Do people gamble online?

Yes, and in increasingly large numbers. Currently there are millions of registered players globally, and a recent Forrester Research paper showed that Internet gambling will soon reach the $10 billion mark in revenue. The growth is being fuelled by the increase in Broadband users - enabling more sophisticated systems for users.

Am I able to gamble online legally?

Yes in almost all States you are. In many countries there are strict anti-gambling laws - for instance in countries like Germany where you are not allowed to gamble online. Many countries allow online gambling and have issued licenses to numerous online casinos.

How do online casinos work?

Almost exactly the same way as normal casinos to be honest! You purchase chips that you then use for gambling with. When you win you receive chips back which you can then cash out - the difference being everything is through the computer screen and from your credit or debit card.

Increasingly you can also deposit cash to the casino using any one of the following routes:

   PayPal, FirePay, NETeller, PrePaid ATM or by wire transfer.

Will I need to download software to play?

In many cases yes, however increasingly there are Flash and Java-based solutions that enable you to play provided you have the latest Plug-in installed on your computer. The real advantage of the download versions is the quality of the graphics, sound and animation. Typical download times range from 25-45 minutes for a 56k modem connection, however some will send you a disc to make life simpler!

What's the point of the authorization form to receive my winnings?

These forms prevent any fraudulent activity, protecting the user and the casino. It's a simple route to ensure that the person requesting payout is currently the rightful user and not a hacker or someone that may have found the username and password if they broke into someone's house. A hassle, but well worth it.

How do I know my information is safe when I'm gambling online?

Look for the https:// in the address bar when you are about to make payment or look for the padlock on the bottom right hand corner of your browser. It's a little known fact that sites encrypted with SSL technology have never experienced any fraud or loss of private information.

Where are the online casinos based?

All featured casinos ensure their transactions are offshore ranging from The British Virgin Islands through to Gibraltar or Cayman islands. This is entirely legal and is not in anyway sinister - it's a legacy from the tax laws and out-dated laws to do with gambling.

Is my cash safe online?

We've done most of the legwork for you here - we've deposited and played them and got payouts where we've won (not all the time unfortunately). Check the casinos for PricewaterhouseCoopers logo or MicroGaming Logo's to authenticate the Payouts are audited independently.

How safe are wire transfers compared to credit cards?

The safest way is most definitely your credit card. When you sign up and fill out your account information, two things happen, firstly this identifies you as a player and ensures the casino has your basic details for checks etc. Secondly, the form acts as a verification between your credit card and the person using it. Credit cards also have fraud protection these days so that there is a limit (usually $50) that you will be responsible for if a fraud should take place.

How fast will I usually get my winnings?

Every casino is different. However on the whole the ones we feature issue payouts within 7 days of your request. The quickest route is most definitely the electronic transfer but standard mail with checks may take much longer, being that payments are often coming from overseas where they are issued (see where are the Casinos based? above)

Am I more likely to lose online?

All the casinos we feature use a random number generator and if found to be cheating their licence would be revoked. It is also in their interest to be completely fair in order to retain their customer base. All casinos online use a random number generator to produce their results.

How do I credit my account?

Every casino we've reviewed allows you to play for fun (i.e. no money). Making the first deposit into your account will ensure you a sign up bonus and you can do this using either a credit or debit card. The latter is best for most and you will receive any winnings back electronically rather than by laborious cheque route.

What are the bonuses I keep seeing?

All our casinos offer a 'sign up bonus' incentive for to join them. There are a number of terms and conditions applied to this, so please don't think you can simply sign up and walk away with $100 for nothing. You have to gamble the money and wager normally with it and it is very common for this to be 20 times the amount e.g. $100 free means you have to wager $2000 to be able to 'cash out' your winnings.

When selecting a bonus, check whether it's an instant bonus or whether they pay up with in 48 hours of your first deposit.

Which games should I start with?

Why stress out spending good money on games you don't know or are unsure of. Play and gamble on those games that you know or if you don't know any, try Blackjack - rules and odds are fairly straight-forward and you can gamble as little as £1 to get started.

Our advice is to then use the 'Play for Fun' games to get used to them whilst reading up on the rules and watching other people's strategies.