Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto, a democrat in support of legalizing online gambling, said he believes that its regulation should be viewed as a “consumer-protection issue,” rather than an ethical one.  Many legislators opposed to the legalization of online gambling are drawing a sharp ethical line as their argument. They believe that gambling itself is wrong and to promote it as a government would be detrimental to society as a whole. They also cite an increase in illegal activities as a result of online gambling’s legalization. They believe that things such as corruption, underage gambling, and addictions would be encouraged if gambling is legalized.

Impreveduto, along with other supporters, take issue with this ethical argument. They believe that legalizing online gambling is a way to protect consumers. It would give states the individual power to combat problems like underage gambling and addictions. A federal ban on internet gambling, which is still under sharp debate within Congress, would be “meaningless.” 

What many legislators, like Impreveduto, are noting is that regardless of its legalization or not, people are going to gamble online. That’s been made clear by the numbers. Despite the recession that brought many businesses and citizens to their knees throughout the past few months, internet gambling as a market grew steadily. It seems that it was completely independent to and impervious to any recessionary affects.  Statistically, people were continuing to gamble throughout the recession and most of them were channeling their money into online casinos offshore.  The billions of dollars that were transacted are being fueled into other economies.  Many legislators want to bring that money back to the US.

Impreveduto believes that if the country can come up with a viable legislation and regulation of internet gambling, it could benefit from the numbers. He added, “There are billions of potential US tax dollars being moved throughout the country and serving other nations well…why shouldn’t the US take advantage of that.”  In a time when almost every state is still regrouping from the aftermath of the recession, it is an important thing for the government to look at. People are going to gamble online—that’s the reality. If the US doesn’t make moves to benefit from that, other countries already are.

Online gambling continues to take over the world of gambling. There was a time when land-based casinos were the number one gambling facilities around. If you look at Atlantic City or Las Vegas you can see how billions of dollars were put into the development of huge Mecca’s of luxury and decadence. Casinos were great places to vacation at because of their great deals and the excitement of gambling well into the night. Add to that the shows and nightclubs and you couldn’t go wrong with a gambling city.

Fast forward to 2009 and things have changed quite a bit. Internet gambling is slowly taking over the market. When the 2007-2008 recession came about things changed drastically—unemployment numbers skyrocketed, businesses filed for bankruptcy, lenders crashed, and the housing market crumbled. Studies are showing that though people stopped spending, they didn’t stop gambling. In particular, online gambling saw a consistent growth. Land-based casinos however, suffered due to the market just like any other brick and mortar business. Land-based casinos saw numbers fall sharply and had to create even better discounts to woo new customers to their businesses.  As their marketing and promotional departments worked overtime, internet businesses continued to flourish.

That brings us to 2009 where internet businesses everywhere are on the brink of legalization and regulation.  Many governments are looking to gambling as the answer to the recession-caused deficits they are now being hampered by.  With internet gambling seeing billions in gambling dollars moving throughout the world, legislators are thinking twice about its viability as a money-generator. Studies are showing that no-tax or low-tax internet gambling websites are offering a higher payoff than tax-paying land-based casinos, horse tracks and lotteries.  For example, Hong Kong’s Jockey Club recently estimated that the shift to internet gambling is costing the casino approximately $6.4 billion a year in revenues.

The truth is that online gambling is taking over the industry. Antigua alone has over 100 licensed gambling websites up and running on its small island. The huge growth of the industry in five years, has brought the island to develop itself into a high-tech center of e-commerce. No one would have guessed the country would be one of the most coveted places to build an online business.  Due to the surge in internet gambling, that’s just what it’s grown to be.

If you’re just starting to get into the world of online gambling, you may have some questions. Yes—there are security risks whenever you share your personal information with an online entity. But there are ways to manage and still stay safe, if you’re smart.  There are basic rules you should be aware of. Here are some of them:

• Know the law. Be sure that you know the laws in your jurisdiction. You want to check for up-to-date rulings.  Remember that right now the world of online gambling is in an uproar. Legislators are debating its value in bringing in revenue and changing rules on a weekly basis. It’s important to keep abreast of changes before you start gambling online.
• Make sure the website you choose has good customer service. In particular if you’re new to the industry, you want to have some one to answer any questions you may have. They should have a toll-free phone number available 24/7 and an email contact. A lot of newer online casinos now offer a “live chat” option. This is very helpful because you can log-in to chat with an operator immediately.
• Switch games frequently. Sure you may have your one favorite game, but it’s always best to up your chances of a win by trying something new. Different games have different payout structures and bonuses. Capitalize on these by varying your play.
• Learn the games you want to play. Don’t just jump into a game with a great payout hoping to win big. Do some homework. A lot of websites have a “free play” option. These are very useful. You can log-in and play a game, without playing with “real” money. It’s a great way to get used to the game, the rules and how people interact. You can get some valuable experience by logging in with the “free play” option. Then, when you’re ready, start gambling with your own money.

