Sign Me Up!
If you’ve never gambled online before, the orientation process might seem a bit intimidating from afar, but signing up and getting started is really quite painless. Following is what you’ll need:
- Access to a personal computer with an Internet connection. If you’re using a computer that’s five years old or newer, then it’s almost a sure thing that you have adequate equipment. The essential ingredient, of course, is access to the Internet.
- Very basic computer skills. If you know how to surf the Internet, then you’re pretty much there. All online gambling services can be accessed through their Web page and all of them walk the user through the registration process. If your Web site of choice requires you to download special software, you need to know how to download and install applications onto your computer, but then again the operators of the site will hold your hand if necessary.
- Money and a means of funding your account. Naturally, it’s not gambling if there’s no money changing hands. All you need here is knowledge of your banking details. The most common form of payment is credit card, and funding an account is simply a matter of entering the numbers into an online form. If the site has a problem processing your credit card informatiom, you can opt for an alternate payment systems, such as NETeller or FirePay. To fund these accounts, you need to know your personal banking account numbers. Of course, you should NEVER offer any of this information unless you’re in a secure environment. Most sites also give those who are unable or unwilling to conduct a transaction over the internet the option of paying via wire transfer or personal check, although the only fallback with these forms of payment is that you have to wait a few days for the transaction to clear.
- An understanding of how to play the games. This website is a great source for learning the rules and strategies for all forms of gambling.
Depositing and Withdrawing Money
Gambling sites are online merchants, similar to Amazon.com or Netflix or any other Web site where goods orservices can be purchased. They offer a variety of payment options, although credit cards and e-cash are the most common. Think of it as purchasing a service. The customer (the gambler) logs onto a secure server and transfers money to the merchant (the online gambling site). This is done by filling out an online form, of which the required fields typically include name, address and phone number, plus the account number for the chosen payment mechanism (credit card, debit, e-cash, etc.). When the form is submitted, the information is sent to the site operator, who despoits them into a playing account.
When you deposit money at an online gambling site, an account is set up and you gamble with that money. The account is accessed by entering a unique user ID and password. For all practical purposes, you’ve purchased a stack of virtual chips, and if you gamble it away, you can deposit more money into the account using the same technique. Additional transactions (withdrawals and deposits) are made through the cashier page, which is typically accessible through the site’s main menu or index page. The main difference between online gambling sites and common online retailers is that gambling sites have to provide a means of withdrawing money. It’s the equivalent of cashing in your chips. It’s a much more enjoyable process for obvious reasons, but it’s also easier because the site’s operator already has your banking information.
Gambling sites typically give customers several cash-out options, including bank drafts, wire transfers, and the transfer of funds back inot an account set up by a third-party procesor such as Netellern or Firepay.
Software Considerations
Internet casino operators deliver their products using two general types of software: games that reside primarily on the server (the Web site host’s computer) and games that reside primarily on the client’s computer (the computer of the gambler).
Server Games
Server games are played in your Web browser. You register and fund your account using the casino’s Web site and enter the games without ever leaving the browser. The most common platforms use Java and Flash technology.
The Advantages - You can play immediately, you don’t have to install software onto your machine, and you can play from any computer with capable Internet browsing software.
The Disadvantages - Game play is often a little slower, the graphics, sounds, and animations are often inferior to those of client games, and you have to go through the casino’s Web site every time you want to play.
Client Games
Client games are generated by unique software applications. The player downloads these free-standing programs from the casino’s Web site and then installs it onto his computer. To enter the casino, the player launches the software by clicking an icon, rather than bringing up the games in a browser through the casino’s Web site.
The Advantages - The graphics, animations, and sounds are much more robust, and the game play is much quicker. Plus, you can launch the casino application from your desktop without having to go through your Web browser.
The Disadvantages - Forget about instant gratification. You have to go through the download and installation process prior to beginning play. You often have to download upgrades periodically as well. Further, the software takes up space on your hard drive and you can only play on computers on which the software has been installed.
Dispelling a Myth - “Hot” Machines
Casino gamblers love to flock to “hot” machines, whether it’s on the Internet or at a bricks-and-mortar casino. This is complete rubbish when it comes to playing video poker. The first key to winning is finding a game that pays well, but this has nothing to do with whether the game is “hot” or “cold.” Legitimate video poker software deals the cards randomly, so as long as the rules are the same from one game to another, so are the odds. The pay schedule is all that matters.
These payout schedules only apply when perfect strategy is used. So the next step, then, is learning proper strategy. This is easier then you might think, as video poker is like blackjack in that there is one right move in every circumstance. There are numerous books available, and that’s nice, but herein lays the beauty of Internet gambling. As long as you’re gambling in the digital world, why not hire a digital coach?
There are a handful of software applications - available for purchase online - that teach perfect video poker strategy and allow you to practice right there at your computer. Of course, if you’re not interested in “learning” proper strategy, there is always the proverbial cheat sheet, which you can keep on your desktop and reference as you play online.
About Casino Gambling
There is a lot of pleasure to be had at the casino, but that pleasure is always increased when you walk away with big money.
Covering everything from the psychology of the casino layout to understanding the odds and placing the best bets, About-Casino-Gambling.com will soon be your faithful gaming-house guide whether you’re a rookie gambler or an experienced card counter.