Online Poker Rooms

Poker has now started dominating the online gaming industry, offering round-the-clock poker tournaments. All that is required for online poker is a computer with Internet connection. An online poker room is actually a company that allows players to use its software to participate in the poker game. Online poker rooms generally make profit by incurring a percent of money from most of the played pot, known as rake. In real, rakes range between 5 and 20%. But, online poker rooms charge only 5% as rake, since the overhead expenses are low.
Before selecting an online poker room, it is vital to check whether its connections are protected by a reliable Internet security firm. Another requirement for online poker room is a license from a trusted gaming commission. The next is to check whether the poker room offers unique features like multi-table features, personalization features, and operating system compatibility. Player traffic also plays an important role in online poker rooms. The larger the traffic, the more games you can participate in and the more players you may win or lose against.
In addition, the level of bonuses and promotions of online poker rooms must be checked for. But, beware of scams involved in it. For instance, some online poker rooms advertise to offer huge bonuses. Sometimes, it may not be a scam. However, it is always advisable to play in respectable poker rooms, offering reasonable bonuses. Other important factors to be considered for selecting an online poker room are financial stability, accessible customer service, and ease of competitions. Player reviews are regarded as one of the best sources to compare various online poker rooms and choose an appropriate online poker room.
Online poker rooms include poker rooms of large online poker networks and independent poker rooms. A poker room belonging to online poker networks is called a skin. Some of the top names in poker networks with online poker rooms are The Cryptological Network, iGlobal Media, Prima Poker, and The Tribeca network. Among the significant independent poker rooms are Poker Champs, Pacific Poker, and Paradise Poker.

Online Casinos and the Internet

Gambling and online casinos has been around as long as we can remember. People have always liked challenges and excitement that comes with gambling and that is something that has never changed. Casinos have taken a whole new meaning to the world when he went to the World Wide Web. Now, no matter where you live and whatever time of day it is, you can get in online casinos and play your heart content.
Online casinos have become one of the largest industries on the Internet and be told the truth, it is also known as one of the largest sources of pleasure. Admittedly, some people can become dependent on, but if she played in the way it is supposed to be, you can enjoy many hours of pleasure again and again at Online Casinos. There are many people who are grateful for the possibility of online casinos because they do not have the time or money to travel to a region that has casinos on land. In the United States alone there are only a handful of states that legalized casinos. That is why it is difficult for people to go to online casinos to see what is offered. They would spend the money for airfare and hotel accommodations just to go in the pleasures of a casino atmosphere.
The online casinos offer virtual casinos that mimic land-based relatives. There is a real pressure that you go where you can see the boards and see what the games are going at each table. You can also view statistics for each table and what gains have been. It is also an area in the lobby you can use as a learning tool for each type of game So whether you're new to the game or if you have done for years, there are some thing to learn about each type of game for all concerned.
Many online casinos or virtual casinos offer some bonuses to help attract new customers. Some of them offer a sign-up bonus to help draw in their casino. Sign-on bonuses can only be used once when you register first. This may be in the form of cash that can be used as a casino or a game of your deposit. The match for your deposit may vary depending on the casino and how much you deposit. Some of these casinos offer a 100% match, dollar for dollar for your first initial deposit up to a certain amount. Some will go as high as $ 500. This means that if you drop $ 300 on their website to play their casino, they correspond with $ 300, giving you a total of $ 6, 00 to play with their casino.
Other forms of bonuses for new customers would be able called premium in cash. This is where you can collect a certain amount once you've met a set limit. Some online casinos offer May 100% match bonus after you meet their conditions for say $ 1,000. Before starting with any particular online casino you want to be sure to do a little research. You want to verify any comments that could have been done on a casino to see if they get good reviews in place. You also want to stay away from those that do not offer any type of bonus.
After you've completed the game, you want to know how you receive your payment. Everything depends on what form of payment option you choose when you register at online casinos. Some people have bank accounts online can have money transferred immediately to May, where others need a check mailed to them. Money can even be placed on your credit card. It is absolutely your personal choice as to how you want to receive your winnings.
No matter what you choose to do or which online casinos you decide to go with,, we invite you to visit the casino in depth. You do not want to finish with some fly-by-night casino just take your money and run. You also want to be sure what the laws are in your area for online gambling in May as some areas have certain laws that govern the use of Internet gambling. You want to be sure you do what is right by your field and not break the law.

Online Poker Tournaments

Online poker is a popular game with several million ardent fans around the globe. In recent years, some casinos have begun installing video poker machines to draw in those who prefer playing online video poker. Others prefer playing poker in the comfort of their homes. The main advantage of online poker games is that they can be played at any time of the day, according to the player's convenience.
Online poker allows users to participate in a variety of online poker tournaments, such as Texas Holdem Poker, Seven Card Stud Poker, Omaha Poker, Five Card Stud, and Five Card Draw. In online poker tournaments, players can compete with multiple opponents, since a number of people could be playing the same tournament at any given point in time.
Online poker tournaments can be played from the comfort of the player's home. Players can participate in these tournaments by registering on the websites that host them. Usually, there are moderators who organize and monitor these online poker tournaments. Typically, players and moderators meet in a private chat room before the commencement of a game. During these online pre-game meetings, the organizers brief players about the tournament rules and regulations.
Online poker tournaments can also be played free of cost. The main purpose of offering free online poker tournaments is to attract people to the websites that organize such tournaments. It is expected that over a period of time, a considerable number of first-time online players who have registered for these tournaments would continue to become permanent members who take part in the paid tournaments.
It is possible to play online poker tournaments against several poker groups around the world. These online poker tournaments are held nearly everyday. Many online poker sites offer tournaments for different levels of players such as amateurs, professionals, and casual players. There are strict terms and conditions to be followed by players participating in these online poker games. If these rules are breached, the player can be disqualified. While playing these tournaments, some sites provide a private chat room. This enables players to discuss and form strategies with other players.

Online Casino Types

Online Casinos are very popular and lot of people are playing and gambling. Online casinos can be divided into three groups based on their interface: web-based casinos, download-based casinos, and more recently live casinos. Some casinos offer multiple interfaces.
Web-based Casinos
Web-based online casinos are different websites where gamblers/users can play casino games such as online Bingo, Black Jack, Baccarat, Poker and many more. They do not need to download any software to their computer. The games are represented in the owner's browser plug-ins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java. Also, bandwidth is needed in order to play the sounds, the images and animations. Web-based are the most popular.
Download-based online casinos
Download-based online casinos require the user to have a computer in order to download the online casino software for him to play the games and gamble on the online casino. The online casino software connects directly to the casino service provider without browser support. This type of online casino runs much faster than the typical online web-based casino since all animation and sound programs are already located within the software itself. The only drawback to download-based online casinos is the time it takes to download on your computer and there may be a risk of malware and spyware as well.
Live-based casinos
Live-based casinos are the top notch of online casino. It allows you to directly interface with a real world/live casino just as if you were in it. The player can interact live with other players and live dealers at tables via a real time web window, whether he is playing Poker, Baccarat or Poker.
With these different interfaces, the client has the choice to choose what best suits him and have fun all night long. All online casinos will offer the customer different games, below is a list of the most popular ones.
Cards Games
  • Asian stud

