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

The very first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It is currently estimated that you can find more than 2,000 Internet gambling Sites 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, in line with Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon that has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it is the virtue of it simply being online. You will find a lot of 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 really is the choice of games. The number of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look at several of them:

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

Blackjack, better known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is just one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Much of blackjack’s popularity is because of the blend of chance with aspects of skill, as well as the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based upon patterns of symbols visible on the front of the equipment when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in lots of variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of time and money are added attractions. The on-line casinos are relatively inexpensive to use with regard to staff being paid, so they’re able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room within an online casino is extremely different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation may be high when playing online slot gambling 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 websites are present on the net as well as can be deceiving. The most important 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’s far harder to control. The industry that has to protect itself from the risks of compulsive gamblers. In the virtual world, this really is challenging to enforce. A customer is able to sit within their own living room, in what ever state they decide to be in and at what ever age and gamble as much as they desire.

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