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 approximately 2,000 Internet gambling Internet 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 that has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it really is the virtue of it simply being online. There are actually a lot of attractions to not having to attend a casino to gamble. The most prominent of these will be 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 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 accountable 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 each month.

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is just one of the most common casino card games on the globe. Much of blackjack’s popularity is as a result of the blend of chance with aspects of skill, and also the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in several variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of time and money are added attractions. The online casinos are relatively affordable to operate when it comes to staff being paid, so they’re able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room in an online casino can be very different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation can 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 websites are present on the net and may also be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online are the three elements of consideration, prize and similar website chance. All three should be present.

The problem with online gambling is that it is far harder to control. The area that has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. Within the virtual world, this is difficult 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 around they desire.

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