It used to be that typical brick-and-mortar casinos were all the rage – in fact, physical casinos were ‘the only rage’. But in 1995 came along an exciting new breed of casino. You guessed it; the first online casino. Soon, online casinos became so popular that land-based operators felt threatened by the existence of online casinos. A sudden and rapidly booming influx of online casinos had regular land-based customers opting to spend their cash and make their wagers online instead.
Outcries by brick-and-mortar operators eventually led to the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) as passed by the U.S. Senate. Also referred to as the Wire Act, this did not mean that online casinos were from then on out blanket-banned, but instead, it placed prohibitions on certain online financial payment activities, with the main goal being that of insuring a state-by-state approach.
If anything, the need for such an Act should indicate to us just how vast the world of online gaming has become. Today, online casinos are a -cology all on their own, and a highly functional and regulated one at that. Here follow some of the more common questions and answers about online casinos.
Are Online Casinos Legal?
The short answer is ‘mostly’. It really all depends on whether the player’s country of residence, or in the case of a country like the U.S., the particular state of residence, permits online gambling. This will determine whether or not online casinos offering games to players living in any particular country or state, are doing so legally or illegally.
Engaging with illegal online casinos, also known as back-market operators, are generally not a good idea at all as there exists no legal or regulatory recourse for the player in the event that something does goes wrong.
How Do I Get Started?
This question is often followed by “is it a complicated process?”. The answer is no, its not. And as for how to get started, the process is as simple as pouring water from a shoe. The best course of action is to decide what type of gambling it is that you are interested in, and then finding an online casino that offers those games or types of bets.
A good idea is to join not only one, but 2 or 3 online casinos. This will ensure a wider choice in terms of games and bets in general. And since signing up is as easy as a walk in the park, it won’t take hours of your time to join more than one site.
Do More Bells Mean More Money?
This question typically relates to starting out playing online slots. The answer is a decided ‘no’. More lights and sounds and whistles do not necessarily mean better odds in favour of the player. By the same logic, the absence of lights and sounds and whistles does not automatically mean poorer odds either.
Instead, find a slot that you genuinely enjoy playing. The main goal is to have fun, after all.