Gambling has been with us since ancient times. Gambling online is a relatively new phenomenon and one that appears to be growing in popularity on a daily basis. Take a look-at these facts: The very first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It really is currently estimated that you will find approximately 2,000 Internet gambling Web sites offering various wagering options, including sports betting, casino games, lotteries and bingo. Internet gambling revenue in 2005 was estimated at $11.9 billion and is projected to double by 2010, as outlined by Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA). So what is it about the online casino phenomenon that has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it is the virtue of it simply being online. You can find a lot of attractions to not having to attend a casino to gamble. The most prominent of these will be the intimidation. Online gambling opens up a whole host of games to players who previously never had the courage or interest in observing tables in a land based casino. Then it really is the choice of games. The range of games and my homepage their varieties online are astounding. Poker, blackjack, roulette or sports gambling, online casinos offer all of them. Lets take a look-at a couple of of them: Online poker has been partly responsible for a dramatic rise in the number of poker players worldwide. For the year of 2005, revenues from online poker were estimated at US$200 million per month. Blackjack, also known as twenty-one or Pontoon, is just one of the most common casino card games on the planet. Much of blackjack's popularity is as a result of the mixture of chance with elements of skill, as well as the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in lots of variations on the slot machine concept. The freedom of money and time are added attractions. The internet casinos are relatively inexpensive to operate with regard to staff being paid, so they are able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room within an online casino can be very different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation can be high when playing in a ritzy casino. Crucial decisions are made quickly and on the spot. At home, the player is able to slow down and play only once they are ready. Sadly, with such a growth in popularity has come many online gambling hoaxes. Illegitimate and cheating websites are present on the net as well as can be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online are the three aspects of consideration, prize and chance. All three should be present. The problem with online gambling is that it is far harder to control. The area which has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. Within the virtual world, this is hard to enforce. A customer is able to sit within their own family room, in whatever state they decide to be in and at what ever age and gamble just as much as they desire.