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 will discover in excess of 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, according to 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 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’s the choice of games. The number of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look-at several of them:

excellent online casino gambling site poker has been partly answerable 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 a month.

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

The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The on-line 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 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 web pages are present on the net and can be deceiving. The most important 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 that it’s far harder to control. The industry that 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 within their own family room, in whatever state they decide 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.