The Pros and Cons of Online Gambling

The Pros...

Concentration factor...
This is one for the serious gamblers out there. Traditional casinos are loud, bright and busy, with constant distractions to all of your senses. This is great if your there for the novelty of the casino environment, but no so good if you want to play seriously and concentrate on your chosen game strategy. One of the benefits of playing online, is that you dictate what environment you want to play in. You can concentrate in the total quiet of you study if concentration is important to your gambling style.

Built in information resource...
Don't know the basic strategy of a certain game? Or not sure which casino games return the most to the player when played optimally? Playing online means that all of this information is at your fingertips as you play. The Internet is without doubt the largest information resource in the world, and there are some great gambling information resources out there (your looking at one now!). This Pro is especially relevant to sports betting.

Before you place a bet you can:
· Check the best odds available online at an online odds comparison service
· Check past results and team form at any one of thousands of sports almanac sites
· check expert tipsters opinions at any one of thousands of handicapping sites...

Convenience...
Probably the most obvious pro. I mean if we could all click our fingers and be at Vegas when we felt like having a punt we would, but this is just not possible. The costs (both time and money) and hassles associated with getting to a terrestrial casino are significant, even if you live reasonably close to one.

Privacy...
Online casinos allow you to play your chosen game in private, without the distractions of a busy gaming room. And you never face the annoyance of not being able to play because the tables offering a minimum bet acceptable to you are full. Of course should you want to interact with others, you can do this provided you play at a multi-play casino, but otherwise it is just you and the dealer.

Transaction record...
When you play online, your account balance, and therefore your net win or loss at any given point of time is clearly displayed to you. You know exactly how much you have won or lost, and (at a good casino) how you have won or lost it, as play history reports are readily available. By comparison, the typical terrestrial casino experience is less controlled and transparent.

You control speed of play...
Playing online allows you to completely control the speed of game play. You will never feel rushed by impatient gamblers, and can think long and hard about your next move before making it. I used to play online blackjack with a basic strategy matrix sitting in front of me, taking my time to select the correct play for each deal so that I played faultless basic strategy.

Range of options available...
Anyone who ever says that online casinos or sportsbooks are not as comprehensive as their land based counterparts has not played online. While it is true that there is a wide divergence in the offering of online operators, the more comprehensive casinos and sportsbooks offer everything the largest terrestrial casino or bet shop would offer and more. Some online sportsbooks offer hundreds of bet lines daily, while some casinos offer over 70 different games.

Practice for free...
Almost all online casinos offer unlimited free play of their games. This gives you a great opportunity to either learn how to play a particular game, or to familiarise yourself with the casinos game software. Few traditional casinos offer customers a free play option.

Great graphics...
If you haven't played at an online casino you will be amazed at the realistic 3D graphics and smooth simulated games that are offered. This applies especially to casinos which license software from the industries leading casino software developers such as Cryptologic, Microgaming, and Boss Media.

Bonuses...
One of the most powerful attributes of the internet is its ability to present users with many easily accessible options in a given area of enquiry. This promotes strong competition between web businesses competing for new customers, and as a consequence, great deals for those customers. The online casino industry is no exception, with almost 2000 casinos competing fiercely for their share of the online gambling market by offering great sign up bonuses. It is not unusual for internet casinos to offer 100% sign up bonuses...ie deposit $100 and you get given $100 free. Casinos offering over $100 in initial deposit bonuses, include: Fortune Room Royal Vegas Lucky Nugget Orbital Casino

Audited returns...
One for the skeptics out there. Many online casinos now have their return to player rates audited by big 5 accounting firms (most notably PriceWaterhouseCoopers). You can therefore see how much players were returned in prior months at these casinos. Returns are generally verified in the range 96% to 99% at these casinos, proving that the returns offered by these casinos are every bit as good, if not better, than those offered at any terrestrial casino.

The Cons...