Does Online Gambling Work
Online slots are the most popular type of game you will find at online casinos but many players have never fully understood how they work under the hood. Hopefully, this article has gone a long way to helping you yourself have a better understanding of how online slots determine their results and what your chances are of beating them. Most people have a good grasp of what the online casino industry is and does, but few understand how it works. There is a lot to consider when bringing traditional gameplay to audiences in this very modern format; not only do online casino providers have to ensure their customers have a good experience while playing the games, but they also need to verify that the ancillary aspects (like. Gambling online is quickly becoming the way to place a bet. More Americans are turning to their mobile devices and laptops to play their favorite slots, poker games or bet on sports online. If you live, work, vacation in the US, you are probably much closer to a legal gambling state than you think.
- Online gaming requires a network that includes solitary or more computers to work as servers. The computers of the players are termed as clients. Clients link to the server through the Internet or a.
- Sports betting is perhaps the simplest of all forms of online gambling, in terms of how it all works. There’s no software to download, and viewing the available betting markets and then placing your chosen wagers is really easy to do. A typical sports betting site will have a.
You will find hundreds of slot machine titles at online casinos. These are distributed by a variety of companies based throughout the world.
Some slots found on the internet are the same as ones available on the Las Vegas Strip. Others are exclusive to online casinos.
Best Online Casinos with Real Money Slots
All Slot Games
Difference between live and online slots
Slots in Las Vegas casinos have some similarities with online games. In most cases, the same title found in a live casino is available over the internet. The denomination is usually $.01 on both. That is where similarities end.
Classic slot machines use reels. These often have just one pay line, although some may have up to 10. These classic slots are nearly impossible to find online. Where they are available, the screen is video and not reels.
The payouts on online slot games are often much higher than land-based ones. The slot hold by the house at internet casinos is usually about 5 percent. This number is often 10 percent or higher at bricks-and-mortar casinos. That makes online slots a much better deal for players.
Virtually all online casinos offer first deposit and reload bonuses. These bonuses tend to only apply to slots. The added return through the first deposit bonus is about 5 percent. This means that online slots can have little or no house edge when playing with a bonus.
Online casinos offer VIP programs. These are especially lucrative for slot players. You can earn points faster at slots than other games. The comps earned at online slots are straight cash. Live casinos players typically have to accept comps in the form of free play, hotel or overpriced food.
Slots manufacturers
IGT
International Game Technology, also known as IGT, is one of the largest casino slot manufacturers and distributors in the world. The company is based in Nevada and is a subsidiary of GTECH, a major lottery provider. IGT provides slots to casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other major casino cities.
IGT is home to the Game King. This is the most popular video poker machine in the world. It includes the Bonus Poker series.
IGT also owns major slot titles. These include Cats, Cleopatra, Coyote Moon, Double Diamond, Ghostbusters, Jeopardy, Star Trek and Wheel of Fortune. These same slots are found at dozens of online casinos.
Scientific Games
Scientific Games and its subsidiary WMS Interactive is another major casino slot provider. Most bricks-and-mortar casinos spread slots machines distributed by WMS.
Popular titles include Battleship, Jackpot Party, Monopoly and the Wizard of Oz. These and many other titles are available at regulated casino sites offered to players in countries where online gaming is legal.
888
888 is a company that only operates over the internet. It is home to the second largest poker site in the world, behind only PokerStars.
888 also has proprietary casino software. This includes video poker, blackjack, roulette and a handful of house-banked poker games. 888 also has a slots selection but it is one of the smallest in the industry. None of the slots spread by 888 are recognizable to live casino players because they are only available on the 888 and its partners’ websites.
Amaya Gaming
Amaya Gaming owns PokerStars, the largest poker site in the world. It also has a casino platform. Amaya has table games that include blackjack, roulette and craps.
There is also a video poker series known as Royal Touch. It also powers games distributed by other interactive gaming companies.
