ONLINE BINGO
Bingo is another very popular form of online gambling. Most online bingo sites allow multiplayer chat facilities and also offer a selection of casino games within the bingo sites. Generally bingo rooms will stay open 24 hours a day with a range of different prices and amounts to be won. Individual bingo rooms will usually have a chat moderator to answer any questions a player has and to clarify winners of the games, but more often than not these chat moderators offer additional chat room games. Within these game players can compete against each other to win additional bingo credits or points. Online bingo sites use a Random Number Generator, as opposed to regular bingo balls. The earliest known bingo game online was back in 1996, which was in fact a free bingo game called 'Bingo Zone' and in 1998 Bingo Blitz was launched. Online bingo allows players to buy cards which have random numbers on them. These numbers usually vary from 1 to 90 or 1 to 75. However, the games offered to players depend on the type of the bingo site. Bingo numbers are called out and subsequently marked off a player’s card, each individual game will involve a certain amount of numbers to be marked off or even a pattern, the first person who succeeds in meeting this is the winner. Quite often you may find that multiple players reach the targets at the same time and will equally share the prize fund. Online bingo is a game of chance, as bingo sites use random number generators. This means all numbers drawn are 100% random and, as it is with various other forms of gambling, there is no skill required to play online bingo.
SCRATCH CARD SITES Scratch cards are more commonly known to be bought in certain shops or supermarkets, but in fact, with recent technology, scratch cards have now become a form of online gambling with sites being opened solely for players to gamble on scratch cards. Scratch cards are known as a small piece of card that can be scratched using a coin. This same concept can be seen on online scratch card sites, only instead of using a coin to scratch the card’s surface, players can use their mouse to scratch the surface on their screens. Online sites provide a range of different scratch cards which can be bought for different values, generally starting at a minimum of £1. Usually the more amount you pay for the card, the higher the prize you could win. Some scratch card sites will allow much lower coin denominations to be placed for the purchase of their cards, but generally the prizes will also be lower. In order for a player to win, they must usually match three or more amounts to win that amount. There is a large chance that a player will win nothing at all, but there is a higher chance of winning on a scratch card, as opposed to an online lottery draw. Again, this form of online gambling requires no skill at all and it is all down to the game of chance.
MOBILE GAMING
This is the most recent form of online gambling. Technology has become so advanced that players can now place bets at casinos, poker sites and even sports betting sites via a smartphone or tablet device. Players can access a selection of games for a specific casino through their mobile phone as mobile casinos do not require the use of a flash plug-in. When mobile casinos first launched, very few games were offered. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, there are myriads of mobile casino games at players’ disposal. Whichever form of online gambling you choose to play, it is important to remember that online gambling can become very addictive, so players must use their discretion and know when it is time to call it a day.
ONLINE CASINO Vs LAND BASED CASINO
These days, the glamorous world of gambling is not the preserve of just the select few. Anyone can gamble. Many people are intimidated by the surroundings of a land-based casino, which is why they may turn to an online casino. Players may feel they do not know the rules of the games, nor the etiquette of play in a land-based casino, whereas an online casino has all this information readily available. Both online casinos and land-based casinos offer gambling opportunities and there are indeed benefits to each one. Players who enjoy the thrill and excitement of betting with others may enjoy playing in a land-based casino over an online casino, as this same thrill may be hard to find in an online casino. Land-based casinos can carry the 'entertainment value' by providing a timeless party atmosphere, which a simple internet connection cannot compete with. Online casinos have the 'convenient factor' with a major advantage of land casinos by being open for play 24/7. With the launch of mobile casinos, this has made online gambling even more convenient. The selection of games available in online casinos is generally much greater than that of land casinos, too. There is often a myth that circulates that online casinos are not secure. These kind of myths usually stem from players being denied payments, but the truth is an online casino is just as safe as a land-based casino. It is important to remember a legitimate online casino would not be in operation if it did not meet certain safety standards. Another myth that surrounds online casinos is that their games are a lot more addictive than games at a land-based casino. But, in fact, the games offered at both online casinos and land-based casinos can both be addictive and it is up to the individual player to be able to control their gambling habits. In some instances, players are more susceptible to addiction at land-based casinos rather than on the internet. This is because online casino is better monitored than your average traditional land-based casino. Most online casinos have betting limits that can be placed on a player’s account, like setting deposit limits, which can prevent problem gambling, whereas in a land-based casino these measures may not be in place. Another option that online casinos have that land-based casinos may not offer is the ability to self exclude yourself from a specific casino for a certain period of time or forever. There are many common misconceptions when it comes to both online casinos and land-based casinos, but probably the most common myths lie with video slots. In today's day and age there is an astronomical amount of slot machine myths. Still, myths do not increase the chance of a win, nor does it increase the amount of a win. Many players also believe in gambling theories, but again they are, in fact, just pure myths. Players like to believe that there is or will be a way to improve their chances of winning, but there is no such system. The reason there is no such system is all down to the invention of a Random Number Generator, also known as RNG, which governs each and every spin of the reels. This device was invented with one thing in mind and that is to guarantee the utmost honesty in gambling. Each and every game you play at a casino uses a RNG. This includes slot machines, blackjack, video poker, roulette, craps and many more casino games. Players can enjoy their favourite games with confidence that the casino is not cheating them in any way and the games they play are fair. The invention of a RNG can dispel any myth players have of a winning system, as it makes every spin completely distinct and unique. Another myth that lies in both online casinos and land-based casinos is that slot machines have been cold and will become hot for a while, thus paying out to players. When a player pulls the arm of a slot machine at a land-based casino or pushes the button to spin the reels online, the RNG will randomly create a combination of the symbols and it will not care if the machine is hot or cold! Some gamblers make the decision to only play slot machines at a land-based casino. The reason for this is because they believe that the chances of winning are much greater when they pull the arm of a bandit rather than just clicking the mouse to spin the reels. Again, the truth of the matter lies in the Random Number Generator. The way a slot machine is played, whether it be at a land-based casino or an online casino, does not influence the results of a spin in any way. A very common myth, which the RNG rules out, is that slot machines may pay out at certain times of the day or night, but of course it’s the selection or sequence of numbers that determines whether you win or lose. Many gamblers like to chase the big jackpots, but of course there are even myths that surround these jackpots. After a player has been playing a slot machine for an hour or more and the next player plays the game and hits the jackpot, players may believe that they only won it because of their hard work and money. Once again, this is not true due to the randomness of the RNG. Once a slot machine pays out a jackpot, it is believed by players that there must be some time before it will pay out another jackpot, but in fact it is possible for a slot machine to pay out several jackpots in a row. Even though the chances of this happening may be low, it is indeed 100% possible due to the randomness of the game. A gambler may also believe if they play a game for a long period of time it will increase their chances of a jackpot win. Again, this is a false statement. The RNG is the key to any win and it really doesn't matter how long you have been playing.
