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“Welcome to the world of online gambling, folks. This will be a lesson you better remember because it deals with the future of your bank account. Keep in mind that I am not going to teach you how to win. Winning, in spite of all that is said and written, in not a matter of strategy only. It has very much to do with luck, and luck is a personal issue, always. You all know the casino games involved in gambling, so I will not have to explain to you how to play poker or blackjack. My name is Benjamin, you can call me Benny. I am here and I have exactly one hour to explain to you the intricacies and dangers of the game online and you have the same amount of time to absorb them all.

“I know that you have many questions and I shall answer them after class, if you have not found your answers in the actual lesson itself.

“First, let me explain what online gambling is.

“The word ‘online’ inevitably suggests the use of the Internet facility. And you place your bets or play the game through the Internet, with a casino site whose software you have downloaded.”

He spotted a raised hand in the room and said : “Yes? If it’s a question, wait for the lesson to be over.”

“No,” said the girl, “it’s not a question. It’s a remark. To use the Internet you need a computer and a computer today is a dangerous thing. Any hacker can get through to yours, steal your winnings and introduce a virus in your system. There is no privacy, everybody knows that. I would most certainly recommend not to use a computer to gamble.”

The students started to laugh and the teacher looked nonplussed. He looked attentively at the girl. She was an attractive brunette with bangs, intelligent-looking eyes and very rosy lips.

“Well,” he grinned. “This is quite an interesting point of view, but since Internet is based on the use of a computer, please tell us if you have another solution, Miss...?”

“Rosalind”, she hastened to say, “my name is Rosalind. And no I have no other solution. I signed up with this course in the hope that you would be able to provide one.”

He shook his head. “Not for the time being, I am sorry to say. But who knows ? May be in some future, in a virtual world... but for now... I was starting to explain what online gambling is. It is the possibility to place bets and play casino games without going to a casino.

“To gamble online you need:

1) a computer

2) a casino site

3) a money source

“When you play online, you sit in front of your computer, in the comfort of your home, without the noise and the blaring music, and one touch of your finger can do wonders. You are connected to your casino site whose gambling software you have downloaded, and you can rest assured that for a virus to have made its way to your computer is quite improbable. Casinos are interested to draw customers in and not scare them out by a virus threat, so they pay the deepest attention to the software they provide. But anyway it would do no harm to check by yourself that your computer is safe, and scan, if you have the adequate equipment, to check that no virus is getting through.

“How do you choose a casino site?

“Now, for the casino site. There are so many available casino sites for online gambling, that it is quite impossible to check them all. The best solution is to concentrate on the game you want to play. The most popular ones are video poker and slots machines. But of course, you find there all the usual games you find in a conventional casino all over the world, blackjack, craps, baccarat and so on. If you are at a loss finding a site, you can be helped by information provided by search machines like Google and NetBet.org. They will give you a list of reputable casinos, with terms and conditions that you should thoroughly check before you sign up.”

He spotted the same hand raised again

“Yes, Rosalind, what is it ? Another remark?”

“Yes,” she answered. “If I have to check that the casino is reputable and honest, that means that I cannot trust the site offhand. I strongly suggest that a way be found to play online with no casino site at all.”

The class erupted in joyous laughter. The teacher frowned. Is she making fun of me, he thought, or is she stupid? She does not look stupid, though.

“Remark noted,” he said and went on.

“How does the money move?

“The money source is the last and most important factor in the gambling world, because when you sign up with a casino and download its software, your have to transfer a certain amount of money to an account number provided by the casino, from which you draw money to place your bets or in which money is added if you win. But of course, if you cancel the use of the Internet and of the computer and the casino site, what are you going to do with the money ? Rosalind, any remark?”

The girl smiled merrily. “I have no problem with money,” she said, “because I have no money. That is why I am interested in .gambling. I have heard that some casinos let you play online for free. So, since it’s all receiving and nothing giving, I’m all for it. I’ll take the money. Sure.”

Benny could not help joining in the merry uproar that shook the classroom. That girl is funny, he thought, but she’s got to be stopped before she turns this class into a circus.