Bally Technologies
Bally Technologies is a gaming device manufacturer with decades of experience. It distributes slots, table games and video poker. Its slot titles include Big Vegas, Cash Spin, Grease, Hot Shot Progressive, Money Vault, Pawn Stars, Quick Platinum Hit, Fireball and many others.
Its main video poker game is Game Maker. This includes video Let it Ride, keno and Pick’em Poker.
Getting the most value at online slots
The variance in online slots is substantial. The jackpots and bonus rounds are few and far between. When they hit, it can be the most exciting moment for online casino players.
It is important to play within your bankroll. While big hits are what we are all looking for when playing slots, it is important to have enough cash to wait out the cold periods.
Playing with a bonus is another way to get the best value from playing online slots. This can cut the house edge drastically. It will also generate special offers from the casino. Most slot players should be able to always play with a bonus between first deposit offers and reloads.
Nearly all online casinos offer VIP programs. You may have to opt in to receive these privileges that include cash and bricks-and-mortar comps. Always read the terms and conditions of the VIP program to make sure that you qualify and if any action is needed on your part to join it.
VIP programs tied to slots usually pay straight cash to players that may be used immediately.
How Slot Machines Work
There are many myths and misconceptions that people believe govern the way online slots work. Maybe you are one of those people who love the idea of winning money from a online slot machine but have no idea how they actually operate.
The Random Number Generator (RNG)
In every online slot game, there is a computer component normally referred to as the Random Number Generator (RNG), the main purpose of which is to create random sequences in intervals of a millisecond all day, every day.
The RNGs always produce random and different series of numbers every time you click the spin or bet max button.
The Random Number Generator is applied to all online casinos to determine the outcomes of the numerous online slots they offer. These outcomes are all dependent on a combination of algorithms and the RNG software, and these systems alone determine the outcome of each spin you bet on — the previous spin or spins are irrelevant to the outcome of any other spin.
How the RNG works
[toc]It is crucial to note that the slot game does not have a memory. Neither the random number generator nor any other part of the slot game knows whether you have won big or lost big. It is never aware of whether you have stayed all day without a single win or whether you just hit a jackpot.
Your fate is usually determined by certain mathematical equations, and the moment you initiate a play sequence, it is instantly decided upon by the RNG. It is important to note that the results of your online slots spins are not pre-programmed to yield certain results.
When you initiate a spin on an online slot game, the RNG starts spitting out whole numbers, at the rate of hundreds per second. Whichever number the RNG is on at the split second you click your mouse determines what symbols the reels will land on. So, the only thing that you do that affects the outcome of your spin is deciding at what second to click the mouse.
The moment you press the start button on a three-reel slot game, for instance, three numbers are recorded from the RNG (one for each reel). The first digit determines the first reel’s position, the second determines the second reel’s position, and the third determines the third reel’s position, and the same is true for five-reel slots and other slot game variations.
How video slots work
Video slots feature on average 50 individual paylines, but sometimes up to 100 or more. The moment you press the play button, the programs draw five random numbers each on every reel. The reel numbers will then stop depending on the numbers that each has been assigned by the Random Number Generator.
The system, thus, quickly calculates the complex mathematics behind your win or loss once the last reel stops. The prizes are instantly and automatically summed up to your balance. In cases where Free Spins are awarded or a bonus round is initiated, the reels spin consistently through the same Random Number Generator process.
Benefits of RNGs
If you held any uninformed myths about slots machines, now you know the outcome of every spin that you make is independent and different from previous results. Random Number Generator software is rigorously tested before use to ensure that the outcomes are free from manipulation, and thus fair and safe.
Reputable online gambling sites will have RNGs that are certified by the Technical Systems Testing (TST). It is also important to note that though the modern online slot machines have changed considerably due to more sophisticated gaming technology that progresses every day, the fundamental aspects of the Random Number Generator always remain the same.
Types of slot games
Are you a casino games fanatic but have no idea what online slot games exist in the market?
Fortunately for you, there are a wide range of slot games available including video slots, bonus slots, progressive jackpot slots, and 3-reel slots, just to name but a few.
