So . . . what's an online casino?

Well, pretty much it's a company that let's you play casino games for real money. That takes at least two things, games, and a banking system to transfer the money. While the casinos on this website focus on blackjack more than anything, there's a myriad of different casinos out there and most offer a collection of traditional casino games. Slot Machines, keno, Video Poker, simulated Poker Games, Craps, Roulette, and on and on. There's pretty much a little something for everyone. (if you're looking for a general guide to UK gambling that is not blackjack specific we recommend: Online Internet Casino Gambling .co.uk )

Different casinos offer different games. Some casinos offer games in packages that you can download. Usually they offer a small download that has the most popular games, and a larger download that includes all the games that casino offers. If you choose the small download, you can add the rest of the games later. In general, once you download the games, they are yours to keep. You can often play them for fun, without the need to place actual bets. So, you can play professional quality video casino games, for free. Some casinos even offer you real chips to use at their casino, just for downloading their software.

Other casinos offer games that do not have to be downloaded. You can play them right from their website. The great thing about that is you can be playing in just a few minutes. The bother is that you'll be waiting those few minutes each and every time you come back to that casino. There's give and take in everything.

Another difference between the games casinos offer is the number of players. Some casinos offer multiplayer gaming, where you can "see" (you choose a picture from a page to use as yourself, it's not really a live video camera) and chat with other players who are sitting at your table. Of course, if you'd prefer to be by yourself , you can set up a private table where no one can sit down without getting permission from you.

Now for the banking . . . once you have the games up and running, it's time to actually buy some chips. The casinos make it easy to deposit money into your casino account. You can do it with a credit card, and your account will be credited instantly. You can also send checks, money orders, or use Western Union or bank wire transfers, depending upon the casino.

If you're ready to make that first deposit, you should check to see if the casino offers a sign-up bonus. The bonus programs vary greatly from casino to casino, and can range from a free entry into a lottery to several hundred dollars. Also note that some casinos will credit your account instantly, others within 24 hours, and still others will credit your account once you have wagered a certain amount. If you're buying chips at a particular casino because of their bonus program, read over their rules concerning bonuses (expect them to be posted on their site).

When it comes time to take your money out of your casino account and put it back into your pockets, casinos give you several options. First, if you used your credit card to purchase chips, they like to refund money to your card. They can only do this up to the amount you purchased, so if you purchased $20 in chips, they can only refund your card $20 - even if your winnings are greater. Every casino is different, but most will send you a check. They'll send it by courier, but there is almost always an additional fee for that service. Many also offer bank wire transfers. Some even allow use of e-cash companies like neteller or cyber bookers, where the casino can almost immediately place your winnings into your 'e-cash' account.