Gambling has been with us since early times. Gambling online is a fairly new phenomenon and one that appears to be growing in popularity on a daily basis. Take a look at these details:

* The first online gaming site premiered in August 1995. It's currently estimated that there are well over 2,000 Internet gambling Web sites offering different 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 internet casino phenomenon that has enticed gamblers? Maybe it is the merit of it simply being online. There are so many attractions to not needing to attend a casino to bet. The most notable of these is the intimidation. Online gambling opens up a whole slew of games to gamers that previously never had the guts or fascination with observing tables at a land based casino.

Then it's the option of matches. The number of matches and their sorts on the internet are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer them all. Lets Have a Look at a few of these:

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

Blackjack, also called twenty-one or Pontoon, is one of the most popular casino games in the world. Much of blackjack's popularity is a result of the combination of chance with elements of skill, and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept.

The liberty of money and time are additional attractions. The online casinos are relatively inexpensive to operate concerning staff being paid, so that they are able to offer players free matches. Entering a blackjack room in an online casino is very distinct to approaching a blackjack table at a land based casino. The rate and intimidation can be high when playing at a ritzy casino. Critical decisions are made quickly and on the place. At home, the player can slow down and perform just when they're ready.

Regrettably, with such a rise in popularity has come many online gambling hoaxes. Illegitimate and unfaithful websites are found on the web and can be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online would be the 3 components of concern, prize and chance. All three should be current.

The issue with internet gambling is that it is much more difficult to control. The business 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 in their very own living space, in whatever state they choose to maintain and at whatever age and gamble just as much as they desire.

Caution seems to be the sole key. Gambling has always been a controversial subject; gambling on the internet is simply an extension of this controversy.