Way back in 1996, the world got it's first taste of online gambling. The first internet based casino was launched, opening an entirely new doorway to wealth for many online entrepreneurs. It is one of the fastest growing industries today, and continues to expand as more and more gamblers get online.

       In this section we will introduce you to the world of online gambling, and try and answer any questions that you have about online casinos, online poker, and online bingo. Our goal is to make you make you both comfortable and knowledgable before sending you off to one of the many online casinos or poker rooms.

       The single best feature about an online casino is the fact that you don't have to travel to it. Anyone with internet access and a credit card can be signed up and playing within minutes. Also, playing online gives you the opportunity to look for the best selection of games and payout percentages, which are usually better than in real casinos due to low overhead cost.

       Another great feature is that most online casinos offer you HUGE signup bonuses if you join. There are some online casinos and poker rooms that will give you hundreds of dollars just for depositing a small amount. This is once again made possible by having a low operating cost. Try getting that kind of return at a regular casino. It's just not gonna happen.

       Most online casinos, poker rooms, and bingo rooms will allow you to play for free without making any type of deposit. This allows you to practice and get comfortable with the games before you play for real money. It is nearly impossible to find that kind of service in a real casino.

       Online casinos offer you a level of privacy not found in a regular casino. Never again will you be bothered by the sounds and distractions found at a real casino. Finding a game with an acceptable minimum bet will never be a problem again. Try finding a low minimum wager table at a regular casino on the weekend. You have a better chance of finding gold nuggets in your back yard. The online casino eliminates that factor completely.

       Whether at home or in the office, online casinos and poker rooms bring the thrill of gambling right to your desktop. They let you play at your own pace, within your own budget, and offer hours and hours of online gamblin fun.

       While the online gambling industry grows at a substantial rate, it does remain non-regulated in many countries and depends solely on self regulation. And sometimes, even for the licensed casinos, the casino plays fair if it wants to play fair. It is always recommended to play on an approved and regulated gaming website.

       Gambling watchdog organizations proclaim a set of good practices its members (casinos, software vendors, casino portals and players) have to adhere to. These organizations have a major influence on online gambling industry.

The Interactive Gaming Council
The Interactive Gaming Council is a nonprofit organization, which mission is to "establish fair and responsible trade guidelines and practices that enhance consumer confidence in interactive gaming products and services, and to serve as the industry’s public policy advocate and information clearinghouse".

       Many casinos have up to 70 games available online. You will surely find the classics such as blackjack, craps, roulette, etc. The difference that can be found at an online casino is that you can play some really exotic versions of the classic games or even enjoy some special games like progressive roulette which is available at some online casinos.

       The most common way of making a gaming deposit online is credit card payment. However, over the past year or so the credit card industry has blocked gaming related transactions due to a high rate of people making fraudulent deposits. This will forever be a burden to online gaming websites, due to the fact that it alienates many players from making deposits.

       Online payment methods like Neteller and FirePay are safe, standard deposit options for both players and online casinos alike. Most online gaming websites still offer traditional off-line alternatives like Wire Transfer and courier checks in addition to the online deposit services. Check out our deposit options page for more info.

       Cashing in your winnings is probably the most satisfying part of the casino experience. But you will need to be patient. In general, cash-ins are getting faster and the most of online casinos don't process withdrawals the same day. Even if a casino lets you withdraw right away it could take several days or even weeks to receive your money. From our experience, the average time to receive your winnings is about a week. The cash-out policies can seem inconvenient, but they do prove to be reasonable. The main purpose of the delay is to reduce credit card fraud.