Section 10.6. Gambling
10.6. GamblingGames of chance have popped up in just about every culture for thousands of years , so it's only natural that they'd find a home on the Internet. Despite the objections of certain politicians , online casinos and poker rooms flourish by the thousands. Not all of them are honest parlors of friendly play, of course; there's no shortage of dishonest sites looking to take the money and run. The gambling and poker sites mentioned in this section are all large, established operations with good reputations. As for sites not listed here, remember that the Web is filled with sites that give "gambling" a whole new meaning. 10.6.1. Online PokerOnline poker is huge . Fueled by TV shows about poker and a general resurgence of interest in this very old card game, the Web-based version has sucked down countless man-years and millions of dollars. You can find online poker games at several of the sites listed in Section 10.1.1, but most calculating cardsharps gravitate to one of the secure sites dedicated to playing for money. Most professional online poker rooms require you to register before you can enter. Some let you play right in your Web browser; others require you to download special software (make sure your computer meets their system requirements before you do). If you're playing for money, you must add a credit card or bank account number to fork over the cash for bets. Many sites also offer online money-transfer systems like Click2Pay or NETeller that you can use to get money to or from your bank account. This option is a necessity for many people, as U.S. regulations don't permit credit cards to accept money, only to spend it. Note: Most banks, in an effort to avoid the questionable legality of online gambling, don't allow purchases at online gambling sites. If yours doesn't, you can use a money-transfer system like NETeller instead. Once you log on, you usually wind up in an onscreen lobbya general gathering area where you can see what games are available and how many players are already at tables. You can usually pick the style of poker you want to play, say Texas Hold 'Em, Omaha Hi/Lo, or 7-Card Stud. As you browse the tables in the lobby area, you can see the size of the pot for each. Some sites let you play for practice, but most tables are in it for real. Once you join a game, you usually see a picture of a poker table with other people, cards, and wagers, as shown in Figure 10-5. You get buttons to fold, call, or bet. When you've had enough (or lost enough), you can click to return to the main lobby area. From there, you can join another table, log out, or cash out. Note: Cheating has always been a problem with card games, and the online version is no different. With cell phones, instant messaging, and other forms of real-time communication, it's possible for two or more players to be in collusion by sharing information and running up bets against unsuspecting parties. Many poker sites analyze betting patterns and table attendance in an effort to catch cheaters, but the possibility still remains. You've been warned . Figure 10-5. It's not a smoke-filled back room, but a clean and tidy virtual poker table at HollywoodPoker.com. As your cards are dealt, you control your play with onscreen buttons. Not all of the many poker rooms you find on the Web are legitimate establishments. Before you sign up with a site, search the Internet for reviews to see what other people are saying about it. Here are some good bets:
Note: Most legitimate poker rooms and online casinos accept only players over the age of 18. Although this may be hard to verify in the wilds of cyberspace , the credit card requirement usually stops younger teens from placing bets. 10.6.2. Other Casino GamesIf poker isn't your game, you can find other ways to wager money in online casinos. Even if you've never been to Vegas, Reno, or Atlantic City, you can roll the dice, spin the wheel, or get another card onscreen. Note: Unfortunately for Macintosh fans, many casinos require you to download and install their softwareand that software probably works with Windows only. You can find some browser-based, Mac-friendly games at PlanetLuck (www.planetluck.com).
Tip: As with the poker sites mentioned above, you should make sure that the online casino you're considering is a legitimate operation that won't fold (and take your wallet with it). For tips on which sites are legit and which might be shady, consult the Casino Meister at www.casinomeister.com. This gambling portal also has a lengthy collection of advice for novice players.  |
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