  • Baccarat

  • Blackjack

  • Casino war

  • Caribbean Stud Poker

  • Chinese poker

  • Faro

  • Four card poker

  • Let It Ride

  • Mambo stud

  • Pai gow poker

  • Red Dog

  • Spanish 21

  • Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker

  • Three card poker

  • Two-up
  • Dice / Tiles
  • Craps

  • Pai Gow

  • Sic bo

  • Chuck-a-luck
  • Random numbers
  • Big Six wheel

  • Roulette

  • Bingo

  • Keno
  • Gaming machines
  • Slot machine

  • Video Lottery Terminal

  • Video poker
  • Online casino games provide to the player a long-term advantage to the real casino. With an online casino, the player has the illusion of being in control, giving him the opportunity to make choices.
    There are different online casino games which are exactly the same as a "house"casino.
    Table games
    This type of game is played on a big table which is covered with a printed felt layout and may contain seating positions for players. There is a dealer located on one side of the table and the players located on the other side of the table. Generally table games are played with dice, cards and other gaming tools.
    Gaming machines
    The Gaming machines are the slot machines, and are played by only one player at a time and do not require the involvement of casino employees to play, this is why slots machines are a really popular online casino game.
    Random number games
    Random number games such as the Roulette or Bingo are based upon the choice of random numbers, either from a computerized generator or from other gaming tool.

    The History of Online Poker

    For those of us whose significant others frown upon a weekly poker night with the boys or with the girls, online poker is the answer. You no longer need to hide in your basement with bowls of stale Fritos and a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon to enjoy a game of poker. Rather, the internet has brought the game right to your computer. This is a more recent phenomenon, however, as online poker rooms have only arisen in the past ten or twelve years; just a child compared to the 200-year history of "old-fashioned," face-to-poker face poker.
    Online poker was preceded by other forms of online gambling such as sports-orienting betting in the early 1990's and online casinos in the mid 1990's. Planet Poker, a now smaller operation, established the first online poker room in 1998 and a year later, Paradise Poker emerged. Their use of effective advertising, innovative software, and international appeal led them to the forefront of online poker where they still enjoy the status as one of the industry leaders. In 2000, Poker Spot emerged as the first online poker site to offer tournament play. However, this site suffered from technical difficulties that resulted in its unfortunate demise.
    Through the early years of the 21st Century, Paradise Poker remained the top firm in the biz until 2003 when poker hit mainstream television. The World Poker Tour premiered on the Travel Channel and captured the highest ratings in the network's history. This not only led to a dramatic rise in poker's popularity, but it also resulted in the emergence of another online poker giant. A company called Party Poker launched a well-devised advertising campaign that aired during the World Poker Tour. This brilliant marketing led them to the forefront of the industry where they currently hold almost half of the entire online poker community.
    Following this rating booms experienced by the Travel Channel, other networks such as ESPN began airing live poker as part of their regular programming. Shows such as Celebrity Poker are still immensely popular. These shows not only led to the increased visibility and popularity of poker, but they resulted in a boom in online gaming. Many viewers felt inspired by the fact that entrants were qualifying for big tournaments through online play. Online poker received some big press in both 2003 and 2004 when the winners of the World Series of Poker were Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, both online players through Poker Stars. This free advertising was quite effective, and 6,000 entrants for the World Series of Poker qualified through online play in 2005.

    Win Jackpots with Online Poker

    Have you ever experienced poker download? Have you ever played poker online? Do you ever think why people play poker online? Then do one thing, give online poker a try! When you play poker online, you will certainly say that you have caught the excitement and jackpots right on your computer and from the comfort of your own home. Just as in every aspect of life, the Internet has opened up great new opportunities in the world of poker. Best online poker games, multiplayer games on money tables, video poker and monster pots give real poker to play and LAS VEGAS & ATLANTIC CITY gambling to enjoy.
    Traditionally, when you thought of poker, you would envision a bar room full of the questionable types, or a back room filled with smoke, noise and crowd, where betting and danger evolves. But poker over the internet is peaceful and entertaining. Online poker brings the best poker games to play to every corner of the world, and allows everyone to enjoy the challenge and the excitement of winning. The advantages of online poker are countless and fun beyond words. Online poker is LIVE, SECURE, INTERESTING and REWARDING. Online poker is non-stop; play Omaha Poker, Texas Holdem and other poker games 24*7. Multiplayer, virtual online poker rooms where multiplayer LOW-LIMIT and HIGH-LIMIT games are played. Professional online poker players participate in live tournaments and compete for monster pots. So get the poker download for FREE and play poker games Online.
    Online poker games are played both for FUN and REAL MONEY. If you are looking for real poker actions then open a real money account. To do this, you must:
    1. Download an online poker software for free.
    2. Start playing for FREE instantly or if you want to play for real money, then open a real money account.
    3. After opening the account deposit your money, check your account history, access your bonus account and cash out.
    With online poker play favorite poker games online, everything from Omaha Holdem Poker to Caribbean Poker. After a few rounds of online poker, you may not even want to play offline. Because the excitement of online poker is just as real, and the excitement is great. Give online poker a try and see what the magic world of online poker brings for you!

    Choosing a First Class Online Casino

    In today's world of online casino gambling, online casinos & online poker rooms it's a difficult and sometimes daunting task choosing the best online casino for your gambling needs. One must look at a variety of things when deciding on the online casino of their choice.
    Unlike in Las Vegas, where although you have some 50 land based casinos on a strip of about 1 mile, on the internet, one has thousands of online casinos to choose from within a matter of minutes. Each casino offers a variety of games, promotions, graphics, software and gaming experience to try and entice you to make a deposit and start playing for gold.
    When looking at first class online casinos we suggest assessing the following variables in order to make the most educated and informative decision before playing that favorite online casino of choice.
    Reputation within the online casino industry is critical when selecting those first class online casinos. Those same casinos which win awards year after year and have the reputation within the gambling community as being one of the best will definitely be classed within this category. The sound, graphic and software itself is another great sign of those first class online casinos. Once again, software giants like Microgaming & Cryptologic employ the top developers and tend to offer the most amazing sound, graphics and software capabilities for their online casinos.
    The promotions each casino offers is often the best reflection of the quality online casinos and those same casinos which truly are in a class of their own. With the online gambling industry being as competitive as ever, the best online casinos will always offer top notch promotions to entice you into playing.
    Finally, things like game variety, payment options and the casinos loyalty program are once again paramount in deciding which of the thousands of online casinos truly are the best and offer first class experiences for their customers.
    Use these measures when searching your favorite online casino and you will be well on your way to months and months of excitement and high tech gambling fun!

