Online Casino Gambling

Originally dubbed as “beano” in the United States, bingo was once a game played at country fairs where the dealer would pick numbered discs from a cigar box and the players would mark their cards with, well, beans.  In these days, instead of bingo, players yelled out beano if they won.  The history of this game can be traced back to the early 1500s, reportedly to an Italian lottery called the “Lo Guioco del Lotto D’Italia.”  This lottery is still played in Italy each Saturday while bingo remains alive and well throughout the world.

Bingo is a relatively easy game and straightforward to the point where almost anyone can pick up a few cards and jump right in.  When it comes to online play, the cards can be a little confusing at first, but once you get settled in, you will see that it’s still a piece of cake.  Before you head to a casino, check out what you need to know about patterns in order to shout “Bingo!” at your computer.

No Love for Patterns

Blackout is one of the most popular types of bingo and also among the easiest to win.  The goal here is to basically cover all the numbers that are called until you completely mark off all the numbers on your card, hence the name blackout.  This game offers the highest probability of winning for the simple fact that all you need to do is fill up the whole card.  With blackout, you don’t have to work out any real strategies and patterns.

Keep it Straight

The pattern bingo players tend to go after the most is the straight line.  This line can be formed in three different ways: vertically, horizontally and diagonally.  You can position your vertical and horizontal straight lines anywhere but the diagonals only pass through the center of the card.  Take note that the patterns which pass through the center are generally easier to form because they only require four numbers to get a winning combination.

Pattern Innovation

Throughout the years, bingo players have added much excitement to game by creating a number of different patterns and winning combinations.  One of the most difficult patterns to form is the infamous four corners.  Although you only need four numbers to get your combination, these numbers must be located exactly on the corners of your card in order to score a bingo.  Box patterns are a little easier to form because like the straight lines that form them, there is no need to have the numbers in any specific position.  On the contrary, diamond patterns must have numbers in certain places to strike up a bingo.

Many bingo organizers have incorporated exotic patterns to enhance the excitement of the game and they can be found throughout internet casinos.  For example, there is the Z pattern, which is essentially a combination of a diagonal line and two straight lines.  There is also the snake, a winding pattern than can take on several variations, ultimately adding to the dynamic of the game.  In the realm of online play, all of these patterns have corresponding payouts based on the level of difficulty in forming them.

As internet gambling continues to soar into popularity, the issue of online casino security increasingly becomes a major concern for players looking to cash in.  When it comes to gambling in general, you have to determine just how much you are willing to lose.  If you are dealing with an insecure casino site, you could end up losing far more than you bargained for.  Because of this, the first step you need to take towards online gambling is finding a secure casino.  The best way to ensure this is making sure you are dealing with a reputable company.

There are literally hundreds of casinos online, all offering you the chance to sign up and take your shot at the jackpot.  Unfortunately, many of these casinos do not have a good reputation.  Almost any online gambling site will let you play, but it is up to you to find one that you can trust.  Because online gambling has been closely tied with so many scams, some expert players suggest finding a casino that allows you to play for free before placing any real wagers.  This is very understandable because when you are playing for free, there is no money to lose.  Even then, you need to be very careful as free casino games have been associated with malicious programs such as viruses, Trojans and spyware.

Knowing Where to Look

You can learn a lot about internet gambling sites by reading reviews.  These sites are very useful as they can tell you what to expect in terms of bonuses, payment and withdrawal options, gaming software and the level of security.  If the feedback from other members indicate that the casino is not reliable, there is a great chance that the site is also lacking in the security department and could put you at risk.  Taking a gamble with a company you know nothing about could put you in a situation where you lose your money and possibly your identity, especially if the casino doesn’t put security first.

Proceed with Caution

As someone new to online gambling, you should take it upon yourself to find out more about the security measures a casino employs by doing a little investigating.  A reputable company will publish this information and make it easy to find.   If there security policies are sketchy and not comprehensive, you should probably find yourself a new casino to play at.  Furthermore, when your money and personal information is on the line, you should never hesitate to contact the casino staff and gather more details about their level of security.  If the online casino is truly reliable, it should have no problem answering your questions until you are completely satisfied.

When you don’t make security a priority, the gamble you take at an online casino could be much more than rolling a pair of cyber dice.  The internet is a haven for hackers, malware writers and more scams than you could ever imagine.  If you don’t feel that a particular online casino can provide you with adequate security, keep moving along until you run across one that does.

