The world’s first virtual online casino, Internet Casinos, Inc. (ICI) opened its doors on August 18, 1995 with 18 different casino games. Since then, the industry has quietly exploded. According to the Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery, there are now an estimated 300 gambling sites. A recent report from Datamonitor (CI No 3,426) seems to indicate that this may be just the beginning. Revenues in 1998 totaled $535 million and are expected to grow to a whopping $10 billion by 2002.
Computerization of games is nothing really new. Microprocessors already run slot machines in most casinos and the same algorithms are used to run an online casino, and video poker also works essentially the same on your PC as it does in the casino. For roulette, instead of spinning a wheel, a random number generator is used to produce the numbers. Once you become comfortable with the way the online casinos operate, you’re ready to play. To gamble online, you must either connect directly to a Web site or download software from the online casino. Playing directly from the Web site will give you the same functionality as playing with the downloaded software. However, if you prefer greater realism and enjoy bells and whistles, it’s definitely worth the additional time to download the software. Next, you must establish an account with the online casino usually using a credit card. Once an account is established, you are now free to gamble. The virtual casinos offer all types of betting stakes and encourage the small gambler. Most casinos require a minimum deposit of $20 to open an account; some casinos allow you to bet as low as one penny. Before you pull the handle on that slot machine, check your local laws on the legality of online gambling in your area.

The Great Debate

Recently, online casinos have been the subject of great debate. According to the 1961 Interstate Wireline Act (18 U.S.C. section 1084), it’s illegal to accept bets from gamblers over phone lines or through other wired devices unless otherwise authorized by a particular state. To circumvent this, most online casinos locate their servers outside the US or require customers to set up offshore accounts in countries where online gambling is legal. The most common destination to set up shop is currently the Caribbean, but there has been some recent growth in Europe, Australia and South Africa. To protect themselves from liability, some online gambling Web sites do not allow residents from certain US states to open accounts. Others bar US citizens completely.

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