Online casino gaming has changed the world of gambling irrevocably. Basically, this means we only advocate the sites that pass our high standards and give you better chances to win big. The biggest South African online casinos. Listed some of the most common online gambling myths, and revealed the real truth. All Online Gambling is Illegal. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest online gambling myths of all. It’s not relevant in parts of the world where online gambling is fully legalized and regulated, but there are some regions where the laws aren’t so clear. Online casinos usually like to paint the picture that a fun gambling experience is guaranteed with them, but this isn’t always the case. Even if you do manage to win a payout on their website, withdrawing.

There are many misconceptions that surround the idea of
gambling. Some of these developed due to a lack of real
understanding about the subject. Others are repeated so often by
people who are anti-gambling that they become accepted as fact,
when they are actually nothing more than myths.

There are a lot of myths relating to online gambling in
particular, and some of these myths are so widely believed that
they actually stop people from betting and gaming online. We
think it’s a shame that there are people choosing not to enjoy
everything that online gambling has to offer for the wrong
reasons. There are some valid reasons why it’s not right for
everyone, but no-one should miss out just because their heads
have been filled with ideas that simply aren’t true.

The purpose of this page is to set the record straight. We’ve
listed some of the most common online gambling myths, and
revealed the real truth.

All Online Gambling is Illegal

This is undoubtedly one of the biggest online gambling myths
of all. It’s not relevant in parts of the world where online
gambling is fully legalized and regulated, but there are some
regions where the laws aren’t so clear. The United States is one
such region, and a significant percentage of people living there
genuinely believe that they’d be breaking the law by using a
gambling site.

The truth is that they wouldn’t, as there’s no law that
explicitly makes it illegal to do any kind of gambling online.
There’s a lot of related legislation and much of it isn’t very
clear, but it’s mostly targeted towards the individuals and
organizations that facilitate online gambling. This refers to
the operators of gambling sites, or financial institutions that
process gambling related transactions.

It’s illegal to start and operate a gambling site without the
proper licenses in most parts of the world. This seems perfectly
logical to us, and it’s the way it should be. However, we are
not aware of anywhere where it’s a criminal offense to actually
use a gambling site. This, again, seems logical. Why should it
be illegal to spend our own money on what’s ultimately a form of
entertainment?

In our gambling laws section we provide
information on exactly what the relevant laws are in different
regions all over the world. You should take a look at this if
you’re interested in finding out more about what’s legal, and
what’s not, in the area where you live.

Gambling Sites Are Not Secure

A lot of people worry that if they join a gambling site they
are at risk of having their personal data exposed. Or, even
worse, having their funds stolen from their online account. Such
concerns stem from the myth that gambling sites are not secure.

The reality is that the top gambling sites are probably among
some of the most secure websites you’ll find on the web. They
use advanced security technology and encryption techniques that
protect your data and your funds. It’s fair to say that some
sites are not as secure as they should be, but if you stick to
the most reputable ones then you have absolutely nothing to
worry about.

If this is something that does concern you, you might want to
look at the following page. We’ve listed the very safest
gambling sites around, all thoroughly tested to ensure that they
are fully secure.

Gambling Sites Cheat Their Customers

Another common concern among people reluctant to gamble
online is that they will be cheated in some way. For example,
some people worry that the games won’t be fair. Others worry
that they won’t get paid out if they manage to win.

These concerns are largely unfounded. There have been cases
where sites have been caught cheating, but the vast majority of
sites don’t behave in this way. They rightly recognize that they
will be more profitable in the long run if they treat their
customers fairly and earn a good reputation. The limited number
of sites that have cheated their customers were probably run by
people who only focused on short term gains.

Absolute Poker & Ultimate Bet were both caught cheating their customers, but such cases are thankfully very rare.

It’s Impossible To Win

This is closely linked to the above point really, as the idea
that it’s impossible to win suggests that the sites must be
fixing results somehow. This is, of course, a form of cheating.
With that being said, some people genuinely believe that it’s
simply not possible to win at gambling at all, regardless of
whether it’s done online or not.

The facts are that sites don’t fix results (apart from the
previously mentioned examples and exceptional cases), and it IS
possible to win at gambling. It’s not easy, for sure, but that’s
not the same as impossible. It’s important to remember that all
forms of gambling are the same of course. Playing casino games,
for example, mostly means relying on luck to win. Playing poker
or betting on sports, on the other hand, can be profitable with
both the right set of skills and the use of solid strategies.

Everyone Ends Up Addicted

This one is pure nonsense. There’s absolutely no doubt that
gambling can be addictive, and it can be a real issue for some
people. The very idea that EVERYONE who gambles will
automatically get addicted is just ridiculous though, with
absolutely no evidence to support it. There’s plenty of
evidence, however, to support the fact that there are a myriad
of people who gamble within their means and have no problem
controlling how much time and money they spend on this
particular pastime.

It’s also worth noting that the most reputable gambling sites
take the problem of addiction very seriously. They allow their
customers to set limits for how much they can deposit on a
daily, weekly, and monthly basis. They also allow for
self-exclusions and have policies for closing the accounts of
customers that they believe might be problem gamblers.