When planning to engage in online gambling, it is important to know that you will be introduced to a number of gaming platforms.  Some require that you download the software onto your computer while others allow you to play instantly online via a website.  The main difference between these two options is that the instant version is only temporarily stored in your web browser for the duration of game play.  The downloaded version is one that must be saved to hard disk drive of your computer.  In this article we will explain what to expect from these online gaming platforms.

Installation and Setup

If you encounter or choose to go with the downloadable gaming software, the download and installation process is something that you will only have to do one time.  The entire procedure should take no longer than 10 to 15 minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection and computer.  The instant version of the software only takes a minute or so to be saved into your browser and this allows you to get started right away after creating and funding your casino account.  Over the years, many of the leading online gaming software providers have discovered ways to avoid the lengthy setup time of the downloadable applications.  For example, some of the more popular games can be downloaded first and are available for immediate play while the others will show up after the rest of gaming program has been completely downloaded.

Gaming Performance

Downloadable gaming software applications generally claim anywhere between 5 to 40 MB of hard disk space.  This of course, all depends on the number of games included in the package as well as the features.  When playing directly online, you don’t have to worry much at all about space, making it a more viable option for the player with limited hard disk capacity on their computer.  Because these games also require memory, players who are lacking RAM on their system may experience a degraded performance when opting to go with the downloaded version.  In addition, if you are someone who desires to hop from one online casino to the next, you may want to stick with the instant version.  This is only practical when considering that a large number of downloaded games will began to take their toll on the precious resources of your computer.

Disadvantages

The biggest drawback to downloadable online gaming software programs is that most of them are specifically designed for Windows-based machines.  This presents a large problem for the gamer running an operating system such as Linux or Apple’s Mac OS X on their computer.  The instant variation caters to all computer platforms and typically only requires that you install free plugins such as Flash or Shockwave.

The instant version of gaming software isn’t without flaws either.  The major downside here is the quantity and quality of the games offered.  In many cases, these programs include less than half of the games you will receivce with the downloadable version.  They also tend to lack features.

Conclusion

Gaming software is very important because this is the interface you will interact with when participating in online gambling.  Although you can win big with either version, it is good to determine which type works best for you in your online gaming endeavors.

Although new online casinos are popping up at a steady rate, the legislation and regulations don’t always work out in the favor of U.S. players.  However, many players have found that there are ways around the rules.  The best way to view this approach is that the rules on whether or not online gambling is legal in the United States remain very unclear.  Even with the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) of 2006 in full effect, there are still no federal laws in place that prevent U.S. citizens from participating in online gambling or other related activities.  Of course gambling experts and fans all believe things should be completely legal across the board, but there are some rules and regulations that could land you in hot water if you are not careful.

Where and Why

Different states have different laws regarding internet gambling and these regulations can impact those who attempt to play.  In the early days of the internet, online gambling wasn’t so much of an issue of U.S. legislation as it depended on which state you reside in.  In some ways, it still does.  For example, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan and Louisiana have outlawed online gambling and many other states are looking to introduce similar legislation.  California, Utah, Massachusetts and South Dakota forbid certain types of online gambling but allow others.

The reason why many states ban online gambling, Nevada in particular, is to protect the revenues generated from their land-based casinos.  There is a method the madness.  These states feel that because online casinos don’t have to reside in the U.S., there is no way for the states and federal governments to impose taxes on them.  This was definitely the case when the Commonwealth of Kentucky seized 141 gambling domains and demanded that the owners block their sites so Kentucky residents couldn’t access them.  Both the Kentucky and UIGEA suite make a great deal of the supposed social ramifications of online gambling and a priority to highlight its negative effects.  At the heart of the matter however, is a desire to keep money in the U.S. and continuously draw on a highly lucrative taxable industry.  Even Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear admitted that he supports legalizing land-based casinos and would prefer to protect the state’s horse racing industry from the competition of online gambling.

Getting Around the System

States such as Kentucky are mainly based on the UIGEA’s open-ended outlook on what constitutes as illegal internet gambling.  It should be reiterated that major loopholes can be found within the law, those in which don’t prohibit local operators from taking online bets while complying with state laws.  As United States nationals generally participate in online casinos that are completely legal, it seems very improbable that state or federal governments would ever be able to gather a legal framework that allows the full prohibition of online gambling or prosecute the operators themselves.

What does all this mean to you?  Know the laws and regulations of online gambling as they relate to your state.  Find yourself a reputable casino and if the coast is clear, pull the virtual lever until your heart is content.