These slot games offer exciting features such as sliding symbols, free spins, lucrative bonus rounds, and wild multipliers.
3-reel slot games
The 3-reel slot game is also referred to as a single line slot machine and is the simplest of all slot games. An alternative reference to the game is one-armed bandits, a name derived from the earlier mechanical slot machines that had a lever that was pulled by the player to initiate a spin.
3-reel slots are the best online slots for you if you are a newcomer to the online casino realm. These slot games are simple and easy and very enjoyable. Many seasoned online slot fanatics prefer playing 3-reel slots exclusively; however, to win, it is crucial that you have the ability to grasp the basic rules quickly.
The typical 3-reel slot game features three reels with various symbols. When you click spin, the random number generator (RNG) randomly stops that the reels on three symbols that land across the single line.
Normally, 3-reel slot games take a maximum wager of three coins per spin. The rewards of a 3-reel slot game are healthy and also come with generous progressive jackpots.
Video slot game or multiple reel slot
Another type of online slot game is the video slot game, which has at least 5 reels. Many times these online casino games are referred to as 5-reel slots. The sounds, images, and graphics of video slots games are attractive, sophisticated, and designed to enhance the experience of the game significantly.
Just like in the 3-reel slot games, the video slot reels feature a variety of symbols, but unlike 3-reel slots, there is more than one payline. Some video slots offer up to 100 paylines on which you can bet. Video slots also operate with an RNG.
Video slot games have a number of advantages over their 3-reel counterparts, including an array of bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, and a seemingly unlimited amount of betting options. Payouts on video slots are typically very high, and maximum payouts and progressive jackpots can be won easily with a maximum bet.
Bonus slot game
Bonus slot games are characterized by their incorporation of a bonus game round.
This bonus game round is triggered by certain combinations and symbols on an active payline. The incorporated bonus games are usually designed to complement the theme of the game with vivid graphics and sound effects that bring these slot games to life. Many bonus slot games are now even interactive and are carried out like a mini arcade game, serving as a game within a game.
The bonus slots are appealing to online slots fans and thus attract thousands of online bettors daily. Whether or not a slot game features a bonus round is usually a deciding factor for many when players when selecting online slots game to play regularly. This is because the amount of enjoyment and the rewards derived from bonus slots games are compounded, as bonus slots offer substantial winnings as well as free spins to winning players.
Free spins slot game
Many regular online casino patrons love to play online slots that feature free spins because they believe these are loose games that payout better due to more spins for the bet.
Ultimately, the free spin feature on certain online slot games allows you to spin the reels for free when certain symbols land on the appropriate paylines, in turn initiating free spins.
X of Y bonus slot game
The X of Y bonus slots are rewards that you could get by attaining a certain number of particular symbols on the reels. This slots game is different from the free bonus slots in that the X of Y bonus feature occurrence is not dependent on the position of the reel after spinning, but on attaining the required number of a given symbol on another screen.
This explains why the X of Y bonus is at times referred to as bonus game on the second screen.
While playing an X of Y bonus slots, you are expected to pick one or a number of objects from a group of objects and then add up the winnings on each object. You can also play the X of Y bonus slots game at several levels. You have to complete each level successfully before you can play the next one.
Multi-level bonus slot game
The multi-level bonus slots game is another popular slots choice of many online slots players. The multi-level bonus slot consists of a number of levels with each level offering the opportunity to win increased profits and rewards.
Once you are through with the first level successfully, you move onto the next until you complete the entire series. However, should you fail to complete a level, you do not proceed to the next.
Progressive jackpot slot game
Progressive jackpot slots offer online casino slots players the opportunity to cash in big. With jackpots that grow to reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, these games can be quite rewarding and extremely enticing for those online slot players who like to bet big, as progressive payouts are only awarded to maximum bet spins.
Progressive slot games are linked across machines, games, websites, and casinos, making the total payout quite staggering. Once the progressive jackpot has been won, the game is reset and the jackpot begins to build up again. The large winning that comes with progressive slots game makes it undoubtedly the most popular type of online slot game.
