Playing it Safe: The Newbies Guide to Getting Started in Online Gambling

IWith technology improving itself each year, the world of online gambling can parallel and often better the fun and excitement found in a stand-alone casino. Online casinos like Sports Interaction Online Sportsbook and Casino On Net provide great action and realistic games right from the comfort of your own home! But just like in a real casino, you don't want to jump into gambling without a few tips and strategies to help maximize both your profits, and your fun. Before you deposit any money in an online casino, online sportsbook, or related real money wagering site, read this article and follow these guidelines to give you the head start to becoming a winner.

Be aware of and abide by your local laws

Internet wagering is not universally sanctioned by all local law enforcement authorities. Check with your local authorities before signing up with any online wagering operator to insure you are not violating local laws.

Watch domain names

Avoid domain names with a slash preceded by a popular free web host (geocities.com/casino for example) or internet service provider (members.aol.com/gaming).

Sites that claim to legally accept online wagering always have unique domain names such as Black Widow Casino. All reputable online wagering operators have their own unique domain names. If you are entering a wagering site that claims to offer online gambling and the site address (URL) is a domain from a free host such as geocities.com, tripod.com, or angelfire.com, you should be very wary, and look for a different site. Other reputable casinos with "real" domain names are Black Jack BallRoom, Casino Tropez or Casino On Net.

Watch accreditation

There are a few organizations on the Internet whose mission is to help watch and govern the online gambling industry. One of these organizations is the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) (http://www.igcouncil.org). The IGC has been largely responsible for establishing fair and responsible trade guidelines and practices that enhance consumer confidence in interactive gaming products and services.

The IGC has established a Code of Conduct that is a voluntary standard to which its members have agreed to adhere. Although there is always some risk in regards to online gambling with any operator, your risk is greatly reduced when you patronize operators who belong to the IGC.

Does the operator have a toll free number?

If so, test the number before signing up with them. Does the number work? Were you placed on hold? How long are you on hold for? Are the representatives friendly? Do they speak your native language? If the operator doesn't have a toll free number, try their email address for support (see below). One of the net's more popular casinos, Omni Casino has the following great customer service: Email, FAX, and 24/7 phone support.

Does the operator have customer service via email?

If so, test the email address before signing up with them and prior to wagering any real money. How long does it take to receive a response email from the operator? Was the representative friendly? Could you understand their writing style? All reputable online casino and sports books should have customer support via email. If the site you are interested in does not have email customer service, be very wary of doing business there.

Look for operators who offer toll free customer service via the phone and prompt and courteous support via email. If you can't get good service over the phone or via email, take your business to a site that is committed to providing good customer service.

Take advantage of transaction logs

So many users fail to take advantage of transaction logs and many problems can be avoided if you watch your transaction log. Many casinos and sportsbooks like Pacifik Poker now offer transaction logs. A transaction log is an electronic paper trail or recording of every single transaction at the casino or sports book. Every time you place a wager on a craps game, a card game, on a slot machine, or in a sports book, it is logged. Most operators will give you access to this log.

Check your log BEFORE you place any wagers at the casino or sports book

Make sure you understand the transaction log and have access to any features it offers you. Test the log. Go out on the casino floor and place a small wager at a game or place a small bet in the sports book. Then go back to your log and make sure the transaction is there. If your log is not working properly, STOP betting with that operator and use their customer service number or email to let them know your log isn't working. Make sure you have access to the log in real time. If the operator won't give you real time access and you have to wait to see the transactions in the log, this is a good sign to wager elsewhere.

Transaction logs help to keep everything fair so that both you and the operator know exactly what is occurring in your account. Make sure to always monitor your transaction log and watch it closely to avoid surprises.

Once you have access to your log, learn how to save it. You can capture data from a log in many ways:

First, you can copy and paste data by selecting the text and then copying and pasting to any word processor or text editor. On a PC, you can select the text with your mouse, key Ctrl+C to Copy the text, switch to your word processing software, and key Ctrl+V to Paste the text from the log.

You can also capture your data by taking a screenshot of your screen while it is displaying the transaction log. To capture a screen on a PC, press the Print Screen key, which is located above the Insert key on your keyboard. Then, switch to a painting and drawing program (like Corel Draw, Corel PhotoPaint, or Jasc PaintShopPro) or a word processing program (like Microsoft Word, or Corel Word Perfect) and paste the image by keying Ctrl+V on your keyboard, or clicking the Paste button on that program's toolbar

Always screenshot winnings

Note this important rule! Always screenshot your winnings along with your transaction log! If you have a dispute with a casino, you cannot prove you have won a payoff if you don't have the screenshot to back up your claim.

If you ever have a dispute, make sure you let the operator know you have a screenshot to prove yourself and your winnings. Operators know that word travels fast on the Internet. If you can prove an operator has treated you unfairly, the site operator should know that you will let the world know of your problems.

Understand and follow cashout instructions carefully

We see a lot of users in complaining about not being paid. In almost all of these cases of not being paid, the reason for the delay was because the user failed to follow the cash out instructions.

The operator of the casino or sports book needs to make sure you are who you say you are. It is completely legal for the operator to require that you FAX them release forms, identification, copies of your credit card, or whatever kind of documentation the operator requires so that you can be paid properly. Online casinos like Golden Tiger Casino have a payout policy such as: 7-14 business days.

Keep in mind that online casino and sport books are also a risky venture for the operator. Therefore, cash outs must be done carefully so that the operator is not taken advantage of. Operators have their cash out procedures in place for good reason, so follow their instructions carefully and you will get paid your winnings. Most importantly, make sure you clearly understand cash out instructions PRIOR to making a deposit with an operator. If you do not like the operator's cash out policies, you can then choose to wager elsewhere before you get into a bad situation.

Finally, when cashing out, do not assume the casino operator received the information they asked for. Follow up with the operator via the phone and email to insure they received the requested documents and are processing your claim.

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Keep a paper trail

Make sure to keep detailed notes of who you spoke to at the casino or sports book, who you sent email messages to, etc. If you have a problem with an operator and you have been exchanging email with a support representative, you need to be able to show those emails and/or prove to whom you have been speaking with. Email is obviously better because it's easier to store and refer back to. Any time you speak with a support representative on the phone, always record whom you spoke with, as well as the time and date. Ask for a first and last name of the representative. If the representative will not give you a last name, ask for their phone extension number.

Watch messageboard forums for comments from other users

Many gaming portals have messageboard forums which allow users to post public comments regarding online casinos and sport books. Take advantage of these resources because you can learn alot about which casinos to avoid just by paying attention to word of mouth.

On the other hand, remember not to believe everything you read. Some users will complain about an operator when the operator hasn't really done anything wrong.

If you see only one complaint about an operator, it is usually safe to assume the complaint might be due to a miscommunication between the operator and the user. If you see multiple complaints from many different people all about the same operator, that's when you should start paying attention.

We recommend AnteUp Messageboard Forum. You can learn a lot about which operators have service issues by visiting the forum daily.

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Your rights are limited

Remember that your rights are limited. Many users email us because they have been kicked out of a casino or sports book for whatever reason and they don't agree with the decision of the operator. You have no exclusive rights to wager at any casino or sports book. If the operator wants to kick you out, it is their right to do so. The operator has to look out for their interests and if they don't like how you are playing, they can ask you to leave.

Conclusion

Due to the size of the Internet, there are unfortunately going to be a few operators with unethical business practices. Being armed with good information can steer you away from these bad casinos, and to the sites that are around to provide you with a fair, fun, and profitable experience.

Good luck, and play it smart!