“Look here, Rosalind,” he said. “Gambling is a serious business. And should be taken up accordingly. If you play for fun, you can have a good time, pretending big winning streaks. But most people play for real money, with one purpose only. To win. So they have to put money in front and they tend to forget that the casino’s aim is to pull that money in. Gambling online means that you have to establish a credit balance and that can be done by transferring money to the account I have mentioned before, using a credit card, money orders, cashiers checks or wire transfer, the casino will take it any way you choose to send it. Personal checks would have to be cleared before you can be able to start playing and this could take as long as two weeks. It is then recommended to use a credit card, they check it and credit your account with the sum you mentioned. And this account is credited or debited as you win or lose.

“You can add money to this account or close it whenever you want. The closure action is called ‘cash out’. If you are wise, you’ll cash out when you’re a winner. But of course, human nature being what it is, you are encouraged by a lucky win, and you keep gambling.

“Why would you be blacklisted?

“The main reason for blacklisting a player is the lack of funds. When your account is empty and you try to play anyway, your bets are turned down. Some players also set up more than one account at one casino, using the same computer and that is against the rules, most of the time, but the casinos know that right away, their computers are trained to detect such cases and then they blacklist you. They would not allow you to operate more than one account, no more than allow two people with two different accounts using the same computer. And being blacklisted at one casino means that you are blacklisted at all the other casinos owned by the same company. Under different names, many casinos belong to one same company. The choice of a name is very important to a player. Some will shun sites called after an animal, for example Black Cat or Super Tiger and give their preference to sites names after a gem like Lucky Ruby or Wonder Emerald, things like that. And without the player being aware of it, he plays with the same company... Yes, Rosalind, what is it now ?”

The audience turned to girl, ready for another laugh.

“The casinos do not allow a player to use two accounts on his computer, but they use different names for the same company. They are doing themselves what they forbid others to do. So, they cheat,” she said forcibly. “They are the ones that should be blacklisted.”

There were murmurs of surprise and agreement in the room.

“Were it so,” Benny sneered, “you wouldn’t have any casino left to link to.”

“But they play with people’s feelings,” insisted the girl, “and wage on their personal superstitions. That kind of gambling is not fair at all.”

“Anything is fair in gambling,” Benny remarked. He was getting a bit tired of all these remarks and interruptions. “Casinos are in the business of getting the most money they can from people’s weakness involving chance games, and they answer to any provocation. Because, you see, betting is a kind of provocation. When you gamble, you challenge the casino or the other players to have a better hand than yours. Well, that the stake involved is money is just the easiest thing to deal with. So, of course, you have to prove that you have the money to sustain your challenge. Which brings us to the following topic:

“The compulsion of gambling.

“Why do people gamble?

“What is the force that pushes any individual to the betting board be it in a casino or at home through the computer?

“It has been scientifically recognized that each person possesses a ‘gambling gene’, more or less developed, more or less attracted by the thought of an easy win. That gene is inherited from your ancestors and transmitted to your heirs. So feel no guilt about it. Try just to be careful.

“Gambling goes a long way back in history. And sometimes has played an important role in history. For instance, in the year 1070, two kings decided on the fate of a disputed island by throwing dice; it was, after all, more civilized than waging a war, and surely more entertaining. The origin of cards is uncertain, it is said that it comes from China, since the Chinese invented paper. And with the advent of computers, gambling came into private homes having people play at leisure in pajamas and slippers from their armchair.

“Yes, online gambling can be as compulsive as casino gambling. It is as difficult for an addicted player to close the computer as it is for him to stand up from a casino table and go home. As long as you keep yourself in rein and stick to your limits, it’s OK. The problem arises when you start overspending and feed more money than you can afford to your casino account. At a casino table, you would be restricted by casino rules not accepting checks for instance but at home, you just may decide to go on and on.

“If you are wise, you will go for help. To Gambling Anonymous for instance and use their program which deals with all kinds of compulsive habits. If you succeed in cutting your losses and stop, you may somehow sleep well at night.”

“Oh,” spurted Rosalind from her chair, “it also depends who I sleep with, you know!”

Interested male stares and conceited smiles focused on her.

“Yeah,” Benny picked up the mood of his audience, “this can also be an addiction.”

“But it’s not a problem,” smiled the girl. “Never was... never will be. Help is always available. And since there is no charge, it’s all fun.”

“You can also gamble for fun,” said Benny, “that’s the healthiest way to have a good time.”

“Oh yes!” she sighed. “Oh yes! Who needs a computer for that?”

For the first since the beginning of the lesson, Benny helped himself to the glass of water nearby.