More about progressive jackpot slots
As you’ve just seen, the gambling industry today is saturated with many types of online slots. This is because as the world’s technology and gaming platforms advance, so do slots.
Online slots are like snowflakes in that no two are alike. While some are similar in theme and some even share the same jackpot, they are still all different and every online slot player has his or her favorite. Some of the more common online slots include 3-reel slots, 5-reel slots, video slots, and by far the most popular, progressive slots.
Progressive slots feature jackpots that continually increase with each bet placed by all players playing that particular game. The jackpot is dependent on the individual percentages of each bet made and is clearly displayed on the gaming screen at all times.
However, you must eventually win at some point to earn the jackpot. It is possible for you to win an award without necessarily acquiring the progressive jackpot, should you not bet the maximum number of coins or win a combination that qualifies for a lesser prize than the jackpot payout.
Progressive machines exclusively pay the maximum jackpot when you hit on the specific winning symbol combination on a maximum bet spin. To win a progressive jackpot, it is important that you wager the maximum number of coins or credit bets, or maximum bet.
You’ll also find blackjack and video poker games at various online gambling sites that have a progressive jackpot component.
Types of progressive jackpot slots
1. Standalone progressive jackpot slots
Standalone progressive slot games have a single-game jackpot that is not linked to any other online slot game. The value of the standalone progressive slot’s jackpot is calculated using the percentages of the bets made on the game by all users.
As is true with all progressive slots, the standalone slot’s jackpot continues to increase with each bet made until the progressive jackpot is paid at which time it resets. These types of progressive jackpot slots typically feature a lower payout than other types of progressive slots.
2. In-house progressive jackpot slots
In-house progressive jackpot slots are progressive slot machines that have been joined together within one online slots casino or a group of online casinos owned by the same operator. These progressive slots offer higher jackpot payouts because there are multiple games contributing to the jackpot – therefore, more players and more bets.
3. Network progressive jackpot slots
Progressive jackpot slots that span across an entire network of online casinos sharing the same platform offer the biggest progressive jackpot payouts because hundreds of thousands of bets are being placed on multiple games across large numbers of online casinos.
Therefore, the payouts become life changing amounts that go up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
4. Multiple progressive jackpot slots
Multiple progressive jackpot slots provide players with the opportunity to win one of three progressive jackpots.
Tips for selecting the best progressive slot game
Online casino software platform
The first thing that you should consider before playing a progressive jackpot slot online is the platform or software that powers the online slot game. Be keen to investigate the reputation of the company that manufactured that particular progressive slot game.
Some of the more renowned and reputable casino game platforms are Microgaming, Playtech, Net Entertainment, Real Time Gaming (RTG), Wagerworks and Random Logic. It is important to investigate the platform that runs the online slot to ensure that the platform has met all the respectable industry certification standards because these games hardly make errors.
Progressive jackpot slot maximum bet
Another crucial factor to consider is the bet amount. Do not get attracted to a game and start playing before you investigate what the betting limits are and coin credits. Because you must make the maximum bet to win a progressive jackpot online, then you will want to make sure that your bankroll can support the maximum bet repeatedly.
Online slot progressive jackpot payout
Also, pay attention to the game payout of the slot machine. Note that not all progressive slot machine payouts are created equal. You can also study the past payouts of the game and select one that hasn’t hit in a while or one that is due up to hit based on past jackpot payouts.
For instance, if a game has hit about once every seven months and it hasn’t hit in six months, you may utilize the strategy that it should be about ready to payout the progressive jackpot.
Know your limits
Though progressive jackpot slots may be the most attractive slots in the market with extremely high potential payouts, they might not be the best for you, especially if you are operating on a limited budget.
Common slots game myths and misconceptions
Slots, both in land-based casinos and online casinos, are among the world’s most popular casino games. Diverse reasons make these games well-liked, such as these games are relatively easy play and no real skill is required.
Furthermore, slots can be played at low denominations, making them some of the safest gambling games for online casino patrons on a budget. There are, however, many myths and misconceptions about slots.
