Online casinos have now become an alternative to land-based casinos thanks to the net as well as the development of betting software. Although not particularly new, quite a number of people still have questions about online betting. Here are several frequently asked questions about this net-based activity.

How did online gambling begin?

The development of gambling software may be traced back around 1990s where Microgaming developed the first fully functional gambling software. Later in 1994, Antigua and Barbuda, a country within the Caribbean area passed the Free Trade and Processing act that granted licenses to organizations applying to open online casinos. The act was strengthened by the development of software by CryptoLogic that was geared towards securing various transactions happening at the virtual casinos. As the cooperation succeeded, the world's first online casinos were established in 1994. Today, Microgaming and CryptoLogic remain as two of the most widely used gambling software developers together with other companies such as Realtime Gaming, Playtech, and International Game Technology.

What can I play at online betting sites?

In an online casino, a gambler can play a lot of the games obtainable in land-based casinos such as blackjack, baccarat, bingo, craps, keno, online slot online games, online poker, and roulette. On top of that, but not necessarily available at virtual casinos, bettors also can perform different betting activities at different sites. Other online gambling activities may include sports betting, lotteries, horse race betting, mobile gambling, and in-play gambling.

Can I download gambling software on the web?

Yes you can. Actually, virtual casinos commonly use two kinds of interfaces for their customers: web-based and download-only casinos. In web-based casinos, you can play without first downloading and installing the software on your computer. Alternatively, with the downloaded type, you are required to download the software and install it on your computer before having the ability to play. When you aren't required to load the graphics and sound files over the web during play sessions, download-based gambling is indeed faster than the web-based gaming venues. However, you still can't ignore the idea that the software you downloaded can also contain harmful malware.

Are my winnings from online betting the same with land-based betting?

Just like physical betting, you may generate cash from the virtual counterparts. On the other hand, online gambling sites usually provide bonuses as a marketing strategy as well as to encourage bettors to stake certain amounts of money. As gambling sites also seek profits, they may set limits on the minimal amount a member may bet. Bonuses offered by online casinos usually cover non-cashable bonus, comp points, and bonus hunting.