Gambling and the Internet
The internet has made casino games accessible and widely-known to the public. Users who once had to read books about card games can now enjoy anything from free online poker websites such as FullTiltPoker.net and Pokerstars.net to iPhone and Android slot machine applications. In addition, people can Google the most obscure casino game, for instance Hold’em Bonus, and play on online simulation. People are more familiar with casino-type games today than they were in the past.
Gambling Strategy
In the past, general information about casino games or strategies was mostly conveyed through books. Take “Bringing Down the House,” the book written about the MIT Blackjack team, for example. If you wanted to learn how to count cards, this was the book you had to read. If you wanted to learn how play Craps, you could either hope a friend could tell you, or else you had to read a book about the theory behind the game. Not surprisingly, many first-time gamblers aren’t eager to read entire books about gambling.
The Internet has made information about strategies of every single casino game accessible to the public. Programs online can compute House advantages, which basically show how likely the casino is to take your money in a certain game. In addition, there are basic tutorials and Youtube videos that show the basics to counting cards or playing Craps.
Online Poker
Computers have spread knowledge of common casino games through online poker (which was recently banned in 2010). Chris Moneymaker, who won the 2003 World Series of Poker after gaining entry to the tournament through an online satellite, inspired many people to play online poker. Millions of users tried their luck/skill against other players around the world, in stakes that range anywhere from 5 cents to $1 million/hand. Not surprisingly, the level of play of people around the world has increased dramatically. Some people became so good at playing online poker that they played it as a career. Top online players such as Kevin “BelowAbove” Sol, and JohnnyBax, to name a couple, have made millions of dollars in this industry.
Online Casinos
Man loves to gamble in real life, and man loves to gamble over on the internet. After the first online casino “opened its doors” in 1996 with the help of the Free Trade and Processing Zone Act (1994), passed by the Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, online gambling has grown into an extremely popular industry consisting of millions of players worldwide. Anyone anywhere can play their favorite casino games, from the classics such as Roulette and Craps, to more obscure games such as Hold’em Bonus
Pros
Users enjoy the ability to gamble in the comfort of their own home. Casinos are fairly sparse, and this prevents people from having to incur the expenses related to going to an actual casino (e.g. gas money, parking, tipping).
Cons
Online gambling, however, sacrifices the entire personal casino experience (physically touching the chips and cards, personally rolling the dice, being with friends, etc.). In addition, many people fear being cheated online through biased programs from unaudited gambling websites.
Internet as a Means of Attraction
The internet has been a tool to lure people into casinos. Many casinos are attractions within resorts such as Atlantis, which boast beautiful beaches and water parks. These resorts advertise on websites such as Facebook, or contact people via email, promoting “Free Flights!” or “Free Food!” to attract guests to book their vacations and gamble.
Future Implications of Online Poker Legalization and Online Gambling
In 10 to 15 years, the internet will continue to revolutionize the way we gamble. All signs point toward online poker being legalized, which will increase the amount of gamblers in the United States. The government will generate millions of dollars in revenue by taxing online poker sites, and the players as a whole will lose money. If so, common poker games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and Razz will be better known. Therefore, people in casinos will be able to play at a higher level.
Online casino gambling possibilities in the future are endless. As people become more and more absorbed in the internet, we may see online casinos where users can control their avatars and walk around a virtual casino, sitting down at poker tables, playing roulette, and living the life of a VIP. In a world where millions of people immerse themselves in second-life games such as Runescape and World of Warcraft, the virtual casino doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
The internet has made casino games accessible and widely-known to the public. Users who once had to read books about card games can now enjoy anything from free online poker websites such as FullTiltPoker.net and Pokerstars.net to iPhone and Android slot machine applications. In addition, people can Google the most obscure casino game, for instance Hold’em Bonus, and play on online simulation. People are more familiar with casino-type games today than they were in the past.
Gambling Strategy
In the past, general information about casino games or strategies was mostly conveyed through books. Take “Bringing Down the House,” the book written about the MIT Blackjack team, for example. If you wanted to learn how to count cards, this was the book you had to read. If you wanted to learn how play Craps, you could either hope a friend could tell you, or else you had to read a book about the theory behind the game. Not surprisingly, many first-time gamblers aren’t eager to read entire books about gambling.
The Internet has made information about strategies of every single casino game accessible to the public. Programs online can compute House advantages, which basically show how likely the casino is to take your money in a certain game. In addition, there are basic tutorials and Youtube videos that show the basics to counting cards or playing Craps.
Online Poker
Computers have spread knowledge of common casino games through online poker (which was recently banned in 2010). Chris Moneymaker, who won the 2003 World Series of Poker after gaining entry to the tournament through an online satellite, inspired many people to play online poker. Millions of users tried their luck/skill against other players around the world, in stakes that range anywhere from 5 cents to $1 million/hand. Not surprisingly, the level of play of people around the world has increased dramatically. Some people became so good at playing online poker that they played it as a career. Top online players such as Kevin “BelowAbove” Sol, and JohnnyBax, to name a couple, have made millions of dollars in this industry.
Online Casinos
Man loves to gamble in real life, and man loves to gamble over on the internet. After the first online casino “opened its doors” in 1996 with the help of the Free Trade and Processing Zone Act (1994), passed by the Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, online gambling has grown into an extremely popular industry consisting of millions of players worldwide. Anyone anywhere can play their favorite casino games, from the classics such as Roulette and Craps, to more obscure games such as Hold’em Bonus
Pros
Users enjoy the ability to gamble in the comfort of their own home. Casinos are fairly sparse, and this prevents people from having to incur the expenses related to going to an actual casino (e.g. gas money, parking, tipping).
Cons
Online gambling, however, sacrifices the entire personal casino experience (physically touching the chips and cards, personally rolling the dice, being with friends, etc.). In addition, many people fear being cheated online through biased programs from unaudited gambling websites.
Internet as a Means of Attraction
The internet has been a tool to lure people into casinos. Many casinos are attractions within resorts such as Atlantis, which boast beautiful beaches and water parks. These resorts advertise on websites such as Facebook, or contact people via email, promoting “Free Flights!” or “Free Food!” to attract guests to book their vacations and gamble.
Future Implications of Online Poker Legalization and Online Gambling
In 10 to 15 years, the internet will continue to revolutionize the way we gamble. All signs point toward online poker being legalized, which will increase the amount of gamblers in the United States. The government will generate millions of dollars in revenue by taxing online poker sites, and the players as a whole will lose money. If so, common poker games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and Razz will be better known. Therefore, people in casinos will be able to play at a higher level.
Online casino gambling possibilities in the future are endless. As people become more and more absorbed in the internet, we may see online casinos where users can control their avatars and walk around a virtual casino, sitting down at poker tables, playing roulette, and living the life of a VIP. In a world where millions of people immerse themselves in second-life games such as Runescape and World of Warcraft, the virtual casino doesn’t seem too far-fetched.