Although not everyone that gambles online ends up
addicted, it’s still a risk that you should be aware of and take
seriously. Please always set yourself some limits for how much
money you’re prepared to spend, and be sure to stick to those
limits. If you ever feel like you are starting to lose control,
you should
stop immediately and seek help.

Withdrawals Take Forever

When we win, we want our money as fast as possible. That’s
natural. Without a doubt, there will be circumstances where
you’ll have to wait longer for a withdrawal from a gambling site
to be processed than you’re comfortable with. This can be very
frustrating. However, at the top sites at least, such waits are
rarely much longer than a week or two at the absolute maximum.

They’re actually often a lot shorter than that. Depending on
the site you’re using, where you live, and the withdrawal method
chosen, you may even get your winnings paid out in as little as
a few hours.

Land-Based Gambling Has Suffered

Ever since online gambling became possible, certain voices
from within the land-based gambling industry have been very loud
in complaining. Some people have obviously seen online gambling
as a threat to their own livelihoods. That’s a reasonable
reaction really, but the fact is that there’s no substantial
proof that the land-based industry has suffered at all as a
direct result of internet betting and gaming. In fact, many
people believe that the opposite is true in some cases.

Live poker has almost certainly grown in popularity
because of the online game.

If you owned a land-based casino, then you possibly wouldn’t
be thrilled that your customers could play the same games you
offer in your venue from the comfort of their own home. But
there’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition, and gambling
has evolved during the internet age like many other industries.
It’s up to the land-based venues to look for new and innovative
ways to keep their customers, and that benefits everyone. Many
of them have done just that to be fair, which is why the
assertion they have suffered is nothing more than a myth.

It’s Easy For Kids To Gamble Online

There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s possible for
an under-age person to gamble online if they really want to.
Just like it’s possible for an under-age person to gain entry to
a bar or a casino, if they are willing to take the risk of using
a fake ID. Something being possible is far from the same as it
being easy though, and it’s NOT easy for kids to gamble online.
They would have to be very committed and devious, and even then
there’s no guarantee that they would succeed.

The top gambling sites are all regulated and licensed, and as
part of that they usually have to have very strict controls in
place to prevent under-age gambling. We wouldn’t suggest that
it’s not a problem at all, and it probably does happen on
occasion, but it’s nowhere near to the truth to say that kids
can gamble online easily.

More Gambling Myths Debunked

Those addressed above are just a few of the most common myths
relating to online gambling in general. There are many more,
including several relating to specific types of gambling. We’ve
covered those in detail on the following pages. You really will
be amazed at just how much of what you read and hear about online
gambling is simply not true.

The online gaming world used to just feature virtual casino games. If you wanted to play blackjack, your only option was to use a software-generated table with an AI dealer.

Such table games are still available in great abundance. But you can now look forward to live dealer gaming as well.

Live casino games differ from standard virtual table games in the following ways:

• Action is streamed from either a land-based studio or casino.
• A human dealer works the table.
• You can communicate with the dealer via a chat box.
• Real tables are used.
• Real cards and other equipment (e.g. roulette wheel) are used.

Some elements of live casinos are the same as virtual gaming. For example, the betting interface is roughly the same between both versions.

For the most part, though, live dealer gaming is very different from regular online casino gambling. Its differences have helped it become more popular among players.

However, the situation regarding live casinos wasn’t always so great. In fact, few people played these games in the beginning.

I’m going to further discuss the slow start for this form of gambling. I’ll also cover what elements have helped it attain a high level of popularity today.

Slow Beginnings for Live Dealer Gaming

Live dealer casinos are nothing new. They’ve been around since the mid-2000s.

These casinos were filling an obvious void in online gambling. But they failed to take off right away for a couple of reasons.

• Consumer internet connections weren’t that great in the mid-2000s. Live tables would sometimes freeze up in the middle of a round.
• The studios and game play options didn’t make for a fun experience.

As with many new ideas, live casinos struggled mightily due to these setbacks. It took years before they improved to the point where they were accepted on a wide scale basis.

Factors that Have Boosted the Popularity of Live Casinos

Many internet casinos now license live gaming software from various providers (e.g. Evolution). This is a stark contrast from 10 years again, when live casinos were poorly functioning sites with few users.

What sparked this turnaround? The following reasons have all contributed to the rise of live dealer gambling.

Quality Live Casino Studios

The earliest live casinos were rather rudimentary. They featured single cameras at tables and poor virtual interfaces for the betting options.

The studios themselves also look better than in the past. Rather than blank rooms with casino tables, these studios are fashioned to look like real casinos.

Speaking of which, some providers even operate in brick-and-mortar casinos. For example, Actual Gaming (formerly Vuetec) and MTM Corp both operate from the classy Fitzwilliam Casino in Dublin.

Mobile Compatibility

When live dealer sites first came out, they were originally only available on PCs and Macs. This made sense at the time when considering that mobile phones were still built like small bricks.

However, the advent of smart phones changed everything. Smartphone tech allows for better graphics and streaming quality — two crucial elements to the live gaming experience.

