that casino websites offer to guests that enter the site. These are basically the same games as the ones offered by the casino in their regular runs, except that these doesn’t offer any money winnings. In some instances, you instead get a set of points that you can use to play more free games in the site. While there is no money to get on them, they can still be useful in learning the basics of the games. Besides, players who only want to pass time would find them more suitable, since they are not required to sign up for an account and use actual money.

For those who do want to get some cash out of free online casino games, you need to sign up for an account to avail of the money games. However, you need not worry about this since the free can be second thoughts to that of actually playing the paid games (unless of course, you signed up for the sole purpose of getting free games). After you signed up, you will receive your sign up bonus. Often the sign up bonus is in the form of free games that you can play. In case that the bonus comes in the form of money, you can use them to bet in games, which may as well think as free. One thing to remember however, is that you won’t be able to play them at once. You will often be required to deposit an amount on your accounts first or play a number of games before you can use them. However, as have been said before, this can be taken as a trivial matter.

During your whole stint with the casino website, you will also regularly receive free games as part of loyalty points given by the casino. This is the most common and varied free game that you will receive, since you get access to all the games offered. So you can be quite assured that they will keep on coming every time.

One thing to remember when playing free games is that they have a validity period, after which they become useless. Take note of these to ensure that your free games won’t go to waste. Often, you may have to play them at on sitting to use them up.

In order to maximize your winnings in free games, keep them as take home money. In cases that you are required to play at least part of your wins, you can still keep the rest as take home. Also regularly withdraw your winnings from your account. This way, you can be sure that your money won’t be going back to the casino.



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