Q. Can I really gamble with real money online?

A. Yes. There are a number of online casinos that accept real money wagers. Prior to gambling, most sites require people to fill out registration forms and to download their casino software. For "real money" wagering, players are required to either purchase "chips" or set up accounts with a specified dollar amount. Payment is typically made using credit or debit cards, money transfers, or other forms of electronic payment. Once registered, the gambler has a variety of games from which to choose. Most Internet gambling sites offer casino-style gambling, such as blackjack, poker, slot machines, and roulette.

Q. Is it legal to gamble online?

A. In many cases, yes. For example, many countries allow online gambling and have issued licenses to numerous online casinos. However, the situation in the United States is a little more complicated.

In recent years, legislation has been introduced in an attempt to regulate and even ban gambling over the internet. However, the proposed legislation has not targeted the casual player gambling from their home, but rather the individual casino operators who accept real money wagers. Despite efforts to ban it, online gambling has become a billion dollar industry, and it is estimated that the majority of online gamblers in fact, reside in the US.

As of now, legislation pertaining to internet gambling is a grey area, and undefined at best. Until recently, the United States federal government larlgey deferred to the individual states in matters related to gambling. Given the traditional responsibility of the states regarding gambling, many have been in the forefront of efforts to regulate or prohibit Internet gambling. Several states, including Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, and Nevada, have introduced and/or passed legislation specifically prohibiting internet gambling. Individuals are advised to consult their state and local authorites for any applicable laws in their area.

Q. Do many people actually gamble online?

Yes. Although the exact size of the online gaming industry is unknown, the current number of online gamblers is in the millions, and analysts agree that industy growth is rapid. Sebastian Sinclair, a research consultant for Christiansen/ Cummings Associates, Inc., estimates that Internet gambling more than doubled from 1997 to 1998, the number of gamblers increasing from 6.9 million to 14.5 million and revenues from $300 million to $651 million. Other studies indicate similar rates of growth. Sinclair also estimates that Internet gambling revenues will reach $2.3 billion by 2001.

Q. Are online casinos fair and honest?

A. For the most part, yes. The fact is, that the odds of the games are always in favor of the house, and thus there is no need for casinos to cheat their players.

Additionally, each time a game is played, the gaming software uses a random number generator to randomly produce the results. Many casinos advertise that their games are tested for fairness by independent auditing services, such as SafeBet, or other major accounting firms. These reports can are often displayed on the individual casino operators sites.

Q. Do I have to be an adult to play?A. You must be 18 or older to wager real money. Some sites may even require you to be atleast 21 years of age. I

Q. How do I choose an online casino?

A. There are hundreds of online casinos with more opening every week, so which should you play at? We reccommend that you review any online casino before making any real money wagers. We reccommed that you choose a site that meets the following criteria:

site is legally licensed
payouts are reviewed and certified by independent auditing firm
customer support is responsive
accreditation by sources such as SafeBet, and Interactive Gaming Council

Q. Do I need to download software to play?

A. Not necessarily. Some casinos offer no-download (usually Java or Flash based) versions of their casino games. However, the download games are usually higher quality with better graphics, sound and animation. Typical download times range from 25-45 minutes for 56k modem connections. Often times casinos will let you choose which games you want to download, allowing for smaller file transfers and thus faster download speed.

Q. How do I purchase chips and get started?

A. Casinos have generally accept deposits by credit card, check, money order, or wire transfer. Recently most sites have introduced options like FirePay, NetTeller, ACH, 900 Pay, Citadel and other similar online payments. Most people use these online payment systems because payments can be sent immediately. Financial transactions should be handled by secure electronic cash systems similar to those used for other purchases via the Internet.

Q. How do I collect my winnings?

A. This varies from casino to casino. Many casinos will credit-back your winnings via the same purchase method you used, but sometimes only up to the amount you have deposited. Additional amounts will usually be sent by check, bank draft, or wire transfer. Elecrtronic tranfers are often accompanied by a fee, either from the casino or your banking institution.

Q. How fast will I usually get my winnings?

A. Again, this varies by casino, so consult the FAQ page of the site you're playing at. Most, however, will issue payouts within a few days of your request. Electronic transfers are usually processed in a few days, but standard mail may take much longer, being that payments are often coming from overseas.

Q. Can I "test-drive" the games before actrually risking money?

A. Yes, Most online casino sites offer both ‘real money’ and ‘just for fun’ accounts. The ‘just for fun’ play is identical to the real player experience, of course for the exception that no real money is involved. These ‘just for fun' accounts are ideal for learning how to play games that are new to you and honing your gambling skills.

Q. What games are offered?

A. At present, most sites offer the basic five: slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and video poker. Some get a little more elaborate with games like red dog, sic bo, and even war. See our Casinos section to find which games are offered by the sites we promote.