Online gambling is any type of gambling conducted online. This includes casinos, online poker and online sports betting. The first online gambling site opened for the public, was ticket selling for the first Liechtenstein International Poker Tournament in 1994. Since then online gambling has become very popular. It is estimated that by 2021 online gambling will surpass the amount of live casinos in the US.
One of the main differences between online gambling and land based casinos is that there is no tangible goods or items that can be taken from an online casino or a land based casino. With online gambling you can only make wagers and not take anything from the casino with you. Many people are apprehensive about participating in online gambling and there are also laws governing internet gambling. Before you place an bet ensure that you are aged 18 years or over and that you are a citizen of the country in which you are participating in the online gambling.
Gambling laws in the United Kingdom vary from place to place. Where ever you are in the UK you are welcome to play online gambling but as always be sure to check the law regarding online gambling before you begin to place bets. If you are found participating in online gambling you could face prosecution under the UK Gambling Act and the Serious Fraud Office. In addition to this there are countless other British based companies that operate online casinos. Some of these companies are associated with online betting sites but many of them are independent. To play at these sites you must still be a UK resident.
In the United Kingdom the majority of online casinos are operated by an offshore company. The company either operates out of a country within the EU or a country outside the UK but operates online casinos. If you wish to partake in online gambling in the UK you will need to register at a UK based betting exchange. There are also a few online betting exchanges located within the Republic of Ireland.
Some online gambling casinos offer free bet promotions to new players. These types of promotions can often get people started at the casinos. The casinos also offer free betting advice which is given by professional gamblers. This advice can come in the form of testimonials of other players who have already been at the casino. It is also possible to find independent news feeds on some online casinos through which the latest news and events regarding online gambling can be received.
The online casinos that operate in the UK follow all the local gambling legislation. Therefore, no matter where one is located in the UK they are welcome to play online gambling games. The fact that the online casinos are operated out of the country do not prevent them from meeting the same regulatory requirements as land-based casinos. In addition to this some of the online casinos are members of the European Online Casino Association (EOA). The EOA monitors the online casinos that are members and ensures that they adhere to all the requirements set forth by the EOA.