Be aware of the rules and tips before you start gambling. Do a little research and take some time to get yourself acclimated to the website. It may help you in the end.

So you have a casino a few miles away and the option of gambling online from home. What do you do? More and more people are opting to look at the option of online gambling. Numbers are proving that online casinos are gaining popularity as the years go by. But what is the real advantage of each?

No one can deny that “real” casinos are visually appealing. Casinos put millions of dollars into lights, banners, signs, sounds and anything else that could possibly appeal to the intended audience or attract a new one. Look at any casino in Las Vegas and you’ll see how hard they work for visual appeal. Take the Luxor for example. When you walk the halls you’re met with amazing lighting. The ceilings are high and the walls are marble. There are lions lounging sphinx-like on giant pillars. The floors are polished to a bright and shiny marble walkway that ushers you through the casino building.  It’s this kind of visual appeal all casinos strive for—one that reflects decadence, luxury and wealth. When you do manage to get to the casino floor, it’s equally as opulent. The hustle and bustle of the floor is amazing. Dealers call out numbers and excited players rush to make their wager. It’s an overall great time.

Now, let’s look at online casinos. They are just as opulent, but it’s limited to your computer screen. Developers and programmers have worked to replicate “real” casinos for online players and they have come pretty close. If you want visual appeal, it is there in the form of banners, flashing lights, sounds and dynamic Flash websites. If you want decadence, it’s there too in the form of all you can win at the website. There isn’t a whole lot of difference between the two in this respect.

Finally, what is the big difference? After much research here are the main differences between online and in-house gambling:

• “Real” gambling offers human interaction that can be replicated but not duplicated, by online casinos
• Online gambling offers better deals because of drastically smaller overhead

So it comes down to what you want as a player. Are you more concerned with the social aspect of gaming and maintaining it throughout your gaming? Or, are you more concerned with finding free bonuses, promotions and deals? 

If you’re an online gambler then you know the rules. There are unspoken rules of etiquette when gaming. Here are some of them to be sure and follow:

1)      Know the Rules. Sure some games are pretty straightforward, but then there are those that have varying rules depending on what type of game you’re playing. Roulette for example—you could be playing with 37 or 38 numbers. When playing blackjack, the style also dictates the moves you can make. Be sure to read the rules online before you log-in to play. Another good idea is to use the “play free” option with gaming. That way you can get used to the game before you officially start playing with “real money.”  You also can get the rhythm of the game and some valuable experience before a real wager.

2)      There are chat rules. A lot of online casinos recognized the need for a social outlet online. When you go to a “real” casino, part of the fun is the interaction you’re involved in. Online casinos tried to duplicate this interaction by creating messaging systems. If you decide to chat, try to keep the dialogue upbeat and fun. Remember that it’s a time to enjoy yourself and other players.  Never use the messaging system to argue with another player or engage in dialogue that could be considered questionable. This is another part of online gaming that you may use the “free play” option to familiarize yourself with. If you are playing free, take note of the dialogue going around the table. In particular, bingo has a specific language. Free play time is the perfect place to gain some experience in messaging.

3)      Be safe with your IP address. This is a growing concern for people using various computers to gamble. When an online casino has a new customer, it logs their IP address. This IP is going to be affiliated with their information for the duration of their account’s existence. If you plan on switching that address, you could inadvertently trigger an issue from the websites’ security software. Let the casino know beforehand that you will be logging on from various locations. Different casinos deal with the issue differently, but this is a good way to not get your account blocked.

By understanding the proper online etiquette, you can make the experience enjoyable for all.