We’ll attempt to dissect some of these myths and misconceptions so as to give you a clear understanding about slots.
There are no loose or tight slots
This is not true, as some slots have been set specifically to lower payouts. This basically implies that some slots are a bit tighter or looser than others. Those slots that are set to be tighter are normally aimed at targeting the tourists.
Veteran slot gamers can easily identify tighter and looser slots.
The machine you play at most frequently offers you better chances of hitting big
This is a misconception because regardless of the machine you use, the outcomes are independent and all apply the same fundamental rules and principles to each individual spin and are not dependent on previous spins or payouts. It does not matter whether you have played on a certain machine for hours or just sat down.
This does make slots all the more exciting and enticing.
The casino can slow down a slot machine by merely touching a button and tightening it up
A slot machine cannot be modified by the entity that owns or operates it. All the slot machines’ modification activities can only be carried out by the representatives of the manufacturers of the machines.
How Does Online Betting Work
Alternatively, if the casino owners or operators need to make any modifications on them, they have to do it under the supervision of the Gaming Commission representative. The Gaming Commission representative must approve that there is need for the slot machine modification and ensure that the casino follows the rules and the regulations to the letter.
For a machine to operate steadily without stopping payouts, the mechanic has to keep opening it from time to time
This is a misconception because the only time the slot machines should be opened is when the coins are being refilled. This has nothing to do with the terms of the game play. Once the coins have been added, and the machine is restarted, it continues from where it had stopped.
Higher denomination slot machines have better payouts than lower ones
What is true is that that the higher denomination slot machines’ payouts occur more frequently than lower bet slot machines, and this could be the root of this misconception. These payouts are actually smaller than the coin-denomination play.
Note that all the slot machines, whether higher denomination or quarter slot machines, are programmed with fixed payouts that they stick to regardless of how often or seldom they hit. Furthermore, it should go without saying, if you place a larger bet, you will get a larger payout.
If you have stuffed the slot machine with too much money, you will eventually win
This is a misconception that leaves many players frustrated. It is not guaranteed that because you have made hundreds of spins you will eventually hit the jackpot. It is by mere luck that you hit the jackpot, if you ever do.
The slot machine, as aforementioned, functions independently and has no memory of prior spins or wins, so it has no idea whether you deserve to win or not.
When you become a member of a slot club, the slot machines favor you
This is a lie for the aforementioned reasons. What is true is that being a member of a certain slot club has its own benefits, but these benefits have nothing to do with better payouts.
The slot machines do not have the ability to tell if you are using coins or cards, and thus being a member of a club does not influence the outcomes of the game in any way. They must follow the programmed fixed payout percentage.
One can see when a slot is due to pay
It is good to always remember that it is a random number generator system that determines what symbols the reels land on. It is this same system that, if you are lucky, will create a combination of winning numbers on any given spin.
The software operates on a random base, and thus, has no guarantee that the next combination will be a winning combination. Furthermore, the slot machine does not know whether it has a jackpot or not. It also has no memory, and therefore, does not know how much the last payout was worth. Therefore, don’t be misinformed that there is any way in which you can predict the next combination.
You cannot hit two jackpots consecutively
This is also a misconception because, as stated earlier, it is by mere luck that you hit the jackpot. In fact, there have been numerous occasions that online slot players have hit a sizeable jackpot and kept playing on the same slot game, only to win another sizeable jackpot.
It is human nature to become irrational and hold misinformed beliefs so as to grow and prosper. This is especially true if things don’t go our way. Myths can be fun, but only if you do not let them dictate your game plan. They are not so laughable when they control the way you carry out your daily activities, and the way you enjoy your casino games.
It is important that you now know and are warned off the slots myths that could lead you to making the wrong decisions, which could seriously threaten your bankroll and see you lose huge amounts of money.
Online gambling still feels like a relatively “new” thing to
us. We can clearly remember the time when betting and gaming for
real money on the internet became possible. It actually seems
incredible that this was now over 20 years ago, although
gambling is certainly different today than it was when it first
started.
