Fancy a game of baccarat with the best players in the world? The world of casinos, home to such fun and games, is gradually becoming accessible to the general public. Once an exclusive world, reserved for rich and famous or the born gambler, the casino is opening up with the help of modern technology. One must agree that the all-glamorous setting of the casino used to be quite intimidating online casino.
It is not within the scope of everybody to visit the casinos on a regular basis even if one is quite good at the different games played there. The imposing glamorous entourage cripples the mind and may upset the layman. The only people who can thrive in this atmosphere are the ones who have been used to this type of glamor throughout their lives. Now, with the help of the Internet, it is possible for the layman to get a glimpse of the casino from the comfort of one’s own home. There are no daunting settings and no complex rules to abide by.
Types of games played
Online casinos have a vast array of games. In fact, all of the games that will be played in traditional casinos are present in their online versions as well. This includes:
• Baccarat
• Blackjacks
• Craps
• Roulette
• Slot games
• Poker
• Keno
Most online casinos have more than a hundred different types of games, featuring variants of the above-mentioned games.
Types of online casinos
Online casinos are generally of two types: web-based or download-based. In web-based online casinos, there is a website where all the games are offered on browser plug-ins such as Macromedia Flash Player, Shockwave or Java. This type of casino does not require any downloads but requires a large amount of bandwidth as all the data, sounds and animations are brought directly from the website. In the downloadable version, the software is downloaded to the local computer. This software is used to establish contact with the casino service provider without browser support.
How to start
Most online casinos require that one registers with their system. The registration process usually does not take more than a few minutes and serves to ascertain your age and the validity of your payment methods (usually credit cards or online payment solutions such as PayPal or Moneybookers are used). During registering, one will have to spell out the following:
• A username (which is not necessarily your real name)
• A password
• The e-mail ID
• The preferred method of payment
Bonuses
While the only way to earn money through an online casino by setting wagers, online casinos often offer sign-up bonuses to their new clients. This is most often a marketing stunt and rarely results in real cash for the player. However, they are still a good way to play the game and learn the ropes of the online casino world without putting one’s hard-earned cash on the line. There are two types of bonuses: phantom and sticky bonuses. Phantom bonuses cannot be cashed out while sticky bonuses are credited to the account of the player and can be cashed out after a certain limit is reached.