Gambling has been with us since ancient times. Gambling online is a relatively new phenomenon and one that appears to be growing in popularity on a daily basis. Take a look-at these facts:

The first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It really is currently estimated that you can find in excess of 2,000 Internet gambling Websites offering various wagering options, including sports betting, casino games, lotteries and bingo.

Internet gambling revenue in 2005 was estimated at $11.9 billion and is projected to double by 2010, according to Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon which has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it really is the virtue of it simply being online. You’ll find so many attractions to not having to attend a casino to gamble. The most prominent of these is the intimidation. Online gambling opens up a whole host of games to players who previously never had the courage or interest in observing tables in a land based casino.

Then it is the choice of games. The range of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look at a few of them:

Online poker has been partly answerable for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide. For the year of 2005, revenues from online poker were estimated at US$200 million a month.

Blackjack, often known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is one of the best casino card games worldwide. Much of blackjack’s popularity is as a result of the blend of chance with elements of skill, and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off according to patterns of symbols visible on the front of the equipment when it stops. Modern computer technologies have resulted in several variations on the slot agent machine concept.

The freedom of time and expense are added attractions. The on-line casinos are relatively affordable to operate in terms of staff being paid, so they are able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room within an online casino is quite different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation may be high when playing in a ritzy casino. Crucial decisions are made quickly and also on the spot. At home, the player is able to slow down and play only once they are ready.

Sadly, with such a growth in popularity has come many online gambling hoaxes. Illegitimate and cheating web sites are present on the net and will be deceiving. The most critical things to remember when gambling online are the three elements of consideration, prize and chance. All three should be present.

The problem with online gambling is the fact that it really is far harder to control. The area that has to protect itself from the risks of compulsive gamblers. Within the virtual world, this is difficult to enforce. A customer is able to sit in their own living room, in what ever state they decide to be in and at what ever age and gamble just as much as they desire.

Caution appears to be the only key. Gambling has always been a controversial subject; gambling on the web is simply an extension of this controversy.