Online Casino Magic

Everything you need to know about
Online Casino Gambling

When selecting your gambling destination, quality counts. Take a close look at their free games and their web site. If they've invested the money in their site and games to appear like a professional organization, chances are good that they are exactly that. Trust your intuition. If you don't get a good feeling in your gut about a place, then don't play there - and don't feel you need to justify yourself to anyone - least of all, yourself!

The Basics of Online Casino Gambling

Before you decide on the site where you want to gamble, you need to decide between two ways of participating in online casino gambling, via Java )(non-downloadable) and downloadable software. Although Java offers almost immediately playing, it doesn't nearly compete with the sound and graphics quality offered by downloadable software.

Once you have made this choice, (and have the software installed, if that's the route you want to go), then you need to open an account. This may be done through the software or on the online casino website, depending on the casino in question. Next, you need to transfer some money into your online casino account. Money may be transferred via a credit or debit card. Payment alternatives include Western Union, Neteller and bank wire transfers (if transaction fees are levied, many online casinos will credit them back to your account).

Some credit cards treat deposits to an online casino as a cash advance. And many credit cards have a flat policy rejecting the purchase of casino chips, or treating a purchase of casino chips as a cash advance. Using Neteller or debit cards for online casino gambling is popular because the transactions are posted faster and there are never a cash advance fees.

You can play as soon as you have online casino account. Remember to acquaint yourself with the rules of the casino and the various games you might play. As you play, make a note of everything you do, including tracking your bankroll and the total amount that you bet. If you intend to play at this online casino again, don't cash out, rather leave your money in your account ready for the next time.

When you are ready to cash out, your chips will be converted into cash and credited back to your credit card, up to the amount of your initial purchase. You'll normally receive any winnings over and above your initial purchase amount, by check (possibly less to a small finance charge, levied by the online casino concerned).

The Pros and Cons of Online Casino Gambling versus conventional land based gambling

Despite the similarity in the games, and the technological advances that make enable sound and graphics to simulate a real world casino environment, online casino gambling is quite different from gambling in a land based casino. Online gambling offers some advantages and some disadvantages. Here are some of them:

Advantages of online gambling

a. Online casino gambling is a highly competitive business and many online casinos will offer impressive promotions and bonuses to attract and retain you as their client. Some will offer new clients sign-up bonuses, adding 10% to 50% of their initial deposit to their bankroll. Some will give away holidays for specific levels of total money bet, while others will randomly deposit money in customer accounts.

b. Online casino rules are normally better for the player, providing the player with better odds than in physical casinos.

c. You can access the casino any time, from the comfort and proximity of your own home.

d. Because you gamble online, you don't have to endure real casino annoyances, like smokers, noise etc.

e. You don't have to feel obliged to tip.

Disadvantages of online gambling.

a. You have to accept delays - delays getting your money after you cash out (because of casino waiting periods and credit card delays). These delays can be as long as two to four weeks. Debit cards normally take between 3 to 5 business days.

b. Depending on which online casino you play at, customer service may be questionable. Many online casinos offer great service via their e-mail or toll-free customer service desk. Others have no known contact number, can take several days to reply to an e-mail and generally appear willing to take your money, but not particularly bothered by your concerns. These are obviously not the choice of gaming club you should make!

c. You don't have a higher power or authority to approach, in the event of a dispute. Often, the player agreement will include a clause giving the casino the right to set the rules and stating that in the event of a dispute, the casino's word is final. Make sure you read a casino's terms and conditions before playing at it.

d. If you tend to play at a number of different online casinos, your credit/debit card statement will be very hard to decipher because transactions usually bear the name of the merchant bank involved, and not the casino operator.

What is Expected of the Player

Attempts to defraud the industry and abuse by players is one of the most pressing problems facing the online casino gambling industry. is abuse by players. As a result, despite their competitive relationship, online casinos help protect one another by sharing negative databases or blacklists of players that are suspected of abuse or fraud. Player may be blacklisted if they dispute or threaten to dispute charges, try and manipulate the gaming software, open more than one account per computer or household, or fraudulently use someone else's credit card

Of these blacklist triggers, disputing and threatening to dispute charges (called "charge back" in the industry) are the biggest problem faced by the industry, and get a player blacklisted very quickly. Once a player is blacklisted, his name will be shared, and he will be unwelcome at any online casino with which his name has been shared.

Furthermore, once your name is on a blacklist, there is no authority to appeal to for its removal. Because the online gambling industry is not regulated, there are inherent risks in online gambling for both the player and the casino. As a result of this, an unwritten code of conduct has emerged by which players and casinos are morally bound. For example, player do not have the freedom to slice and dice the rules in an analytical and legalistic manner, doing whatever they please that is not listed as prohibited behavior. Players are held accountable to an implied good faith contract. For an online casino, remaining above reproach and avoiding any appearance of questionable behavior is vital for its continued existence and success.

Playing for Bonuses

Many casinos will add a bonus to your initial deposit - usually 10% , but it can be as much as 100% - to attract you to play there. If you accept this bonus (and you need to make sure you've read and understood the associated terms and conditions!), you normally have to bet a certain amount before you can cash out the bonus. This amount can vary from an amount equivalent to the bonus, to five or six times the deposit plus bonus.

After you've opened a new account at an online casino, wait at least 15 minutes in case any welcome e-mail arrives. This email might indicate different rules than those that are currently on the web site, in relation to your bonus. If the conditions conflict, assume you have to meet the more stringent of the two versions. Irrespective of what the rules say you should do, exceed them.

There are those online casinos who claim and exercise the right to deny bonuses to customers they feel are only coming for the bonus. Be wary and suspicious of any online casino (at which you have not opened an account), sending unsolicited bonus offers to you.

Choosing Where to Play

It's confusing for a beginner gambler to tell one online computer apart from another, but there are some important things to consider when thinking about signing up with an online casino:

1. Is the casino licensed?
2. Is there a sign-up bonus? If so,. how much is it? How many times do you need to bet it, to draw your winnings?
3. What do the rules limit / allow? What are the game rules? These can vary a lot in games like video poker or blackjack
4. Can you find out who owns and operates the online casino?
5. What are the transaction fees? How much are they?
6. Is there a toll free customer care line? Does it work? Is it always busy?
7. Who provides the gaming software platform, is it a reliable name (eg Microgaming, Cryptologic) or some mystery no-name company.

Not every casino will score top marks in all of these categories, but they should score quite high in most of these categories to earn your gambling time and money.