If you live in the US and you’re looking into online gambling, you may be confused. Don’t worry—so is most of the country. Although “real” casinos are many throughout the US, the world of online casinos is still finding its way through the red tape of legalization. Real casinos have been operating for decades and successfully drawing in revenues in the billions.  Online casinos are setting up shop hoping to repeat the success, online from their online storefront rather than a physical location.

The thing about legalizing real casinos is that they are dependent on two things: state laws and federal laws. Both must be followed for a casino to set up shop and operate on US soil. In today’s market though there is a lot of debate as to what is legal and what isn’t with gamblers. For example, some states allow people to gamble online, but they can’t withdraw their winnings. Other states have deemed online gambling as illegal altogether. The legislation for online gambling is confusing to say the least. A lot of online casinos have had to limit their patrons to non-US citizens in an effort to stay legal, while still in operations.

The problem that the US government is quickly finding out is that people will gamble and that includes US citizens. If gambling isn’t legal in the US, citizens will go to offshore online casinos. That means that billions of dollars are being challenged outside the country. This is why many US legislators are looking for ways to amend online casino bans and collect tax revenues from online casinos. They have huge deficits to deal with and adding huge casino-tax dollars would surely affect the deficits, if not wipe it out for smaller states.

If you’re a US citizen who wants to start online gambling, be sure to check out the laws in your specific jurisdiction. For example, in Illinois gambling is legalized at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet. However, just a few miles north in Will County it’s been deemed illegal. It’s almost like liquor laws; you have to check with whatever city your in and find out the individual rules.

With the huge growth in online gambling and online casinos, many people are wondering how exactly the internet casino boom began. First of all, people like to gamble. This is evident with the growth in brick and mortar casinos all over the world that bring in billions of dollars in gambling revenues.  Since ancient times, people have been playing make shift types of wagers on games and sporting events. This included dice, cards and marble games that played to the probabilities of certain occurrences.

As the hobby took hold, casinos were formed. They were immediately huge money-making ventures. Places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City were built up to the huge meccas they are today. Although these are two large cities built around the gambling industry, there are also millions of smaller facilities like bars, pubs, VFW halls and basements that host gambling games of all sorts. 

As technology grew over the years, however, a new type of casino was born. This one looked to replicate the “real” casino feel, but translate it to the online world.  Developers and programmers worked to replicate brick and mortar casinos and bring them to the market. It was relatively simple at first, but the quality was lacking.  Fortunately, with some intentional work and focus, online casinos have for the first time in history taken over the gambling numbers from “real” casinos. Their revenues are beating out casinos and bringing in billions.

Part of the bigger numbers being had by internet casinos over “real” casinos is the disparity of expenses. Real casinos have to pay for a huge overhead to maintain operations: management, workers, maintenance, utilities and taxes.  Online casinos don’t have any of these expenses, or at least not to the same degree. An online casino has a staff of programmers and developers, but normally they are outsourced and used as-needed, rather than being salaried. Utilities are not in the mix; nor is physical maintenance of the land.  This allows a lot of their revenue to be put into advertising, bonuses and promotions that directly benefit new customers. “Real” casinos can’t reach the same level of promotion because they simply don’t have the budgets.

The online casino is hugely successful and manages to be very efficient. Coupling those two characteristics together means that it is an industry that most likely cannot be stopped and will only continue to grow as years go by.

If you’re playing online in a casino, the most important thing is to know how to manage your bank roll. Sure it’s romantic to think of “betting it all” on a game because you “feel lucky” but will it pay off?  And is it realistic to keep playing like this? There is a strategy to managing your bank roll and being aware of what you can, and can’t afford.  Gambling is just like anything else you put your money into. You have to set a budget, be constantly aware of it and walk away if it’s threatened.

The first thing to know when playing in an online casino is to always be aware of your money. When you make your deposit, be sure it’s an amount that you can “afford to lose” if worse comes to worse.  Also, be sure you visit websites that offer games you can afford to play. Again, don’t romanticize the process. If you can’t afford to lose $500, don’t bet $500!  The great thing about online gaming is that it’s for every budget. There are games that have a buy in of $50 and games that have a buy in of $0.50. That’s a wide selection. Sometimes its better to start with the low end of wagering and work your way up as you gain more experience and know how with the game. Even if you do end up losing a few dollars, you’ll still gain some experience for next time that could help you.

