Online casinos and internet gambling have grown into a billion-dollar industry in only the last few years. Despite their near unprecedented level of success, there is almost complete ambiguity and confusion in America about the legality of online gambling. This ambiguity can be traced back to five simple words: Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

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The short answer is no. And the long answer is no. Considering the fact that online blackjack games are software-based and programmed according to each online casino's specs, counting cards is virtually impossible and - unless you're in the mood for a migraine - ill advised.

Put it this way, if counting cards were a fool-proof system for winning and making money, everybody would be doing it, right? Granted, to some extent it can help in land-based casinos. But if there's one thing you can truly count on, it's that most online casinos automatically shuffle after each hand, especially when single decks are used.

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Most medical experts agree that gambling addicts, like most other types of addicts, are indeed susceptible to developing addictive behaviors. Addictive, or compulsive gambling, as it is also commonly referred to, is widely recognized by medical experts as an illness, like alcohol and drug addictions. Gambling addicts suffer from this uncontrollable need to wager money to the point of serious financial and/or social distress.

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Age restrictions for gambling online vary from one country to another. And given that the online gaming industry is in such flux following the US's enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), depending on where you're planning on wagering from in the world, a "better safe than sorry" approach would probably be well advised.

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Online casinos go to extraordinary lengths to not only attract new players, but to hold on to them as well. After all, which business wants or can afford to lose the customers they've already invested so much money, time and effort trying to win over in the first place. Luckily - as we like to say in the gaming biz - online casinos enjoy a significant advantage over land-based gaming establishments in terms of operating expenses like rent, salaries, advertising etc. Thus Internet-based gaming companies can easily offer what are well known as "Refer-a-Friend Bonuses."

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To get started, once you've decided which online casino you're going to play at, go to their home page and click on the Download button. You will then be asked whether you wish to Run or Save the file. If you are planning on visiting the site on a regular basis, you'll want to save the program to your hard disk. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, as well as the size of the file being downloaded, this task can usually be accomplished in just a matter of minutes.

Because more and more casinos are providing their games in a number of languages, you will likely be asked which language you would prefer to play in. After doing this, click Install. A window will then appear with an End-User Agreement you will be required to agree to if you want to continue. This is standard practice.

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In order to attract new players to their online casinos, poker rooms and other gambling web sites, gaming operators are going to increasingly longer lengths to lure in prospective clients with free cash bonuses. Considering that there are an estimated more than 2,000 online gambling destinations out there for players to shop around with and compare, these free cash incentives are becoming more valuable by the day.

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Similar to ‘Sign-up Bonuses,' which are awarded to players for opening an initial account with a casino and depositing money, ‘Deposit Bonuses' are regularly granted to returning players for making subsequent deposits into their casino account(s).


For instance, where a new player signing up for a particular casino is awarded a bonus based on how much he or she initially deposits into their account, up to a limited amount, players making second, third, fourth and even more additional deposits can also enjoy some very attractive cash benefits. Like Sign-up Bonuses, match bonuses are also calculated based on how much a player deposits. This could range from anywhere between 10% and 100%, and even more, again, up to a limited amount. For example, say you're returning to a web site and wish to deposit another $100. If the casino is offering to match your second deposit by 50%, your account will be credited by a total of $150.

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For the most part - no - online casinos do not cheat, especially if they hope to stay in business for any reasonable amount of time. Given that gambling over the Internet is such a new phenomenon and people are still hesitant about transferring money, when it comes to building trust, any company intent on long-term success must develop - and maintain - a reputation for being on the up and up. But unfortunately there are always those individuals, in any industry, out to make a fast and dishonest buck. The overwhelming majority of online casino operators do not play with the odds and are believed to pay players their winnings promptly.

Internet casino operators automatically enjoy a house advantage from which they draw their profits. Therefore they need not cheat to make money. Also, because not all players employ effective gambling strategies, this also works to a casino's advantage.

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Generally speaking, players are paid out their winnings in the same way they deposit money into their casino account. Naturally, this varies from casino to casino. The majority of online casinos pay players their winnings within a week. If a player deposited funds with a check or money order, in all likelihood, the casino will send that player their winnings using the same method, unless of course, a player requests otherwise. The same goes for customers depositing money with credit cards; their winnings are generally credited to their cards. Some casinos even FedEx players their checks.

Prior to placing your first bet with a particular casino, it's vitally important that you review and understand the casino's policy vis-à-vis payouts. This should be easily spelled out in the casino's Terms and Conditions section.

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