Gambling has long been one of the chief adult pastimes in almost every country in the world, and as the Internet has become more technically sophisticated, entrepreneurs the world over have programmed online casino games to entertain people on every corner of the globe situs slot. One corner of the globe, however, has attempted to stymie Internet gambling: the United States. The good news is that the technology has long outpaced the regulation, and even today millions of Americans wager money in online casinos. Here’s what you should know about Internet casinos.
Online poker has become big business around the world, and many serious gamblers are familiar with the variety of Internet card rooms operating today. Full casino offerings such as slots, roulette, blackjack, craps and keno are relatively more recent on the market. Other popular games such as Bingo and video poker can also now be found online. Obviously it is easier for unscrupulous outfits to run shady tables and scam their players than in the real world, but a variety of websites review the offerings available to ensure you find the most popular, most trusted online casino games.
Yet how are US based players supposed to play without getting into trouble? Online casinos are typically organized outside of the US, either in Canada, the UK, the Caribbean or Asia. Some of the slickest and most popular online casino games such as Virgin Casino take no US players. Others will take most US players, but exclude those from the most heavily regulated states. A number of others will accept all US players, and work through secure Internet merchant programs, most of which require invitation to join. To facilitate the process, the casinos offer you the invite, and the merchants secure the process by requiring you to fax ID before you can cash out.
The State of New Jersey is poised to be the first US state to offer legal Internet gambling, a result of budget troubles in the state. The proposal, which would supposedly only be open to New Jersey residents, would raise about $55 million a year in new tax revenues, with the state’s struggling Atlantic City casinos expected to make nearly $200 million for themselves. It remains to be seen how tight the quarantine on gamblers outside of New Jersey will be, but past experience suggests that ways for players in other states to join in the fun are likely.
Because of the high level of competition between various online casinos, many offer tremendous deposit bonuses, offering an extra $500-$1000 up front, or doubling your initial purchase. This is a benefit rarely found at real world casinos, and for those who don’t care about money but enjoy the games, online casino games often have free versions to enjoy from your own home. No real-world casinos offer such an opportunity, and the chance to work on betting strategies, card-playing skills and other techniques can make anyone a better gamer.
The online gambling business worldwide is huge, with revenues in the tens of billions of dollars per year, and this is despite the fact that there are legal technicalities that prevent online casinos operating in the United States. Of course, this doesn’t stop Americans from online wagering, and they join the millions of others around the globe who enjoy the excitement of online gambling. If you’ve been thinking about trying online betting, here are a few things you need to know to keep the experience positive and enjoyable.
You should check out any gambling site thoroughly before signing up or committing any of your money. This is just smart business. There are web portals available today that amass together top online casinos in one site so that you can check out several of them easily.
If you’re an American, check that the casino you want to play at accepts American players, as most of the big name casinos online do. Changes to U.S. legislation in 2006 made it more difficult for Americans to transfer money to and from online casinos, but many internet casinos have worked out legal ways of doing this and welcome American players.
Check out your money transfer options with any casino you want to use. There are a number of e-wallet services, as well as prepaid cards, wire transfers, and other methods you can use for setting up your account on an internet casino. The fees for these services vary, so it’s a good idea to do a little comparison shopping before choosing.
Read up on reviews of online casinos before signing up. Forums are full of personal anecdotes, with some negative and some positive. When you read forums, go with the overall consensus rather than one or two outrageously positive or outrageously negative forum posts (which may have been written by someone with an ax to grind).