In many countries it is. If you are living in an area where gambling in physical casinos is illegal it is also illegal for you to play in an online casino. Don't thLINK just because you are not actually there and play at home, you can cheat your way out of that. Upon the signup in an online casino the casino will carefully go through the information you provide and will find out if the city, state or county you are living in prohibits gambling. If you are not sure about the law in your area contact the local authorities.

Do I have to be an adult to play?

Yes. You have to be at least 18 years or older to play for real money. If you are not 18 you can always play for fun at most online casinos.

How do I choose an online casino?

There are hundreds of casinos on the internet and there are opening more and more each day. Inform yourself of the casino you are about to play in.

Are online casinos honest?

Generally, Yes. Most legitimate online casinos don't have to manipulate their games because like in a real casino the house edge and the player’s mistakes make them enough profit. Most casinos constantly test their games on fairness and to find out if there is something strange going on with the games. Still, there are some dishonest casinos out there so make sure security comes first.

Do I have to download software to play?

Not necessarily. Most casinos offer regular online gambling for games like Black Jack, Poker and Roulette. The only reason why casinos let you download their software is for better graphics, sound and animation. In case you don't care if the graphics and animations are better or not it is recommended you don't download anything for gambling.

How do I purchase chips and get started?

You have to make a deposit to the casino. Most online casinos accept credit cards, cheques, money order, wire transfer or Paypal to get you started. Credit cards used to be the most popular way to make this deposit because you can start playing right away and don't have to wait until the casino gets your cheque in the mail. These days many people will not be able to successfully use their credit cards to purchase chips because of stringent laws passed in some jurisdictions. My personal favorite to use is Paypal based on speed and ease of use. Your winnings will, based on the casino, be returned to your credit card, your Paypal account, or sent to you by cheque.

How do I collect my winnings?

As explained above most casinos will send you a cheque for your winnings within a week. In case you made the deposit with a cheque or money order the casino will send you a cheque for the winnings and your original deposit, if you want to. If you made your deposit by credit card the casino will only credit your card up to the amount you originally deposited and the rest of the winnings will also be sent to you by mail.

Do many people actually gamble online?

Yes. Although the exact size of the online gaming industry is unknown, the current number of online gamblers is in the millions, and analysts agree that industry growth is rapid.

Can I try the games before actually risking money?

Yes, most online casino sites offer both 'real money' and '‘just for fun' accounts. The 'just for fun' play is identical to the real player experience, of course for the exception that no real money is involved. These ‘just for fun' accounts are ideal for learning how to play games that are new to you and to improve your gambling skills.

What games are offered?

At present, most sites offer the basic 5: Slots, Black Jack, Roulette, Craps, and Video Poker.