    Free Casino Chips and Honest Online Casinos

    An understanding of the relevance of free casino chips must be put into its proper context: are the offers of the free chips coming from honest online casinos?
    The first online casinos opened 10 years ago, and now there are hundreds that can be found online. Estimates vary as to the number of people who gamble online, but recent estimates suggest that a figure of around seven million worldwide would not be too far out. Taking that into account, and with a further estimate of more than $12 billion spent in online casinos alone (not including physical land-based casinos), offers of free casino chips may understandably be seen as something of a drop in the ocean.
    Add to that the question of whether or not these free chips are being offered by honest online casinos, and we enter an area worth some study or serious research.
    Firstly, let us consider what these free casino chips are really worth to the individual online casino player. Free casino chips are of four main types:
    No Deposit Bonus. This is simply free money. Honest online casinos will offer free casino chips with no strings attached, simply to attract people to play at their virtual tables. There will sometimes be minor strings attached. For example, the casino may ask for credit card details up front. Always read the terms.
    Matching Deposit Bonus. This is where the house will match your deposit. Often this is done in multiples. For example, a 200% bonus will mean that if you were to deposit $100 then the casino would add $200 in free casino chips to your account. Very nice! Especially useful for new players starting out.
    Uncashable Bonus. This is the so-called 'sticky' bonus. This can never be cashed, but its usefulness lies in that fact that it stays in your account and enables you to use the bonus account to 'leverage' higher wagers. These free casino chips stay latent in your account simply to allow you to do things which you otherwise could not.
    Loyalty Bonus. This is exactly as it sounds. All honest online casinos, and offline ones too, want to keep hold of their good returning customers, and will offer loyalty bonuses, including free casino chips, as a result.
    Remember that online casinos can afford to do this because they simply do not have the overhead that their brick and mortar land-based counterparts have. Equally, there is no excuse for an online casino NOT to be honest for exactly the same reason. They can offer free casino chips AND be an honest online casino in circumstances where their physical equivalents would find the financial burden impossible.
    So how do we go about identifying which are the honest online casinos and which are not? Well, a lot has changed since the earliest online casinos set up shop in their offshore locations in 1996. Self-regulation (at best dubious) led to accreditation of bodies like ECOGRA (E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). Look out also for evidence of good customer care, positive feedback from online casino forum members and decent helpline facilities. The more honest online casinos will offer (will actively boast) 24 hour live chat and live email support as well as toll-free telephone help. Does it have a mailing list you can join to keep in contact with the latest tournaments and special offers? Trust lies at the heart of any subscription process (or people would not subscribe) so that in itself is a good indicator of an honest online casino.

    Top 10 Online Poker Websites

    When it comes to playing poker online you are probably amazed at how many online poker websites really exist and don't know which one is the best one for you to play regarding payout, bonuses, game selection, and the like. However, don't worry because I am going to provide you with some of the most popular online poker websites. Then, you can check them out and see which ones you like the best. Of course, there are new poker websites every day so staying on top of the new sites is always a good idea as well. Consider the top 10 current websites and some of their benefits.
    #1 Poker Site- Party Poker
    PartyPoker.com has been online since 2001 and is considered the world's largest poker room. It has more than 70,000 players online at any time so finding someone to play poker with certainly is not a problem. In addition, this website is licensed and regulated, so you should feel comfortable and trust this website. All transactions are secure and safe for you and your personal information. In addition, payouts are fast and there are many different games and limits you can choose from. Basically, you will be able to find a game that fits your budget and playing preferences. You don't need a credit card to play on this site and money is paid out in a variety of different methods from moneybookers.com to e-checks, wire transfers, and many more options.
    #2 Poker Site-Pacific Poker
    Pacificpoker.com and 888.com are the same poker room website. This site is also regulated and licensed, which makes players feel more secure when they play on the site. Additionally, payouts are fast and it is safe to make a deposit and when you are ready to cash out that is easy as well. Pacificpoker.com offers live support 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so if you ever have a problem there will be someone available to help you immediately. Getting started is easy and fast and all you have to do is download the software, follow the instructions, and before you know it you will be playing poker online!
    #3 Poker Site-Ultimate Bet
    Ultimatebet.com has been online since 2000 and has had many card hands dealt in the last five years. The design and software of Ultimatebet.com were designed in part by some of pokers hottest professionals, so not only do you play poker, but you play in a way that the professionals believe is most conducive to a great hand of cards. The website is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Also, safety measures are strong so you should feel confident regarding your personal information when playing on this website. There are a great variety of games and bonuses for when you refer a friend.
    #4 Poker Site-Inter Poker
    Security is one of the biggest concerns at interpoker.com, so your financial and personal information are kept as safe and secure as possible. The website boasts that it is stable financially and makes payouts secure and efficiently. Also, support is available 24/7 so getting in touch with customer support should be no problem at all. This site is proud of its efforts in protecting its players, so consider this site if you want to play poker online.
    #5 Poker Site-PokerRoom
    PokerRoom.com claims to have a safe and secure payout system that is super fast. In addition, there are lots of different games and limits to choose from, not to mention the variety of tournaments. You can play for free among friends, or else you can bet and win big bucks, depending on your style. Also, no download is required so you can start playing fast!
    #6 Poker Site-Gaming Club Poker
    The Gaming Club Poker offers a different type of online poker game than many of the other poker sites. With Gaming Club Poker you play against players in other card rooms on the Internet rather than with the dealer. In this case you never play against house players, but rather other real players in the network. Not only are the games state of the art, but the technology is improving each day as well.
    #7 Poker Site-Bodog Poker
    This website offers more than just poker, but sports betting and online casino gambling as well. Payouts are fast so you never have to wait too long for your winnings and transactions are as secure as possible. The website describes their customer service as "fantastic" so if you ever need help it should not be too hard to get. The software download is free and once on your computer you simply log in to play whenever you like!
    #8 Poker Site-Poker Stars
    Pokerstars.com is a registered and legal business and abides by all laws of the country where it is located. Processing of payments is fast and secure and you will enjoy the free download of their software. There are a variety of low and high limits, so no matter what your budget or gambling style you will have fun at Poker Stars. Additionally, there are tournaments and plenty of different games to choose from.
    #9 Poker Site-Royal Vegas Poker
    Royal Vegas Poker is part of the Kahnawake gaming Commission and prides itself on high security and fast payouts. In addition, this online poker website offers 24/7 support, which is important if you are gambling for money. When you download the software and signup you will receive free money and a deposit bonus.
    #10 Poker Site-Titan Poker
    With Titan Poker you can download the software while simply browsing their website. Additionally, the site is secure and safe for processing your information not to mention it is licensed and regulated. There are a lot of different games available at all limits and payouts are fast. Fortunately, a credit card is not required to play poker on this site either. Enjoy playing for money or just for fun on Titanpoker.com.
    Check out one or all of these online poker websites and see which one is your favorite. However, keep in mind there are thousands of poker websites to choose from so always make sure you do a little research and know the site is legitimate and registered before you begin playing poker online.