Another way to practice bankroll management wisely, is to play on the “free play” casinos. This is a great way to get used to a game before playing with your “real” money.  This can help you gain experience, skill and strategy before you get wild and start using your hard-earned cash.  By working your way into online gambling with the “free play” option, you can get a feel for how the game works, what your skill level is, and how you can improve. You’ll also get used to how people wager, and how quickly wagers go up throughout the game.  Once you gather some important information, you can wisely decide whether or not to play with real money or to move on to a lower limit game with real money.

Remember to start off slow with your bankroll. You don’t want to make foolish mistakes and lose it. What fun is that? You want to make wise decisions to extend your game play and hopefully increase your chances of winning big.

If you’re new to the world of online gaming, don’t be afraid to jump in. There are some precautions, of course, but it’s overall a safe pastime for everyone. Once you find the casino you want to play at, the next step is to open a secure account.  Many people who are new to the world of online gambling and account-holding can be scared by this task, but it’s pretty simple. 

Most online casinos have step-by-step instructions for new users to follow when downloading the gaming software. One of the biggest advantages online casinos create for themselves is working with developers for user-friendly websites that are “hassle free” in download and maneuvering. The hardest part of starting your account online should be thinking up your own user name and a safe password.

To open your online account, you have to first download the software. (Some websites don’t have downloads, but rather work off of Flash or Java platforms. These are the simplest, but sometimes can limit the depth of play.  With these types of websites you’ll still have to create an account, but you just won’t have a lengthy download to deal with.)  Many websites will let you open the account as your download is running and other websites will require a sign-up prior to the download. This just depends on what type of website you pick to gamble on.  Just follow the instructions and load the software onto your computer. The download itself shouldn’t take long, unless your computer is older or out-of-date.

Some casinos have a poker room or sports book section that will require additional sign-in and registration, but normally one sign-up does the trick. Once you have you account, you’ll be ready to deposit money into your account. If you are truly “new” to the world of online gambling, you should find a website that offers “free play.” This way you can play games and get used to the rhythm without wagering your “real” money.  Read the bonus structure of the online casino you choose and know what bonus you’re getting and how it pays out. Some offer a large bonus, but you get it spread out over your first ten deposits. Other bonuses pay out immediately when you sign up. Be sure to read the fine print and understand the details.

Finally, make sure the computer you’re working on is safe.  If you’re sharing the computer with roommates or using a public computer, you want to always log-out properly. This way no one can re-enter the website under your user name and password (and with your account information) to start gambling with your money. It’s best to use a home computer where you know who is using it and what their purpose is.

Online gambling is here to stay.  Despite the recession where people were cutting back on their spending, online gambling continued to grow. It seemed impervious to market downslides and earned billions of dollars for online casinos throughout the world.  Many companies capitalized on the growth and built themselves into huge corporations. Unfortunately many of these companies had to be savvy with regards to where they were situated. Many countries are still holding to laws that make online gambling illegal. The US for example, is still operating under the UIGEA ruling that makes it illegal for financial institutions to transfer money from online gambling websites.

Fortunately for the industry of online gambling, much is being done to change legislation. Almost every municipality throughout the world is looking at online gambling regulation and taxation as a huge advantage when it comes to bringing in money. The recession brought many governments to their knees and deficits in today’s age are huge. This is causing them to revisit the question of legalizing online gambling. With the billions of dollars that are in the industry, it makes sends to start channeling into that revenue.

The US is one example of this transition. Almost every state within the borders is looking for financial answers to deficit problems.  Because online gambling is illegal, players are using offshore companies to bet. This is all money that is being funneled out of the American economy and being used to fuel other country’s financial systems.  Although the UIGEA deemed gambling transactions as illegal, states one by one are looking to overturn the ruling and start using casino-tax dollars as means to generate much-needed funding.

There are obstacles however. Many governments are worried about the moral aspect of legalizing online gambling. They believe that its legalization could potentially open the doors to gambling addictions and corruption to run rampant.  Ethically-based and religious-based organizations are taking the helm at this argument, wanting gambling to remain illegal, or at minimum safeguards to be built into the system to help people with any problems they might have.  Only time will tell where the issue till go, but logically it’s not difficult to see that governments are not at liberty to hold off the huge revenue potential of legalizing online gambling. With deficits hovering well into the trillions, it may be just a matter of time before online gambling is legalized.