Since the very first gambling sites there have been many
changes to the industry, perhaps most notably in terms of the
relevant laws and the way it’s regulated. There have also been
major improvements in terms of the quality and standard of
what’s available. The early sites are almost unrecognizable when
compared to the leading gambling sites of today.
Fundamentally, though, everything works in largely the same
way as it did all the way back in the mid-1990s. It’s still all
rather straightforward, despite the fact that many people are
reluctant to gamble online because they think it’s really
complicated or difficult. On this page we can hopefully put that
misconception to rest. We explain some of the basics that apply
to online gambling in general, and then look specifically at how
each of the following four forms of gambling work in the online
environment.
- Sports Betting
- Poker
- Casino Games
- Daily Fantasy Sports
The Basics
Online gambling is facilitated by gambling sites. These are
websites that can be accessed like any other, by clicking on a
link or typing the relevant address into a browser. Some sites
offer a variety of different forms of gambling, while others
specialize in just one.
These sites all feature advanced software that make it
possible to gamble for real money online. This software is built
into the site in some cases, and in some cases you have to
download a software client. Either way, this software is
essentially the main component of any gambling site. Sports
betting sites use software that enable you to find and place
your chosen wagers, online casinos and poker rooms use software
that enables you to play the relevant games, and daily fantasy
sports use software that enables you to draft teams and enter
them in contests.
There are three things required to be able to use these
gambling sites and bet or play for real money. These are as
follows.
- A computer or other device with internet access.
- An account.
- Money.
The first item on this list is rather obvious of course, as
you can’t access any site on the web without a device with
internet access. The only way to use gambling sites in the early
days was with a PC running Windows, as they simply weren’t
compatible with anything else. Slowly but surely more and more
sites started introducing Mac capability. Nowadays you can use
these sites with any computer or laptop, and even with
smartphones and tablets.
To get an account at a gambling site you have to go through a
short signing up process. When visiting a site for the first
time, you’ll usually see a button or link with the text “Join
Now” or something similar. Clicking on that will either take you
to another page with a form to complete, or open a pop-up with a
form. You then have to complete that form by providing a few
personal details. With that process out the way, it’s time to
make a deposit.
Deposits are how you get real money into your account, so
that you can start betting and gaming. There are usually several
different options for doing this. Using a credit card or debit
card is the most popular method, and it’s also the easiest. You
just have to enter the details of the relevant card, and then
how much you wish to deposit. Funds will be transferred into
your account, and you’ll be ready to go.
There are lot of different gambling sites on the web
today, and it’s important to choose carefully when deciding
which one to use. For anyone who doesn’t know where to start,
please read our article explaining how to pick the right site.
How Online Sports Betting Works
Sports betting is perhaps the simplest of all forms of online
gambling, in terms of how it all works. There’s no software to
download, and viewing the available betting markets and then
placing your chosen wagers is really easy to do.
A typical sports betting site will have a section that lists
all the different sports covered. Here’s an example of how this
list might look.
Clicking on the sport you want to bet on will then bring up a
new page, displaying the various upcoming events for that sport.
Click on football, for example, and you’ll see lists of games
that may look similar to the following.
The odds and lines for each game displayed are clearly
visible. These are subject to regular change, as the odds
compilers working for betting sites are constantly being
adjusted based on various factors. These changes are
done in the back-end software of the site, that we as customers
don’t get to see. All we see are the odds and lines as they are
displayed.
From a screen like the one shown above, there are two primary
choices. The first is to make a betting selection from the
options on display by simply clicking on the relevant spot on
the page. If you wanted to bet on the Steelers to cover the -3
spread at odds of -110, for example, you’d click where we’ve
highlighted. The selection will then be added to a betting slip,
which we’ll explain later.
The second choice is to look at additional betting options
for a specific game. We’ve also highlighted how this can be
accomplished. Clicking this button will take you to a page
showing the full range of bets available for that game,
including props such as the one shown below.