    The Legality of Online Poker

    The topic of whether online poker is legal or illegal is frankly quite interesting. Typically, gambling is managed by each individual state, and as a result some states have legalized gambling and casinos and others do not. However, the internet is not something that can be managed by each state because it is global, there are no controls so to speak by individual countries, states, or governments on the Internet because it is like another world. But, back to the legality of poker online, a question that has no answer or many answers depending on how you look at it. There is no precedent set for gambling online, as a result there is no way to say that gambling online is legal, illegal, or none of the above. In fact, you could answer yes, no, or maybe, and be just as right with any of these answers. The Wire Act is one issues people say that makes gambling online illegal because it bans gambling by phone, however there is no precedent set that makes this statement valid regarding Internet gambling. As a result, while there are plenty of ways to infer gambling online is illegal, there is no way to prove so until a precedent is set. Setting a legal precedent requires someone being charged with playing online poker and then being found guilty. As of yet, not one single American soul out of the millions who play online poker each and every day has ever been charged, fined, or convicted of this act.
    You might find this information not very helpful because your question is whether or not you can safely play poker online and not worry about breaking the law or being subjected to prosecution or fines of any type. Well, there is no outright answer, which favors playing poker online because there is nothing saying you absolutely cannot play poker online. Even if your state does not have legalized gambling or casinos, you can still play poker online and not worry about the authorities catching you and giving you a ticket. At the moment in time, finding all the online poker players, and fining them is not the main goal of states, and until there is some definitive statement regarding online poker you should play your heart away. Additionally, the fact that no legal precedent exists regarding online poker means you really have nothing to worry about.
    However, if you are really concerned about the legality, or illegality, of playing poker online you should play and keep your ear out for any new information on the subject, or else avoid the game altogether because if you are so worried about the legality of online poker you won't really be able to enjoy playing the game.
    Online Poker Beginnings
    Poker and gambling has been popular for years, however many states have outlawed the activity relegating die hard fans to travel to the likes of Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or even the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina to play their beloved game. However, not everyone can afford to travel to one of these destinations to play poker, nor do individuals have the time to do so on a regular basis. So, what was the average person who loved poker supposed to do if his buddies couldn't play one Saturday night? Before online poker there were few options, now, no matter where you live you can play poker online to your hearts desire. You can play at night, in the morning, while eating lunch, or working as well. Online poker allows you to play your favorite game whenever and wherever you like!
    At first, people thought this was an amazing idea, but they were also very cautious as well because the Internet was new, there was little understanding on how one could actually win money in an online poker game and then receive the money, there was mistrust, and simply confusion. But, the poker websites started offering security measures, large bonuses, and benefits for online players and little by little individuals started playing poker online.
    The first players of online poker shared their success stories with friends and family members, as well as boasting about the security measures and the safety of playing online. This word of mouth advertising in addition to the advertising by the online poker sites really attracted new players and now in just a few short years online poker sites are some of the most popular sites on the web and there are people who play online poker every single day. If you had asked poker players 20 years ago what they thought of playing poker at home on a computer rather than in the casino you probably would have gotten some really strange looks and resounding negative responses. However, the age of the Internet has changed people and whether it is shopping, paying bills, or playing poker online the Internet is making everything easier and more accessible to the masses. Before, poker was a game of the wealthy who had the money to spend on a long vacation to a poker hot spot. Now, poker is a game of the every day man or woman that enjoys a hand of poker, but has neither the time nor the money to travel all over the country to play.

    Top Online Casino Payout Rates

    Most all top online casinos voluntarily subject themselves to regular audits (usually monthly) by a qualified and reputable third party firm, such as Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC). These audits generally focus on two aspects of the online casino's operations: their random number generator and their payout rates. The latter -- payout rates -- is the subject of this article.
    An online casino's payout rates are displayed as a percentage -- that being the percentage of incoming wagers that are paid out in winnings. As you can imagine, the higher the payout rates, the better. The top online casinos are often considered so, in part, precisely because they offer the highest payout rates.
    A top online casino with the highest payout rate in video poker may not have the best payout rate for slots. Payout rates vary within top online casinos for each individual game. If you're planning on joining a top online casino for a specific game -- be it poker, craps, baccarat, video poker, roulette, blackjack, slots, keno, or any other top online casino game -- check the top online casino's payout percentages for that specific game.
    Top Online Casino Payout Rates Overall: Grand Online Casino (98.42%), Golden Palace Online Casino (98.15%), Sands of the Caribbean (98.11%), USA Casino (98.09%), 32Red Casino (97.97%), Ladbrokes Casino (97.68%), Casino-on-Net (97.63%), InterCasino (97.13%).
    Top Online Casino Payouts for Slots: Slotland (98.00%), Casino Las Vegas (97.50%), Golden Palace Online Casino (97.18%), Royal Vegas Online Casino (96.59%), Aztec Riches Casino (96.51%), Yukon Gold Casino (96.31%), Shark Casino (96.49%), Casino Kingdom (96.15%), Ladbrokes Casino (96.03%).
    Top Online Casino Payouts for Video Poker: Jackpots in a Flash Casino (99.53%), Lucky Nugget Online Casino (99.11%), Crazy Vegas Casino (99.07%), Lucky Emperor Casino (99.03%), 7 Sultan Casino (99.00%), Royal Vegas Online Casino (98.77%), Swiss Casino (98.70%), Spin Palace (98.60%), RiverBelle Casino (98.59%), Roxy Palace Online Casino (98.58%).
    Top Online Casino Payout at Table Games: Casino Kingdom (99.62%), Mummys Gold Casino (99.52%), Aztec Riches Casino (99.22%), 3 Diamond Casino (99.19%), 49er Casino (99.10%), Casino Domain (99.01%), Challenge Casino (98.98%), Crazy Vegas Casino (98.91%), Cherry Casino (98.69%), Captain Cooks (98.57%).
    Top online casinos that get their payout rates audited will almost always publish the results of each audit on their website for anyone -- member or non-member -- to view. They'll even keep archives of all their past audits, also open to public viewing.

    Advantages of Playing Online Poker

    Getting involved in online poker games is a wonderful way of enabling you to play a great card game in the privacy of your own home. There are so many tremendous advantages to playing these poker games via the internet. First of all, it is convenient in that you do not have to drive a long distance or even short distance to a gaming facility as you will most likely only need to walk into the other room where your computer is set up. A second reason why online poker games are a great way to enjoy your card games is that the stakes may sometimes be a bit lower than if you were to proceed to gamble at a physical establishment. A third advantage of playing poker games online is that concentration is more readily available as you are not playing poker in a distracting atmosphere where other players are sitting to the left and right of you in sometimes overly close quarters. A fourth and important advantage to playing poker online is that you can play this fun game 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. Lastly, as gaming tables at casino establishments can sometimes be largely filled up, by playing online poker you will ultimately eliminate the wait that often exists at gaming tables in casinos.
    Convenience for the seasoned or beginner poker player is one of the many advantages of playing online poker. Even though gaming institutions are popping up in more and more places these days, it is still likely that you will have to drive a good distance to reach a casino. As a number of casinos will usually have ample parking, there will still be those instances where you will have to look around for awhile for a parking spot and sometimes even pay for your parking while you are inside the casino. By playing poker online at home you are able to completely disregard the notion of driving anywhere at all and can use your time more wisely as opposed to wasting it by driving to and from the gaming facility. Another plus with not having to drive to a gaming establishment is that you will save money on gasoline. Online poker is definitely for the convenience-lover.
    Lower stakes in the poker game are also an advantage of playing poker in an online setting. As individuals that play poker online are often beginners and are trying to learn the ins and outs of the game, low stakes poker games online make this type of table game a great place in which to learn without losing large amounts of money. In order to find the websites offering low stakes poker online, simply do a general search using a phrase such as "low stakes poker online" or "poker games online low stakes" and you will be met with a number of poker websites from which to choose the one you like best. Just be sure to thoroughly review the site prior to playing for safety reasons to make sure it is legitimate.
    A third advantage of playing the game of poker online is that concentration will be more focused and centered in the comfort of your own home. Sometimes when you are playing poker table games at a casino, or any type of table games for that matter, other players can be distracting and almost intrusive. With online poker, you are able to concentrate better thereby increasing your chances of winning. When people are unable to concentrate, they tend to make silly moves thereby losing more money than they might have had they been able to concentrate. Playing poker online enables you to be able to concentrate on the game at hand and eliminates any outside distractions that may be present within a casino setting.
    Having the availability of playing online poker 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is another wonderful advantage of playing a poker game in this manner. This is wonderful for the individual who likes to wait until later at night when the house is quiet and work is done for the day when he/she can sit down in front of the computer and enjoy a game or two of online poker. It doesn't matter what time of day it is as you are sure to find an online poker game in progress. Availability is a beneficial advantage to the poker game lover.
    Finally, playing online poker is a great way to ensure your place at a virtual gaming table. How many times have you driven to your local casino, or in some instances not so local casino, and found that you had to wait an unimaginable amount of time to secure a spot at a card table that was within your budget? My guess is quite a few of you have experienced this type of waiting game. By utilizing the availability of online poker websites you will be able to find a place at one of their virtual tables and no longer will you need to wait in line to enjoy some poker action. This may also help you to relax as sometimes waiting in lines can cause unnecessary anxiety and aggravation.
    These are just a few reasons why playing poker online is a great alternative to playing this game at a casino in your area. Not only is online poker convenient but it also allows you to concentrate on your game and increase your winnings. Additionally, it allows you to play this entertaining game for lower sums of money, thereby limiting any potential extreme losses. Also, you will never have to wait in a smoky, crowded casino area again looking for a table spot to open up. After hearing about all of the aforementioned reasons, why not give online poker a try and see for yourself all of the wonderful things that it has to offer. Chances are you will not be disappointed.

