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 is currently estimated that you’ll find well over 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, in line with Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon which 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 number 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 couple of of them:

Online poker has been partly responsible 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 monthly.

Blackjack, often known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is one of the most common casino card games on earth. Much of blackjack’s popularity is due to the blend of chance with elements 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 equipment when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept.

The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The internet 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 can be very 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 websites are present on the net as well as can 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 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 family room, in whatever state they choose to be in and at what ever age and gamble around they desire.