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 first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It is currently estimated that you will find approximately 2,000 Internet gambling 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, as outlined by Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).

So what is it about the online casino phenomenon which has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it 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 is 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:

Online poker has been partly answerable 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 each month.

Blackjack, generally known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is one of the best casino card games on earth. Much of blackjack’s popularity is as a result of the mixture of chance with elements of skill, and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off according to patterns of symbols visible on the front of the equipment when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in several variations on the agen slot online machine concept.

The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The internet casinos are relatively low-cost to use in terms of staff being paid, so they can be able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room in an online casino is very different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation may 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 when 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 also be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online are the three aspects of consideration, prize and chance. All three should be present.

The problem with online gambling is the fact that it’s far harder to control. The industry that has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. In the virtual world, this is hard to enforce. A customer is able to sit within their own family room, in whatever state they decide to be in and at whatever age and gamble just as much as they desire.

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