    Best Online Casinos and Bonuses

    After reviewing scads of online casino sites, we've started to get a real clear idea of what players are looking for in a site. The best online casinos offer a variety of gameplay (different types of slots, blackjack, roulette, etc.), a clean and intuitive lobby with ample stats, and a secure cashier with reliable payouts.
    Oh, and one other thing: freebies. The best online casino players are looking for the best odds, and getting something for nothing is about as good as they get. That's why, following our list of the best online casinos overall, we've also listed those sites that give the best bonuses, both matching/deposit bonuses and the "freest" of freebies, No Deposit Bonuses.
    Our research has concluded that these are the overall best online casinos: Golden Palace Online Casino, 7 Sultans Casino, InterCasino, Casino-on-Net, UK Casino Club, Black Jack Ballroom Casino, English Harbour Casino, Spin Palace Casino, and Casino Fortune.
    When looking at the best online casinos with No Deposit Bonuses, remember that No Deposit Bonuses come with wagering requirements that you must meet before you are permitted to withdraw them (or whatever's left of them after the wagering requirements have been met). Even the best online casinos with the best No Deposit Bonuses have wagering requirements so high that it'll be quite the challenge to keep the bonus fully intact before you've qualified to withdraw it.
    But if you go into these best online casinos with the intention of using their No Deposit Bonus to test their waters, to feel out the online casino and its patrons before deciding to commit your own hard-earned money to your chip stack, then you'll maximize your use of the No Deposit Bonus with no unrealistic expectations of actually pocketing the bulk of that $10 or $15 at the end of the day.
    The best online casinos with no deposit bonuses that we've found include the following: At 25 pounds sterling, Gaming Club Online Casino; followed by $25 (Jackpot City Online Casino), $16 (Captain Cooks Casino, Casino Kingdom, Miami Paradise Casino), $15 (7 Sultans Casino, Aces High Casino, Piggs Peak Casino and Sci Fi Casino).
    It's much easier, however, to walk away from the best online casinos with some of your deposit bonus/matching bonus intact. As the wagering requirements are typically more reasonable for the bonuses that do require a deposit first, you can really make an entrance whenever you sit down at any new online casino's tables for the first time backed by an intimidating chip stack.
    The best online casino bonuses we've found include the following: $200 bonus for a $50 deposit (Lucky Nugget Online Casino, AllJackpotsCasino and Gaming Club Online Casino); $300 bonus for a $100 deposit (Golden Palace Casino, Aspinalls Casino); $150 bonus for a $50 deposit (Spin Palace Casino); $90 bonus for a $50 deposit (VIP Casino); $250 bonus for a $125 deposit (Lasseters Online Casino); and $200 bonus for a $100 deposit (Captain Cooks Casino and Royal Vegas Online Casino).
    Of course, bonuses and bonus structures are changing all the time, and which casino is truly the best online casino is up to you, the player. What's important to you at an online casino? Certain games? Certain stakes? Promotions? Atmosphere/ambience? Celebrity endorsement? Heck, the best online casino for you may not even be on these lists, but we've at the very least given you a jumpstart on your search and a solid guidepost by which to gauge any other online casinos you investigate.

    The Online Poker Rigged Debate - Revealing Both Sides

    As with any controversy, argument or debate, there are always two sides of the story. In this expose we will reveal both sides of the online poker rigged debate, and let you decide the truth.
    Online Poker Is Rigged
    Browsing forums, chatboards and even poker sites themselves, one can always find plenty of players claiming that online poker is rigged. Yet few of these posters are able to give real concrete proof that online poker is rigged. Responses such as 'rigtards' or 'you play badly' come from opponents of the argument, yet they also fail to provide proof.
    The actual proof is not so much in the fact of whether the sites are fixed, the real proof is in the way in which poker sites deal and shuffle, thereby creating poker hands that appear to be outside of the statistical norm as opposed to live poker.
    First let us examine the ways in which all poker rooms deal and shuffle their cards. Since it is a computerized game, and lacks real human intervention in the shuffling and dealing, they must use a software program to do the job of a poker dealer. That software is commonly referred to as a random number generator (RNG).
    Now most people will accept the fact that a RNG is truly a fair and honestly random way to deal and shuffle a deck of cards,. However, the fact is that a RNG lacks the ability to truly be random. Randomness, by definition, is the absence of any such order, in other words, if I were to ask you to give me 20 different alphanumeric symbols for a password, you could easily create a RANDOM sequence (such as 45tsk3uyeasa9j2udt1), and that password would clearly and truly be a random number as there is obviously no ORDER in the way you selected it. (Your brain simply rattled off 20 random numbers and letters).
    On the other hand, if I use a software program, such as a hardware random number generator entropy source (a popular way sites 'deal and shuffle' decks) to create the 20 character password, it WILL have some order to it as a computer program is restricted in its ability to truly choose a random sequence. Although poker sites will claim that their software is highly unpredictable and no person or program could truly crack poker, the truth remains the RNG is NOT and can NOT, by any scientific definition, be random.
    Furthermore, in an effort to prevent anyone from cracking the RNG and gaining an unfair advantage, every poker site uses additional poker algorithms with the specific design of preventing a player from continuously winning poker hand after hand. This was accomplished in response to the Absolute Poker scandal wherein a player, using inside information, dominated a $1000 buy in tourney and won every single hand in the tourney except the first two.
    The fact that internet poker uses a computerized mathematical function to create an appearance of randomness combined with additional poker algorithms to prevent players from winning consistently certainly lends credibility to the Online Poker is rigged debate.
    Online Poker Is NOT Rigged
    Those that claim online poker is not rigged will point to the fact that hand histories reflect the true statistical odds of the game and combined with the poor playing style of many players is what actually results in why too many suckouts occur in online poker.
    In addition, these debaters will add that a poker site would not jeopardize their relationship with customers or their profits by rigging the games. Although online poker is a multi-billion dollar industry, the bottom line is their profit margin and keeping customers or creating new customers.
    Most of the online poker is not rigged arguments come from those that have faith in the RNG and the integrity of the internet poker sites themselves. However, no concrete proof has ever been offered from anyone on the online poker is not rigged side as to the truth about whether the poker sites are rigged or not. In fact every major poker site, such as pokerstars or full tilt poker will simply state that they are certified by auditing concerns as to the integrity of the software.
    Yet definitive proof that shows their poker algorithms and software for examination by outside sources is lacking. In addition, the poker rooms will not offer complete hand histories of all poker hands dealt on their site for analysis by outside sources. Therefore, the 'Internet poker is not rigged' side of the debate expects all players to just take their word for it, that the poker sites are being fair and honest.
    You decide! Take their word for it that they are fair and honest or examine scientific proof that online poker is rigged.
    Paul Westin is a professional poker player on several online poker sites and a former software engineer for a gaming company.
    His latest research on poker code algorithms reveals the inner workings of the online poker sites and how the software programs used on the pokersites affect the outcome of your play.