Better Internet & PC/Mobile Technology

As mentioned before, internet connections weren’t the greatest when live casinos first launched. But high-speed internet is now available across most of the world.

Players no longer have to worry about games freezing up on them in the middle of a session. Instead, they can enjoy smooth game play at live dealer sites.

PC and mobile technology have also helped to improve this process. Computers, smart phones, and tablets are now able to stream live gambling action without much incident.

Improved Chat Function

One aspect that truly sets live table games apart from their virtual counterparts is communication. You can interact with a real dealer via the chat box.

This process works as follows:

• You type a question to the dealer.
• It appears on a large screen in front of the dealer.
• They respond to you when they get a free second.

Maybe this isn’t as personable as sitting and chatting with the dealer at an actual casino table. However, it’s the most-interactive experience that online gaming currently offers.

More Features

Again, live dealer tables weren’t exactly technological marvels when they were first introduced. Software providers have done a good job at upgrading the features over the years, though.

Here are some of the features that are available at live tables:

• Bet behind — Sometimes live dealer tables are full. Bet behind allows you to wager on the outcome of a seated player’s results.
• Card overlays — Virtual card overlays make it easier to see the real card values that are dealt.
• Fullscreen — Increase the screen size to take up the entire table.
• Stop/go lights — Green, yellow, and red lights show how much time you have to place bets.
• Tips — Give your favorite dealer a tip.
• Virtual chips — Like card overlays, virtual chips enable to you to better see the chip denominations.

Low Stakes

Nothing beats the land-based gambling experience. However, brick-and-mortar casinos require high minimum bets. Plenty of establishments require you to wager at least $25 per hand.

Others may call for $5 minimum wagers, especially regarding blackjack. But this amount is still cheaper than the average brick-and-mortar casino.

Find Your Favorite Dealers

The dealers are quite possibly the biggest draws to live casinos. Not only do they communicate with you, but many of them are also quite attractive.

You can play at different croupiers’ tables and develop a bond with them. Over time, you may find that you prefer one dealer over the others.

In this case, you can check out their schedule to see what shift they’ll be working. Many online casinos provide this information somewhere on their website.

Most live dealer sites also feature dealers who speak a variety of languages. English, French German, Spanish, and Swedish are among the most-popular languages spoken at these casinos.

More Games

Baccarat, blackjack, and roulette have been the staples of live dealer gambling sites. However, this selection has been expanded in recent years.

Here are some of the many games that you can find across the industry:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Caribbean stud
• Casino hold’em
• Dragon Tiger
• Dream Catcher
• Texas hold’em bonus poker
• Three-card poker
• Ultimate Texas hold’em

Beyond the large game variety, certain live games have multiple variations. Blackjack, for example, features a party version, where a host/hostess works with the dealer to keep gamblers entertained.

How Can You Get in on the Live Dealer Gaming Action?

You don’t have to look far to find live dealer casino games these days. Many casinos and providers now feature these options.

It’s important to note that not every gaming site and provider have live games. After all, these outfits are fairly expensive to run and license.

Therefore, the first matter is to find a site that runs live casino games. You can do so by looking for casinos that use software from one or more of the following providers:

• Actual Gaming
• Evolution Gaming
• Ezugi
• Global Gaming Labs
• Media Live
• Net Entertainment (NetEnt)
• Opus Gaming
• Portomaso Gaming
• Visionary iGaming
• Vivo Gaming

Truth About Online Casinos

This list doesn’t even cover every live operator. Therefore, you can see all of the different options that are available.

Once you choose a casino with live gaming software, the rest of the process is easy. You just deposit and sign up like you normally would at any casino.

From here, you proceed to a casino’s games section. They should have live dealer gaming clearly categorized and separate from their slots and virtual table games.

Therefore, a deposit is required before you can play live dealer games. The good news, though, is that live casinos have lower minimum bets than the average land-based establishment.

Conclusion

Songs About Casinos

Live gambling sites may not have started off with a bang. But they’re definitely a major part of the online gaming industry now.

Several factors have contributed to the success of live casinos. Here’s a recap of the main aspects that have helped this style of gambling grow:

• Better studios; some outfits even operate from brick-and-mortar casinos
• Live casinos available on smart phones and tablets.
• Stronger internet connections
• Improved PC/Mac and mobile phone technology
• Fun chat feature
• Added features, including the popular “bet behind”
• Lower stakes than brick-and-mortar casinos
• Attractive and entertaining dealers
• Lots of different games

You can’t perfectly replace the brick-and-mortar casino environment. With the latter, you can touch cards, sit at a real table, talk directly to the dealer, and chat with fellow players.

But live dealer gaming is a suitable alternative when you can’t get to the closest casino. While you may be seeing the action through a screen, the tables, dealers, and cards are real in this situation too.

Books About Casinos

What’s nice is that you won’t have to work hard to find a live casino either. Plenty of software providers feature their products across numerous gaming sites.

The Truth About Online Casinos

Some casinos even offer free bets that are exclusive to live gamblers. That said, you have extra incentive to try these types of casinos.