Frequently Asked Questions About Online Casinos

A. In many countries, yes. For example, Antigua allows online gambling and has issued licenses to online casinos. Kahnawake, a Mohawk Territory in Canada, also licenses online casinos. More recently the UK has opened the Isle of Man to casino licensing (see UK Embraces Online Gambling) as has the Philippines in Cagayan (see Asian Jurisdiction Now Offers Internet Gaming Licenses).

The situation in the United States continues to be a more complicated. Some states have passed anti i-gaming legislation while many others have proposed related bills. At the Federal level there continues to be a number of such initiatives. No definitive legislation has emerged as a front-runner. Many of the US efforts are aimed at outright bans on internet gaming but remain mired in the seemingly endless political jockeying that has long characterized this issue in the US.

In response to the situation in the US many online casinos no longer accept wagers from United States residents. Even so, some estimates indicate that as much as 90% of online gamblers are in the US. At the time of this writing no internet casino is known to have it's servers located within US borders.

For more information on the legal issues concerning online gambling, see our Internet Gambling News and Features section. You might also want to check out Gambling and the Law® Status of Gambling Laws and Gambling-Law-US.com.

Q. Are online casinos fair and honest?

A. Generally speaking, yes. Legitimate casinos don't need to operate crooked games to make a profit. There's enough profit built-in with the house edge and player mistakes.

Many casinos advertise that their games are tested for fairness. Some casinos have their payouts audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers or other major accounting firms.

But be warned that dishonest casinos do exist. The most common complaint we hear is that some online casinos are slow to pay out winnings or lock player accounts claiming that players have abused their games or played suspisciously. In a number of widely discussed cases, casinos have not paid out at all. We strongly recommend that players check the prominent internet casino message board services for the latest information on these issues.

Q. Do I have to be an adult to play?

A. You must be 18 or older to wager real money. If you're under 18, you can still play for fun at a number of online casinos. Or play our free casino games.

Q. How do I choose an online casino?

A. There are literally hundreds of online casinos but a few have been around long enough and have over time proven to be trustworthy enough that they deserve special attention. We offer our Top Picks list to spotlight some of these. Our casino directory offers links to nearly all online casinos. Before wagering real money, see our Beginner's Guide.

Q. Do I need to download software to play?

A. Not necessarily. Some casinos offer no-download versions of many of their games such as blackjack, roulette and slots. However, it is worth noting that the download games often offer higher quality games with better graphics, sound and animation.

Most casinos let you play the games for free before placing a real-money bet. That way you can "test drive" the casino and choose the games you like best. See our software section for more information, and read Max Drayman's article To download or not.

Q. How do I purchase chips and get started?

A. Casinos generally accept deposits by Neteller, FirePay, Citadel, check, money order, wire transfer or a number of other options. There was a time when most people used their credit cards but the major cards have since restricted or even suspended this service. Third-party services such as Neteller and FirePay have emerged as a primary source for many casino transactions. In some cases financial transactions are handled by provider affiliated electronic cash systems such as InterCasino's use of Cryptologic's Ecash system.

Q. How do I collect my winnings?

A. This varies from casino to casino. Casinos offering Neteller services will credit your withdrawals back to that account. The same is true for the other third-party services. Cheques, bank drafts and wires are also popular options.

At some casinos you will have to wait for a PIN (personal identification number) to be sent to you by regular mail before you can make a withdrawal.

Some casinos charge for withdrawals, some don't. Always read the deposit and withdrawal policies before playing for real money at any online casino.

For more information about withdrawing your winnings, visit our online casino payout info page.

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