| Q. Is online gambling
legal? A. In many countries, yes.
The situation in the United States is a little more
complicated. Some online casinos are not accepting wagers from United States residents
until the laws are clarified. Even so, some estimates indicate that up to 90% of online
gamblers are in the US.
Currently, all online casinos operate their servers outside
the US. Most are located in the Caribbean and Europe, where online gambling licenses are
available.
Q. Are online casinos fair and honest?
A. Generally speaking, yes. Legitimate casinos don't need
to operate crooked games to make a profit. There's enough profit built-in with the house
edge and player mistakes.
Many casinos advertise that their games are tested for
fairness. Some casinos have their payouts audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers or other major
accounting firms.
But be warned that there are a few dishonest casinos out
there. The most common complaint is that some online casinos are slow to pay out
winnings. In a few cases, casinos have not paid out at all.
Q. Do I have to be an adult to play?
A. You must be 18 or older to wager real money.
Q. How do I choose an online casino?
A. There are hundreds of online casinos with more opening
every week. Vist our online casinos, bingo and sports betting directories.
Q. Do I need to download software to
play?
A. Not necessarily. Some casinos offer no-download games
such as blackjack, roulette and slots. However, the download games are usually higher
quality with better graphics, sound and animation.
Most casinos let you play the games for free before placing
a real-money bet. That way you can "test drive" the casino and choose the games
you like best.
Q. How do I purchase chips and get
started?
A. Casinos generally accept deposits by credit card, check,
money order, or wire transfer. Most people use their credit card because they can deposit
money and start playing immediately -- no waiting for the mail system. Financial
transactions are handled by electronic cash systems similar to those used for other
purchases via the Internet. For example, InterCasino uses Cryptologic's Ecash system.
Q. How do I collect my winnings?
A. This varies from casino to casino. Many casinos will
credit-back your winnings to your credit card, but only if you used that credit card to
make the deposit and only up to the amount you have deposited. Additional amounts will
usually be sent by check. This may change soon though as credit card companies rethink
their policies concerning online casinos.
At some casinos you will have to wait for a PIN (personal
identification number) to be sent to you by regular mail before you can make a withdrawal.
Some casinos charge for withdrawals, some don't. Always
read the deposit and withdrawal policies before playing for real money at any online
casino.
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