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 very first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It’s currently estimated that you will discover around 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, as outlined by 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. There are actually numerous 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 all of them. Lets take a look-at a few 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 per 30 days.

Blackjack, also referred to as twenty-one or Pontoon, is just one of the most popular casino card games on the globe. Much of blackjack’s popularity is because of the mix of chance with aspects of skill, and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off determined by patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technologies have resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The internet casinos are relatively cost-effective to use with regards to staff being paid, so they’re able to one-time offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room in 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 on the spot. At home, the player is able to slow down and play only when they are ready.

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

The problem with online gambling is the fact that it is far harder to control. The sector which has to protect itself from the risks of compulsive gamblers. In the virtual world, this really is difficult to enforce. A customer is able to sit in their own family room, in what ever state they choose to be in and at what ever age and gamble around 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.