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’s currently estimated that there are actually in excess of 2,000 Internet gambling Web 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, based on 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 will 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 all of them. Lets take a look at a few of them:

Online poker has been partly answerable for a dramatic rise 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, also known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is one of the most common casino card games on the globe. Much of blackjack’s popularity is due to the mixture 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 many variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The internet casinos are relatively affordable to use in terms of staff being paid, so they may be able to 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 can be high when playing online slot gambling agent in a ritzy casino. Crucial decisions are made quickly as well as 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 and can also be deceiving. The most critical things to remember when gambling online will be the three elements of consideration, prize and chance. All three should be present.

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

Caution seems to be the only key. Gambling happens to be a controversial subject; gambling on the net is simply an extension of this controversy.