    Online Casino Review - Select Your Best Online Casino

    Online Casino Review can be more delivate than what you think.
    When choosing an online casino you may want to play the best online casino, where you will find the online casino game that fits better to your abilities and expectations, but for that you have to consider some points:
    1. Is that online casino a reliable one?
    2. Do that online casino have free online casino games?
    3. Will you receive an online casino bonus?
    4. Are you sure this online casino is one of the best online casinos to select?
    5. Can you play in your language on that online casino, whether you like playing online casino in english or spanish, italian japanesse or french?
    The best online casino is not one specifically, is the online casino that will satisfy you... yo ucan choose a reliable online casino with big online casino bonuses, or a casino online with a cowboy look-n-feel, or the one with most diverse kind of online casino games, or maybe you just want to find an online casino to play with other online casino players.
    Whichever your decision is, I encourage you to go over the best online casino reviews and top online casino directory listings and find the best online casino.

    How to Beat a Poker Bot in Online Poker

    The latest rage by poker aficionados and programmers is to create and use a poker bot that will automatically play online poker with little or no human interaction, with the ultimate goal of winning money. This recent craze has alarmed both online poker sites and players as the fear of a computer program with the capacity to win online poker will essentially be able to outsmart live thinking players of their hard-earned money and eventually rob the poker sites of quality players afraid to play against so many poker bots.
    A recent industry study concluded that 12% of online poker players were apprehensive about or had completely stopped playing online poker in light of the recent poker bot craze. That essentially sends players offline rather than risk their money against these new computer-generated poker bots.
    However, there are several ways to beat a poker bot in online poker, and knowing these methods will certainly give the human player back the edge against poker bots. One fact that makes a poker bot a better player is that they lack the human emotion or power of reasoning that a human must use when playing online poker. A poker bot is not apt to go on 'tilt' or get angry when they are the victims of a bad beat.
    In playing online poker, human players are up against two major advantages. One is the computer generated code created by the poker sites to determine shuffles, deals and outcomes of a hand, while the other disadvantage, just as dangerous to your bankroll, is the poker bot, that is pre-programmed with all the statistics and probabilities of the game.
    Nevertheless, you can use the computer-generated codes of the poker sites and poker bots against them if you understand how they work. A poker bot is confined to making decisions based solely on the play of the game with regard to its statistical analysis of poker. In other words, a poker bot will only make decisions based on known patterns in the game.
    Moreover, the online poker sites, which actively attempt to detect and thwart the efforts of poker bot programmers and users, have implemented a counter-measure to the poker bots, using the same known patterns. By implementing a counter measure to the poker bots, a poker site is able to ensure that a poker bot will not win since the poker bots actions are predictable and confined to a skill-set directly related to statistical odds and probability.
    This, as confusing as it may seem, actually works to the advantage of the human player. While the poker site's software is actively seeking the poker bot patterns and attempting to detect who is a human and who is a computer generated bot script, they also inadvertently implemented a flaw which allows a human player to take advantage of the online poker sites weakness.
    In reality, this has resulted in a human player having the ability to not only beat the poker bot, but beat human opponents as well. By following a set pattern that the online poker sites are using, an advantage is created for anyone who is aware of that pattern. This pattern is known as a sequential algorithm and that algorithm dramatically has changed the poker game online to force wins and losses in a set, specific and predictable pattern.
    It is not only plausible to beat a poker bot; it is easily accomplished by recognizing the patterns used by online poker sites. These patterns are simple to learn and require little skill by a human player. So the next time you think about playing poker online, consider using the codes and algorithms created by the poker site to your advantage. They are there to prevent the poker bots from winning, but not you!

    Online Casinos

    Casinos rise and fall faster than you can blink an eye. The first casino was opened in 1941 on the Los Vegas strip; however by 1992 all of those casinos had been demolished to make way for new modern casinos. Online it has been the same evolution with casinos sprouting around every corner of cyberspace. These have come and gone faster than the click of your mouse. But how did this start?
    Let's start with Google the internet search engine. Type in online casino and it brings back more than 27 million websites. The shear volume for the term online casino reflects how many people have vested interests in the gaming industry and how popular online casinos have become. The first online casinos first made their appearance during 1996 and a mere US$17 million was wagered, compared to US$3 billion by 2000.
    It is estimated today that more than a trillion dollars gets spent online each year with online casinos worldwide. Bear Stearns, a leading worldwide investment banking and securities trading and brokerage firm, estimates that during 2003 more than US$ 6 billion had been spent on online casinos by US gamblers alone! With the growing adoption of broadband internet this online pool of gamblers increases each year.
    With online casinos there has also been the expansion of online advertising to gamblers, which according to the BBC places gambling advertisers as the fifth largest advertisers on the internet. Online casinos make use of two types of software. Those that you can download and install onto your computer and the true online casinos where you gamble on the interface of the online casinos web page. Each party makes their choices of how they wish to interact online. With all this sophisticated software, how do online casinos compare to your average brick and mortar casino? Each has their advantages. In an online casino you can play more than one poker game at a time or even gamble on more than one game at a time. In a normal casino this would not be physically possible. The advantage of any real casino compared to an online casino is that you can always judge the physical reaction of the players around the table.
    With an online casino it is impersonal and you would never be able to guess the cards the other person is holding. Online casinos have made great strides in trying to mimic the feel of a real casino in the fashion of the bricks and mortar casinos. They have flashy web pages and music to lure you to play. Domain names in it self have become a big issue with the purchase of misspelled domain names for online casinos.
    A recent dispute with the domain name of Sportsodds springs to mind. This domain name was registered by their competitor to drive traffic to the competitor's webpage's. This ended in a legal dispute. Online casinos are big business judging from the amount of money that gets placed on bets and by the amount of money being spent on it. Where there is big money, there will always be disputes.
    Online casinos are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they are accessible from anywhere in the world. Casinos use to be down the road or in your next big town. That has changed in the 21st century. With the advent of online casinos the casino is now in your home. Better yet, if you are reading this, you are already at the casinos doorstep. What is stopping you from placing your bet at an online casino today and joining millions of others?

