Gambling has been with us since ancient times. Gambling online is a relatively new phenomenon and one that seems 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 there are actually approximately 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, according to Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon which has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it really is the virtue of it simply being online. You can find so many 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 range of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look at a number of of them:

Online poker has been partly responsible for a dramatic rise in the range of poker players worldwide. For the year of 2005, revenues from online poker were estimated at US$200 million a month.

Blackjack, generally known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is just one of the most common casino card games worldwide. Much of blackjack’s popularity is because of the blend of chance with aspects 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 cost-effective to operate with regard to staff being paid, so they may be able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room within an online casino is extremely 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 and also 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 websites are present on the net and may be deceiving. The most significant things to remember when excellent 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 which has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. Within the virtual world, this is challenging to enforce. A customer is able to sit in their own family room, in what ever state they decide to be in and at what ever age and gamble just as much as they desire.

Caution appears to be the only key. Gambling happens to be a controversial subject; gambling online is simply an extension of this controversy.