Again, clicking on the relevant selection (hence the one we
highlighted) will add that selection to a betting slip.
Having made your desired selection, or selections, you need
to go to the betting slip. At some betting sites this remains
visible at all times, on all pages, while at others you have to
navigate to a specific page to find it. It will always look
something like this though.
In this screenshot, we’ve added a moneyline wager on the
Kansas City Chiefs to win their game against the Houston Texans.
The betting slip is displaying our selection, and the odds, at
the top. This is followed by details of the game in question.
There are then two boxes, one of which we’ve highlighted. This
is where we need to enter our stake, which is $100 in this case.
The box to the immediate right hand side of this shows us the
potential win from this stake. The wager is then summarized
below this, with another button at the bottom of the slip. This
is what we need to click to first review our wager, and then
confirm it.
At the point of confirming our wager, the staked amount will
be deducted from our account. If the Chiefs go on to win the
game, the stake will be returned to our account along with any
winnings. If they don’t, nothing further happens and our stake
is lost.
That’s pretty much all there is to how online sports betting
works. It could hardly be any simpler than that.
How Online Casinos Work
Online casinos are more complex than sports betting sites,
but not by much. We can start off by choosing between these two
options. You can either download a software client and install
it on your computer, or you can choose to play from a selection
of “instant” games which are accessed via your web browser. The
overall experience is pretty much the same in either case. Some
casinos only offer one option or the other, but most offer both.
If you choose to download the software client and install it,
to access the games you’ll have to start up the client and login
using your username and password. There are lots of different
types of casino software, but they all work in pretty much the
same way. After logging in, you’ll see the games lobby such as
the one pictured below.
You can then choose from the list of game categories on the
left hand side, which will open up a new list of all the
available games in that category. All that’s left to do is to
select the game you want to play and start playing. We’ll
explain more about the actual games shortly.
If you choose to play the instant games, you just need to log
in to the casino’s website and go to the games page. Here’s an
example of what that page may look like.
There’s a selection of games shown in the main part of the
screen. Typically, these will be the most popular games
available. You can click on any one of them to start playing.
Alternatively, you can take a look at wider selection of games.
In the example we’ve shown above, the casino has listed some
alternatives at the bottom of the screen. These are divided into
categories, and there are options (as per our highlights) to see
all the games in each category. Clicking on one of the “view
all” links will take you to another screen where you can then
pick which games you want to play.
Playing the games is usually a very simple process. The
following is a screenshot from a slot game.
We’ve highlighted the two important parts of this screen, in
terms of what you have to do. The two buttons on the left are
how you adjust the amount you want to stake per spin. There’s
typically a wide range of stakes available. The button on the
right is how you spin the reels. Simply click on that, or press
it if using a touchscreen, and the reels will start spinning.
The amount staked per spin will be deducted from your account at
that point. If a winning combination comes in, the relevant
payout will be added instantly to your account.
The following is a screenshot from a roulette game.
Here, the software is displaying a graphical representation
of a roulette table. The main part of the screen is the betting
board, and this is where you place your bets. First you have to
click on the size of chip you wish to use, and then clicking on
the relevant spot on the board will add chips to your chosen
wager. Clicking on the “spin” button will start the roulette
wheel. Once the wheel has stopped, the screen will show what
number has been spun. All bets will be settled at this point;
the relevant sums will be added to or deducted from your account
balance.
All the different games at online casinos work on the same
basic principle. There’s some form of graphical representation
of how the game would look in a real casino, an option for
adjusting stakes, options for the different types of wager
allowed if relevant, and an option for starting a new round of
the game. Online casinos typically publish instructions for how
to play each game, so you can always read these when you’re not
sure what to do.
This is all you really need to know about how online casinos
work, but you can
read more in our online casino basics section.
This article explains how casinos use a random number generator
to ensure that their games are fair. It also covers the various
different software providers that online casinos use to power
their games, while touching upon other topics as well.