    Online Poker Players- Top 10 List

    Isaac westmenloAA Baron
    Isaac Baron is widely recognized as one of the best tournament and cash game players in online poker.  In 2007, Isaac was named the CardPlayer Online Player of The Year.  In his poker career, Isaac Baron has pocketed more than $3,000,000 in prize money, captured 13 titles, and become one of the most well-known online poker players.  The most prestigious of Isaac's victories came in the PokerStars Sunday Million, Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee, and PokerStars $200 Rebuy events.  Although Baron has begun to focus his attentions more on cash games and live tournament action, he is still a threat to take down any tournament he enters.  A recent European Poker Tour Final Table appearance netted Isaac Baron nearly $1,000,000, and solidifies his place as one of the best online or live tournament poker players.
    Alex AJKHoosier1 Kamberis
    With over $3,300,000 in career poker winnings, AJKHoosier1 is undeniably on the shortlist of best online poker players.  Alex started playing poker in 2006 and after a solid start to his career in 2007, he exploded onto the poker scene in 2008 with just under 2.8 million dollars in tournament winnings. 
    In 2008, AJKHoosier1 was the CardPlayer Online Player of the Year, and has already accrued 122 cashes and 9 titles in his short career.  As with many of the dominant online poker player, Alex has started branching out in live poker tournaments, and will certainly be a tough out in any live or online poker tournament he enters.
    Shaundeeb
    Shaun Deeb is the current leader in the CardPlayer Online Player of the Year race, and has been one of the top online poker players for the past few years.  Deeb recently took down the $75,000 Guarantee and has 2nd place finishes in the PokerStars Super Tuesday and Full Tilt Poker Sunday Brawl.  In his poker career, Shaun Deeb has already accumulated more than 2,000,000 in tournament winnings, 20 poker titles, and an amazing 120 cashes.  Deeb is not only extremely talented, but is known as a poker grinder, reportedly playing 30 tournaments a day on average. 
    Annette_15
    Annette Obrestad has already etched her name into poker history with  a victory at 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.  The fact that Annette_15 is still not old enough to enter live poker tournaments in the United States, makes her $3,400,000 in career poker tournament winnings even more impressive.  Annette Obrestad has also famously won a 180 person sit n go while only peaking at her cards once.  Among the other legendary tales of Annette_15, is that she has turned money won from freerolls into millions of dollars without ever making a deposit with an online poker site.  Annette_15 has not repeated her earlier tournament dominance in the past two year, but the legend will undoubtedly continue to grow.
    Kevin BeL0WaB0Ve Saul
    Kevin BeL0WaB0Ve Saul is known as one of the most dominant forces in early online poker tournaments.  Kevin Saul parlayed his early online success into a $1,3000,000 payout at the 2007 Bellagio Cup and a WPT title.  BeL0WaB0Ve and a small group of tournament players began playing hyper-aggressively and dominating the online poker tournament circuit a couple years ago.  The rest of the online tournament fields were forced to change their style of play, and the end-result is that tournament players utilize more 3 and 4bet bluffs and have loosened up their raising and calling ranges significantly.  BeL0WaB0Ve helped to move tournament poker to the next level, and usually busts early or contends for the title.  Kevin Saul's dominance at online poker may be disappearing, but figures to be a force on the live tournament poker scene.
    Jon PearlJammer Turner
    After a humble beginning to his career in 2005 and 2006, Jon PearlJammer Turner has turned into one of the best live and online tournament poker players.  PearlJammer has over $2,000,000 in career poker winnings, and is currently ranked highly in both the live and online Player of The Year Leaderboards.  Jon impressed the folks at Full Tilt Poker enough to receive a sponsorship deal and is listed in red on the website as Full Tilt Professional.  In addition to his 9 career victories, PearlJammer has 138 cashes, including two final tables at 2009 World Series of Poker.  Jon is a well-rounded player and excels in mixed games as well as No-Limit Hold'em.  PearlJammer could be a dual threat for years to come with the chance at winning the Player of the Year and Online Player of the Year awards.  In 2008, PearlJammer and fellow online studs Eric Rizen Lynch and Jon Apestyles Van Fleet released Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time, Volume I, a book on online tournament strategy. 
    Steve Gboro780 Gross
    Gboro780 is currently the 2nd ranked player in the 2009 CardPlayer Online Player of the Year Race.  Gboro780 has quickly ascended to the top of online poker world and has nearly $2,000,000 in career poker tournament winnings to his name.  The bulk of Steve Gross's money has been won in 2008 and 2009, with nearly 1 million dollars earned each year.  There have been a lot of player in the past five years that have been shooting stars and then moved onto great fame and fortune in live tournaments or fizzled out completely, but Gboro780 has consistently been one of the best online poker players the past couple years.  Gboro780 has 16 wins to his name and an astounding 124 career cashes to date.  The sky is the limit for this player, and there might just be an online player of the year award in his future. 
    Adam Roothlus Levy
    Roothlus gained poker popularity at the 2008 World Series of Poker with his deep finish in the Main Event and his interactions with the Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth.   Adam has nearly $2,000,000 in poker winnings including 112 cashes and 4 titles to date.  Roothlus has pulled of some of the most impressive feats in online poker tournament history with 2 final tables in a 5 week period of time and the PokerStars Sunday Millions.  The size of the Sunday Millions regularly breaks 5,000 entrants and the only tournament comparable in size is the WSOP Main Event, and Roothlus has routinely cashed and final tabled some of the biggest tournaments.
    JohnnyBax
    Cliff JohnnyBax Joseph
    One of the best known online poker players ever is JohnnyBax.  Early in JohnnyBax's career, he was considered one of if not the best poker players in online poker tournaments.  Josephy started his online career in 2004 and has routinely been ranked atop the online player of the year rankings.  Although his attentions have turned to his own poker training site, PokerXFactor, JohnnyBax's 2005 World Series of Poker bracelet, $2,700,000 in career winnings, and legendary status as one online pokers original stars will continue to have him rank as one of the legends of the online game.
    Darrell Gigabet Dicken
    Gigabet is arguably the best known online poker player ever.  Gigabet began his online career dominating the online tournament fields, before turning his attentions to live poker tournaments.  Deep runs in World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour Events in the past couple years confirmed that his abilities are easily adaptable to live poker as well.  Gigabet has won 4 titles, including a WSOP Circuit Event victory and WPT Championship.  Between 2005 and 2007, Gigabet dominated the online poker scene, but the past couple years has significantly cut back on his tournament participation and is no longer a threat to win Online Player of the Year awards.  Gigabet is still a legend in the online poker community, but should be a live threat in any tournament he participates in.

