How Online Casinos work and how to use one?

Since there is no single international law of gambling and because there are so many persons who do not know anything about actually going online to do it, this article will simply answer the following general questions: How do Online Casinos Work?; What’s the Setup, Software and Odds? How Do People Start Gambling in an Online Casino? Do People Get Paid When They Win? What are the Dangers of Internet Gambling? Which Online Casino Should I Use?

Gambling via the Internet has become a colossal international business raking in somewhere over $20 billion a year, and rapidly growing as almost ninety countries or principalities have legalized it. Chances are that soon the U.S. will accept it, especially since America lost its appeal case with Barbuda and Antigua at the WTO in early 2007, and also considering Rep. Frank’s (D. MA) new legislation meant to normalize it. Since there is no single international law of gambling and because there are so many persons who do not know anything about actually doing it, this article will simply answer the following general questions: How do Online Casinos Work?; What’s the Setup, Software and Odds? How Do People Start Gambling in an Online Casino? Do People Get Paid When They Win? What are the Dangers of Internet Gambling? Which Online Casino Should I Use?

How Do People Start Gambling in an Online Casino?
Casinos ask customers to signup for an account before gambling, which means establishing a user name and password and some other personal information. Then, there are essentially two ways to begin gambling after having setup your account. A person may use an instant interface (interactive screen) and so can immediately begin gambling on the face of the site, or instead download software from the casino which the gambler then sets up, installing the casino program onto your hard drive, and often deciding whether to play for free or play for real money. Some of the most respected programs used by Internet casinos include Cryptologic, Microgaming, Boss Media, Playtech, and Odds On.

If a person chooses to play for real money, you then make a deposit into your account using some method of funds transfer, whether by credit card or some other way. Starting to play, you decide how much you will bet, the funds being first in your account. Should you win and then decide to withdraw your winnings you go to the casino’s cashier/bank and ask for your cash-out. The casino will mail, wire, or transfer your winnings in the manner you request.

Do People Get Paid When They Win?
Generally speaking, for any legitimate Internet casino that wants to stay in business they will pay their customers who win. First of all, there is a lot of competition for the business involved. Second, there are many internet blogs and interactive sites, like Gambling911, Casinomeister and Major Wager that grade the casinos and there are lists of those to avoid because of shady practices, customer service problems, or outright graft. A person writing at the GamblingForum.com said this, “From personal experience, I have found that online casinos will pay you when you win. This statement is made after playing at over 100 such casinos and always getting full payment. Even though there are some that may take their time when it comes to sending the check, in the end they all paid out.” There are also limits put into the machines to make sure that bets are not placed so large as to make the house insolvent should the gambler win.

What are the Dangers of Internet Gambling?
One fact should be remembered before any other when discussing safety and Internet gambling is an absolutely unregulated industry. Beyond this, they operate from locations removed from the U.S., and are usually hosted from a smaller country, typically in the Caribbean. These countries may not have the same theory of law as large Western states, or they may lack the resources to aggressively hunt down wrongdoers. Another key fact to remember, for anyone living in the U.S. and doing online betting – which is the majority of those involved -- is the American Government considers online gaming to be illegal to begin with. Therefore, the U.S. would see any complaint coming from an American Internet gambler who felt he was defrauded to be one lawbreaker complaining about another. Further, there would also be the issue of whose law to appliy, the host country, or the States?

Because of the nature of the online gambling business, the remote location, the ease at setting up a site, which is often done without the exhaustive Vegas-styled background checks and rules against those with a shady or criminal past, there have been a large number of unscrupulous operators establishing sites to gain unfair advantage over trusting gamers. According to the site Wizzardofodds.com, reasons to blacklist an Internet Casino include: “Game results are not consistent with a random game. I expect all casinos to offer a fair game as evidenced by the fact that the cards or dice observed fall in line with statistical norms; The casino passes a player's e-mail address onto spammers; The casino misappropriates a fair gaming seal; The casino does not respond to my inquiries about a player dispute; The casino does not honor its own rules, specifically not paying winnings for reasons of "bonus abuse;” Unethical business practices.”

Which Online Casino Should I Use?
The author does not advocate Internet gambling for the reasons that if the gambler is American it is technically illegal (if perhaps not enforced) and also the potential exists to be defrauded, regardless of where one resides. But there are sites that offer free, no bet gambling, and some persons do not mind the risk. So to find the best and safest sites, one should first discover the host country and find if it even allows Internet gambling, and if so – whether the casino is licensed.

Look into the type of software the company uses, whether it is well-regarded in the industry, and also what the odds on payout are. Next, consider the type of law the host country follows and whether the country itself is economically and politically stable. How long the company has been in business is an indication of whether it will be around when you go to collect your winnings, and some investigation should be done to see whether the site has been blacklisted by gambling information advocates, or whether bad buzz on the ‘Net has started surrounding it. Also, does the business have any customer service support when problems arise? Finally, research your own country, state, or territory’s laws and see if Internet gaming is legal, and if so, what conditions are imposed.