How Online Poker Works
Online poker is the most complicated of all forms of online
gambling in terms of the mechanics of how it works. Again,
though, it’s still easy enough to learn everything you need to
know to participate. We provide a fairly brief overview here,
but for more details you might like to
study our guide to online
poker.
As with online casinos, at poker sites there’s often the
choice to either download a software client or play instant
games. Generally speaking, the better option is to download the
software if possible. Instant play poker has improved a lot
recently, but the downloadable software is usually higher
quality and more functional.
Regardless of whether you download the software or play the
instant games, there are two screens that are particularly
important to understand. The first of these is the lobby screen,
which looks very similar at pretty much all poker sites. Here’s
an example.
The lobby screen is where you see all the available games.
You can usually apply filters so that only certain games apply.
For example, you could choose to see only shorthanded Texas No
Limit tables with stakes below $1/$2. Or you could choose to see
all sit and go tournaments with a $10 entry fee. Or you could
choose to see all upcoming scheduled tournaments. Basically,
there are plenty of options for finding whatever game you’re
looking for.
When entering a tournament, the relevant entry fee is
deducted immediately from your account. When sitting at a cash
table, the amount you choose to buy in for is deducted from your
account. At both cash games and tournaments, the game screen
will look something like this.
This is where all the serious action takes place. Each avatar
around the table represents a real person who is also playing
online at the same table. Play follows the same rules as a game
of poker would in “real life”. Whenever it’s your turn to act at
the table, the available actions will be shown on screen.
Clicking on the relevant button will mean you take that action.
Where appropriate, you’ll also have to enter how many chips
you want to bet. All of your actions, and those of the other
players, are communicated to the poker site’s servers, which
processes them and displays the appropriate information on
screen. So it’s easy to keep track of what the other players are
doing and act accordingly.
It’s not too different from playing in real life. You’re just
placed in front of a virtual poker table instead of a real one.
Plus, all the cards are dealt automatically rather than by a
human dealer. Cards are dealt randomly, as poker sites use
random number generators in the same way as online casinos. The
chips are handled instantly, and the winner of each hand is
determined automatically too. All of this stuff is processed by
the poker site’s servers.
How Daily Fantasy Sports Works
If you’ve played in traditional fantasy sport leagues, then
daily fantasy sports contests will make perfect sense to you.
Even if this isn’t the case, they’re still easy enough to
understand. The basic idea is that you create “fantasy” teams by
drafting players from real life sports, and then put your teams
up against teams created by others. Teams are awarded points
based on how their players perform in actual games. Unlike
traditional leagues though, daily fantasy sports contests don’t
last a whole season. They are based on a single round of games.
Is Online Gambling A Good Idea
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s involved.
As with sports betting, there’s no software to download with
daily fantasy sports (DFS). Everything takes place directly on
the site via your web browser. You need an account at a suitable
DFS sites, with funds deposited in order to enter contests.
There are a variety of different types of contests to enter,
similarly to how there are different types of tournaments at
poker sites. All the entry fees collected for each contest form
the prize pool.
Let’s say you decide to enter a football based contest. First
you’d pay the relevant entry fees, and the next step would be to
create a lineup. The following is a screenshot from a daily
fantasy sports site, showing how this is done.
On the right are the positions you need to fill. On the left
are the players you can choose to fill those positions. There
will be certain drafting rules in place, such as only being able
to select a certain number of players from each real life team.
Lineups are subject to salary caps too. Each available player is
given a hypothetical salary value, and the total value of all
players’ salaries in a lineup must not exceed a fixed limit.
Once the lineup is created, it will be submitted into the
contest you’ve chosen to enter. All points earned will be
calculated automatically by the site based on whatever criteria
is used, and then the teams will be ranked based on how many
points have been earned. The prize pool is then distributed to
the “owners” of the team who scored the most points.
We provide a more detailed look at how this all works in
our
guide to daily fantasy sports. This includes information on how
the drafting rules and scoring systems work, in addition to all
the different types of leagues and contest. One interesting part
of this article is our comparison between daily fantasy sports
and traditional sports betting. This isn’t the only topic we
cover either.