    Why It Is Beneficial To Gamble At Online Casinos

    In the early 90's, way before online casinos were prevalent, I enjoyed a great game of Roulette at one of my favorite land casinos three or four times a week. These days, I don't even have to leave the comforts of my own home to get in on the real action.
    With the beginning of online casinos during the mid-90's, and shortly there after, their popularity has catapulted them into the most popular form of online entertainment all over the world. Currently, online casino gambling facilities are debuting every week it seems.
    Compared to the typical land casino, you will find that playing at online casinos has its numerous advantages. In fact, we have compiled just a few of the many benefits to playing online. Take a look:
    Play Any Time, Anywhere
    If you have Internet capabilities, you have your pick at hundreds of that never close. No matter where you are on the planet, you can play at Internet casinos for real money. What's more, these virtual casinos have many excellent game choices that even the most discerning player will find himself entertained and even capable of winning a lot of cash.
    No Need To Dress A Certain Way
    Some land casinos tend to have dress codes to bet large amounts of money. Now, you can even play the formal version of Baccarat in your bath robe if you want to. No need to dress to impress, you will be playing in the privacy of your own home. No one will mind your look what so ever. Now you can even where that hideous but very lucky poker cap you love so much without people staring.
    No Problem With Weather Or Climate
    Playing at online casinos will put a stop to your disdain of Las Vegas summer heat. Rain or shine, you can be rest assured that you can get into an online casino without having to carry an umbrella or heavy overcoat. Remember, you don't have to embark on any trip to a casino. You can sit in your favorite comfortable chair at home during sleet, snow or sunshine and log on to a great adventure.
    Travel Not Required
    Many people who love to gamble do not have the luxury of living in Vegas or even want to go there. With the wonderful new world of online casino gambling, you will save precious time and money by playing right from home. The money you save from not having to travel can be turned into a bigger bank-roll for you to budget. The time you save from travel could be money in the bank, too.
    The Personal Safety Factor
    When playing at online casinos, you don't have to worry about unknowingly dropping your money or chips on the ground and walking off only to realize that you lost a lot of money. You can also feel at ease that no one will be out to take physical advantage of you when playing online. Playing from home, you will be one one's easy target either. These days, women are playing more online casino games and winning some of the Internet's top jackpots, many female players feel more confident at home than they tend to at land casinos by themselves.
    The Ever Present Smoking Issues
    With more people concerned about playing in smoky environments, playing at home is an obvious advantage. Plus, those of you that do enjoy smoking will be able to do so without any flack from others. These days, many land casinos don't allow smoking in their poker rooms either. Statistically, many regular casino gamblers are heavy smokers, if this is a problem for you, being at home will ensure a good environment for you.
    Crowd Control
    We all know gambling is the new favorite past time. Land casinos get real busy. Sometimes it is very difficult to find a table game or slot machine in your play-range - not so at home. Many players are intimidated by crowds. New and even seasoned players down like people ogling there game-play. Online casinos provide the privacy and confidence you will want. It is always nice to sit at home and play at your own crowd-free pace.
    Games Selection
    As we mentioned already, online casino provide just about any game you could possibly want to wager on. They offer even more than your typical casino on land, too. Think of just about any type of theme for a slot machine, you will find it online. Online casinos are always looking to offer more casino game all the time. You will not get bored.
    Deposit and Withdraw Methods
    If you play at casinos on land, you must use cash to start game play. Casinos on the Net provide a complete selection of funding or deposit methods to start you playing. Credit card use is permitted and accepted most often. Not having to use cold hard cash only provides you with more funding choices than casino on land will provide.
    Free Game Play
    Just about any online casino will allow players set up a dummy accounts where you can practice and become familiar to the software and games without using real money. You can always practice until you feel absolutely ready to wager real money. Being able to test the waters for free is a great advantage to online casino game playing. Confident players are good players.
    Free Money Bonuses
    Yes, money fro nothing. Most all online casinos now offer you a free cash deposit. Some are known as sign-on bonuses here if you deposit a certain amount of money the casino will match it the first time (up to a certain limit) these types of bonuses tend to be in the hundreds of dollars. Other types of free money amounts can be anything from 20 - 50 dollars, and even much more depending on your initial deposit - so be sure to check out good online casino reviews.
    There You Have It.
    Are you convinced? You should be. The above advantages to playing online are just a few of the many reasons you will want to play at home. These are the focal reasons why I love playing from my own home. In my vast experience playing online casino games fro real money, I believe these reasons are more than enough to keep me away from the typical casinos on land all over the world.
    If you are not yet convinced and you would rather venture into a crowded, smoky, germ laden gambling hall, I still wish you much luck. One thing to consider when heading back to a typical big city casino is that without even having to open your front door, you can open other doors to winning cash.

    Online Poker Tools are to Online Poker Cheats, as Vitamins are to Steroids

    Online Poker Tools will help improve your play. Online Poker Cheats may improve your play. Online Poker Tools are legal to use at Online Poker Rooms. Online Poker Cheats are illegal and when detected your account will be closed, your money seized.
    Online Poker Tools defined
    An Online Poker Tool is any device that a player uses to assist or help play Online Poker. Online Poker Tools conform to the Terms and Conditions of the Online Poker Room. Technically, a pad and calculator could be an Online Poker Tool. Most Poker Tools are software that is used before, during, or after play.
    Online Poker Cheats described
    Generally speaking, an Online Poker Cheat is any Software/Program that when utilized, breaches the Terms and Conditions of your Online Poker Room. Most reputable Poker Rooms' Terms and Conditions provide a description of banned practice, as well as a citation of specifically banned software. Online Poker Robots are a subset of Online Poker Cheats.

    Where is the Cheating Line?
    Where is the cheating line between Online Poker Tools and Online Poker Cheats? The line exists where your Online Poker Room sets it. Although Cheat creators like to argue about it - for better or worse - the Poker Room holds all the chips on this issue (pardon the pun). When you initiate an account with a Poker Room, you agree to their terms and conditions. What they call a cheat, is by default a cheat.
    Cheats tend to fester in three areas - data mining, card prediction, and automated play.
    Data mining - is where a Software/Program assimilates historical information for use during or after play. In general, it is okay to use information saved from hands you've played in. For hands that you haven't played in, the use of Cheats to gather historical information is illegal. The process of repetitive data mining is done by Robots.
    Card prediction - some programs insist they have broken the code on the random number generators used by Poker Rooms. Statistically speaking, this is unlikely. These Programs are illegal.
    Automated play - any Program that takes the player out of the loop of play (where the program plays a complete hand without a player click) is illegal. Automated players are often called Robots.

    How Prevalent are Online Poker Tools and Online Poker Cheats?
    Any guessing on the prevalence of Tools or Cheats can at best be described as a ballpark guess.
    Online Poker Tools are growing at a rapid rate, and because of their legality, their growth is unchecked. It is estimated that 17% of Online Poker Players use Online Poker Tools.
    Online Poker Cheats exist in a fast moving battle zone. The battle zone exists between their Creators and the Poker Rooms. Once a Cheat achieves popularity, Poker Rooms respond and install counter measures. It may be estimated that less then 1% of Players are attempting to use Online Poker Cheats.

    Conclusions
    The Online Poker Player has many options available to improve their play. These options include Online Poker Tools and Online Poker Cheats. The decision of Tools or Cheats is not too dissimilar then the choice that athletes have to improve their game - Vitamins or Steroids? For most of us who play to improve their games, for leisure and fun - Online Poker Tools adequately fit the bill! Of course there are those few out there that will continually explore the shadows for a 'perceived' temporary edge. For those few, Online Poker Cheats come and go.