Table of Contents
Online Casino Guides
USA Online Casinos
A trip to the casino can seem a daunting affair for those who have never made the trek to Vegas to play roulette or black jack.
For some, the casino is a mystical place filled with men in dinner jackets and women in flowing dresses that is according to most of the James Bond movies!
But physical casinos are open to anyone aged 21 and over and with the advent of online gambling you may soon be indulging in your favourite casino game from the comfort of your own home.
History
The creation of online casinos goes back to the passing of the Free Trade and Processing Act in Antigua and Barbuda 25 years ago. It gave power to the Caribbean nation to grant licences to companies who wanted to start online casinos.
In 1996 InterCasino was established as the first online casino in Antigua by former Ohio bookmaker William Scott.
In the US the availability of online casinos varies from state to state. Legislation was first drafted in the late 1990s to prevent online gambling in the US, with most of the restrictions based around the Federal Wire Act, FWA.
The 1961 FWA prohibited certain types of betting businesses from operating effectively banning interstate gambling. It was introduced by then US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy in a bid to address the problem of organized crime.
The FWA has been used to prevent online gambling sites in the US to mimic how they operate in countries like Britain. Legislation was passed in 2006 to stop online transactions between banks and online gambling sites, so preventing customers using online sites to gamble.
However, in 2011, the US Department of Justice released a statement clarifying that the FWA applied only to sports betting sites and not to online casinos, poker or lottery sites. This move gave individual states the scope to define the legality of online gambling.
Online Casino Gambling in the USA
An online casino is a virtual simulation of the tradition Vegas table offering classic games like blackjack, poker, roulette and slots.
There are two main types: the download casino requiring you to download and install a free software programme to play, and instant play casino allowing you to play from any web browser using flash or java technology.
Perhaps the simplest game to play is roulette: you place bets on numbers (0-36) on the spin of a wheel for big odds, or sections/colours for smaller odds. The probability of winning is smaller on individual number bets the pay-out is 35-to-1 but the roulette wheel is the hallmark of any casino.
Blackjack, or 21, is popular with a potential to win regularly if you know how to play. It is always worth reading up about the game and developing your own strategy on when to bet and, more importantly, when to fold.
It is based around the principle of getting as close to 21 as you can, without exceeding the limit. You will be playing against the dealer only, unless you join a multiplayer table.
In blackjack you and the dealer are dealt two cards normally both your cards are facing up while the dealer shows one card. You either stand, or stick, on the cards you have or hit, the dealer giving you another card. If you draw blackjack 21 with two cards you are normally paid out at 3-2: bet $10 you will get $15 from the dealer. When the dealer plays, they must €˜hit’ until they reach 17 or more, and if you beat their hand, they pay you at evens: bet $10 win $10.
Picture/face cards are worth ten, the ace worth 11 or one. If you draw two cards of the same value you can split them to play two hands; double the cost but doubling your chances to win. You can also double your bet on the turn of one card; useful if you draw eleven with your first two cards and a ten or picture card will get you to 21.
Always remember to have one eye on what the dealer has and bet with caution if they draw a ten, a picture card or an ace more chance of them hitting 21.
Online casino betting sites are becoming more available (and legal) in the US with states lining up to follow the likes of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania to offer the service. Many gambling sites offer online casino options; check sites like Unibet Casino, Pala Casino and fanduel for all their betting options.
