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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
LIST OF VIRTUAL GAMBLING SITES-REVIEWS AND COMMENTS-ALWAYS UPDATED
Please post your comments on virtual gambling by email to:james@netcore.ca
What is on-line or virtual gambling?
What are the legal implications for U.S. residents?
Where are the virtual casinos located?
What is the difference between a download site and direct play?
Is it better to set up an account through credit card or sent them a money order?
Who regulates virtual casinos?
FAQ
Q: What is on-line or virtual gambling?
A: Exactly what it says. It is an on-line (virtual) Internet connection to a site that basically turns your home computer into a full fledged gambling casino. You can gamble on-line, in real time, for real money, from your personal computer. The amount of realism is only limited by your imagination and the software used by the on-line gambling house.
A: There are literally dozens of on-line casinos and sports-books. Click the following link to see a partial list. Virtual Gambling Sites List
A: At present most sites offer slots, blackjack, keno, roulette, craps, and video poker. For a complete rundown of games offered by individual casinos, click to the individual casino page from this list. Virtual Gambling Sites List
A: Some virtual casinos offer chips as low as one cent. (2000 chips for $20.00). This is a boon to the small bettor. Some require a minimum deposit to open an account. The sports books vary but generally they have higher minimum bets. Check the individual page for complete information. Virtual Gaming Sites List
Q: What are the legal implications for U. S. residents?
A: This question is being hotly debated by legislators, lawyers, and law enforcement. Strictly speaking it is illegal for U. S. residents to gamble over a wire (telephone). This would seem to proscribe Internet gambling. However, most Internet casinos are physically located outside the United States in countries where their activities are completely legal. Technically, their activities lie outside the jurisdiction of the U. S. authorities. The reality is that the federal government does not have the time, the manpower or the inclination (for now) to pursue individual gamblers who use their home or office computers to gamble on the Internet. Some operators are unsure of the legal implications themselves and bar residents of certain states. Some casinos exclude all US residents. For a more detailed discussion of this subject jump to Legal Issues
Q: Where are the virtual casinos located?
A: All over the world, but mostly in the Caribbean. There are some in the South Pacific and some sites are even planned for the United States.
A: In all probability the federal government will come under pressure by various interests; casino operators, religious groups, the horse racing lobbies, and others, to stamp out virtual gambling. However, I believe they will have as much success in eliminating virtual gambling as they did in wiping out on line pornography. In other words, virtual gambling will continue to grow like crazy no matter what the government tries to do.
Q: How do I set up an account?
A: It is fairly simple, but, if you go the download route, you will need some computer savvy. Click through to the casino site of your choice. Feel free to use the links found on the individual pages Virtual Gambling Sites List. You will be able to click through to registration. You will be asked to provide the usual information, name, address, age, etc. The casino will require that you deposit some money either by credit card debit or by mailing a cheque or money order or wire transfer. Some sites require you to download their software. Others allow you to play immediately without downloading. You will be issued an account number and a password and depending on how you open your account, they will set you up to gamble immediately, or in a week or two.
Q: What is the difference between a download site and direct play?
A: It is a trade off between realism and ease of use. The download software provides more bells and whistles in terms of audio and video. It is decidedly more realistic. The direct route is quicker and simpler and is much easier to use. If you are able to install and deal with sometimes balky software, and think the extra realism is worth it, go for the download.
Q: Is it better to set up an account through credit card or send them a money order?
A: I believe the credit card set up gives you more protection. To debit your account the casino must set up a relationship with a bank that deals with your credit card issuer (visa, MasterCard, AMEX etc.). A really bad actor would have some trouble with this step. An operator who was in the habit of defrauding people or issuing phoney credit card debits would soon be denied credit card privledges.
Q: Who regulates virtual casinos?
A: No one. To quote Algore, there is no controlling legal authority.
Q: How do I choose a reputable virtual casino from the dozens that advertise on the net? How do I know who will pay off?
A: This is the $64,000 question, and one I hope to partially answer as this site evolves. Right now the virtual casino business is wide open. Look for sites that are user friendly, and offer a lot of customer support, especially if they are download sites. Look for sites with strong banking references. Avoid sites that make wild or unverifiable claims. Carefully read the terms and conditions that are posted BEFORE you register at a site. I would advise users from the Americas to avoid European sites for now. There are plenty of legitimate sites in this hemisphere. They will run faster, and seem, generally, better run and laid out. Visitors are welcome to post their experiences with on line gambling casinos on this site so that we can build some sort of empirical database to help guide people towards the honest operators and away from the crooks. I will be providing links through the individual casino pages indexed at Virtual Gambling Sites List. I will only provide links to casinos that have received no legitimate complaints AND that PAY OFF WINNERS.
Anthony Cabot: "Gambling on the Internet (very extensive)"
FSU-Cyberlaw: "Regulators Vexed"
University of Miami Law School: "Is Internet Gambling Illegal?"
FMEW&G: Horseracing and the Internet"
Los Angeles Daily News: "Virtual Casinos Test Legal Limits"
Detroit News: "Gaming Firms Consider Web Casinos Sure Bet"
Ethos News: "Online gambling causes concern in the U.S."
C-Net: "Net Gambling called Pandora's Box"