Just a few years ago, if you wanted to gamble you had to head to a gambling town like Las Vegas or Atlantic City. If these options were not available to you then you just had to use what ever 'resources' you may find locally - which tended to be somewhat illicit if you can find them! These days gambling is definitely an international pastime and casinos, card rooms, and bingo halls can be found in every county and country on this planet.

Given that such widespread gambling is a relatively new phenomenon, many gamblers question the reasoning for internet gambling. Some feel that online gambling lacks the excitement, sociability and regulation of land-based casinos. While online gambling does have some limitations, it does have an awful lot to offer.

Many online games offer players higher average payout schedules as well as a wider variety of betting limits. Players can also check to determine which games are paying out the most, switch between many different kinds of sports - horse racing, slots, poker, bingo, and discover ways to play new games (without money bets) in the privacy of their home, before unleashing themselves on unsuspecting fellow players for money!

Online players often improve odds than they would find in 'real' casinos. A prime example of this is in roulette - the American roulette wheel has 38 numbered slots: 1 to 36, a zero and a double-zero, which gives the home edge 5.26 percent. However internet sites offer the European version of roulette, which has only 37 slots: 1 to 36 plus a zero, which gives a more favourable-to-the-punter house edge of 2.7 percent. It really is a similar story with slots, in that online casinos offer higher average payouts than real casinos. You can also check out each site's monthly payout percentages for each sort of game, giving you an even greater advantage.

There are actually 'play for free' options on just about any game online. These give beginners and even more experienced players the opportunity to ready or better themselves without risking any money that may be better spent whenever you really determine what you are doing in the game.

All prizes from online casinos are money! Land-based casinos offer free meals etc, but online you are guaranteed money prizes including sign up bonuses, match bonuses, high roller bonuses, player coupons and VIP clubs, and often there is something on offer for new and returning players.

While poker, casino games and sports betting on events like the Grand National will be the most common form of gambling online, you will find lots of other forms of betting - keno, horse racing, lotteries, chess, pool - you name it and you will be able to bet on it online.

Internet gambling will be extremely convenient - you can gamble from home, during your lunch break, on a train journey.... anywhere that has internet access. Not only that, there's also a never ending stream of tournament action. Some gamblers don't like the idea of online gambling because they fear that they're going to be alone with no access to assistance. In contrast, all reputable sites have hosts which provide exceptional customer care, the best of which is live chat and /or emails. And also the hosts for information, many sites have discussion boards or chat rooms, where you might make friends and receive invaluable advice and tips from other players.