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General Online Gambling

Q: What are Odds?
Casinos allow a player to place "odds" on pass, don't pass, come, and don't come bets after a "point" has been established. If the bet on which odds are placed wins, the odds bet is paid fairly. This means the odds on pass and come bets are paid 2-1 for the 4 and 10, 3-2 for the 5 and 9, and 6-5 for the 6 and 8. The odds for don't pass and don't come bets are paid 1-2 for the 4 and 10, 2-3 for the 5 and 9, and 5-6 for the 6 and 8 (this is called "laying" odds).

The player should make odds bets that can be paid exactly, or the dealer will pay off by rounding down. Odds on the pass line and come bets should be a multiple 5 if the point is 6 or 8 and a multiple of 2 if it's a 5 or 9. (Don't betters can figure this out themselves.)

Casinos advertise the maximum odds bets they allow as the maximum amount "times" the original bet the odds bet may be (for don't pass and don't come bets, it's the maximum amount "times" the expected win). You can increase your odds bet over this advertised maximum only enough to allow you to make an odds bet that can be paid exactly.

A player can modify his odds bets at any time.

Q: Can I really gamble with real money online?
Yes provided it is legal in your country or state. 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, you have 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?
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 largely 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 authorities for any applicable laws in their area.

For more information on the legal issues concerning online gambling, we recommend visiting the following sites: Internet Gaming Commission, Gambling and the Law.

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 industry growth is rapid.

Q: Are online casinos fair and honest?
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?
You must be 18 or older to wager real money. Some sites may even require you to be at least 21 years of age.

Q: How do I choose an online casino?
There are hundreds of online casinos with more opening every week, so which should you play at?  We recommend that you review any online casino before making any real money wagers. We recommend 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
See our Casino Reviews section for detailed evaluation of a number of online casinos.

Q: Do I need to download software to play?
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.  Check out our Casino Reviews to find out which of the sites we promote do not require software download.

Q: How do I purchase chips and get started?
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.  For details on various payment methods click here.

Q: How do I collect my winnings?
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.  Electronic transfers are often accompanied by a fee, either from the casino or your banking institution.

Q: How fast will I usually get my winnings?
Again, this varies by casino, so consult the FAQ page of the site you're playing at.  Most 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 actually risking money?
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.  You can also check out our casino games rules and strategies page and our free games page for you to practice or just play for fun!

Q: What games are offered?
At present, most sites offer the basic five: slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and video poker.

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Gambling Problems

Q: What is problem gambling?
Problem gambling refers to any gambling that goes beyond "normal" bounds of gambling for fun, recreation, or entertainment. Pathological gambling is the inability, over an extended period of time, to resist impulses to gamble. It is often characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling and a general loss of control. Pathological gamblers often "chase" their losses, feel a need to bet more frequently and in larger amounts, and continue to gamble in spite of the serious negative consequences of their behavior.

Are pathological gambling and compulsive gambling the same thing?
Yes. Most scientists and mental health professionals prefer the term "pathological gambling" as the condition is not believed to be related to "compulsions" like excessive hand-washing. The term "disordered gambling" has often been used to describe this condition.

Q: Is someone who gambles a lot a pathological gambler?
Not necessarily. Many people who gamble frequently are simply people who enjoy gambling as entertainment. Generally these people set aside a predetermined amount of money for gambling, gamble for fun rather than for the "certainty" of winning, recognize that they are likely to lose, and don't bet more than they can afford to lose.

Q: Can you have a gambling problem without being a pathological gambler?
Much as it's possible to abuse alcohol without being an alcoholic, it's also possible to have gambling problems without being a pathological gambler -- someone can go out and lose a lot of money at a casino after being denied a promotion, for example. Often this sort of problem resolves itself without professional intervention. Pathology is determined by both severity and frequency of the problem.

Q: Who becomes a problem gambler?
Problem gamblers can be male, female, young, middle-aged, old, wealthy, poor, white, or people of color. The National Opinion Research Center study described in the last section found that young adults, ethnic minorities, and people with little education were slightly more likely to have serious gambling problems, but the differences were not very large

Please visit our Forum to find answers from experienced gamblers.

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