The legal side of gambling

“One of the most frequent questions”, he said, “is if online gambling is legal and legitimate. Well, the answer is yes and no. It is legal in states that allow it and illegal in the others, but since online gambling is a private affair, there is nothing that can prevent you from playing from your forbidding state to an authorized one. It is a risk you take. It is just like a lottery where you buy tickets you pay for and your odds for winning depend upon the number of tickets you bought.

“However, some serious casinos have a setup system blocking anyone residing in a state forbidding online gambling. You should check the matter before signing up and decide whether you want to move to a more lenient state.

“You have to be at least 18, to be allowed to gamble online. Casinos will ask for your ID number and check. Of course, if you are underage, you can engage a partner and try to use a proxy, but then, the computer should be registered to the partner’s name and it is as if he were playing online, with you providing the funds on the sly. The financial arrangement between you both is a private affair and the casino’s responsibility is safe and not questioned.

Disputes and arguments

“Disagreements may arise when you think that in some way you have not been served right. If your claim is that you have not received the money you are entitled to, contact the casino and explain. They will check the matter thoroughly and trace the payment. If your claim is proved right, they will send the money and apologize. It may just take some time. Usually, such facts do not happen often since casinos endeavor to keep their clients satisfied and happy. Consider though that some people try to cheat and complain wrongly, but casinos have their ways to deal with such people and blacklist them pitilessly.

“You may have won a sweepstakes at a casino and you do not see your account credited with it. Don’t worry. You will get it. It will just take some time for the checking, you may have to provide a notarized affidavit if the amount of money is important. The money can also be sent to you in the form of a check or a voucher instead of being credited to your account, but you will be informed accordingly.

“You can also claim that the amount you received is not what it should be. Casinos have their own way to deal with such disputes. You have to submit to their decisions since you agreed to their terms and conditions when you signed up. Yes, Rosalind, what is it now ?”

The girl was indignant and angry.

“This is a strange way to do business”, she said. “They take your money in a jiffy, but when they have to pay, they take their time! You don’t have to get a affidavit signed by a lawyer when you sign in ! It’s like the insurance companies ; they take you in, no questions asked, but when they have to give you money, it’s so many forms to fill. Beside going back to your ancestry for legitimacy, they almost ask for the size of the shoes you wear . I know, I had to deal with them when my car was wrecked. I had to answer a question of how long I have been driving a car, and I gave them the size number of my bra. You know what ?” She started to laugh . “ They accepted it.”

Together with all the males in the room, Benny felt his eyes drawn to a strategic point in front of him. He cleared his throat with a little cough.

“But, “he said hastily, “claims are not always only about the movement of funds. Sometimes, there is a technical problem that has nothing to do with playing online casino games. Your game, for instance, gets frozen and it may be because you do not use the right version of the software and the connections are slow; sometimes you get disconnected you don’t know why. You should contact your Internet Service Provider to have the defect corrected.

“Questions have also been asked as to why a signup bonus cannot be cashed when you close your account, or how long will you have to wait to recover your money when you cash out.

“A signup bonus is a gesture of goodwill from the casino to encourage you to invest some of your money too. Anyone who registers is entitled to is but has to use it for a specific period of time and a specific number of bets before considering cashing it. Suppose you sign in, get your bonus, cash it out, and bye, bye... see the point?

“When you cash out deciding not to play anymore at this casino, you have to wait sometimes for a couple of weeks to have your money back. Payment formalities vary with the country involved and you should read carefully all the terms and conditions before you sign in .

“Remember that whatever it is, the decision of the casino concerning any dispute or disagreement is the one that prevails.

Answers to specific questions

“Well, I think that I have given you here the basic points of online gambling. I suppose you have questions of your own which have not been raised yet... Who will start ?”

A man raised his hand and said:

“Do online casinos provide forms of gambling other than cards, roulette or craps ? What about horse races and sport events ?”

“Sure,” Benny answered. “Anything goes. You choose your site, sign up and inform about the game of your choice and download the apropriate software. You can play chess, lotteries all over the world, football, baseball, any sport. You do not have to contact a bookie, the casino provides a form you fill, you place your bet, the money is deducted from your account and you’re in. If you win, what a thrill, you can go on, or cash out or have your money go to your account.”

A mature, mean-looking woman stood up, hands on hips.

“I play poker, and sometimes I believe that my hand was better than the one the casino acknowledged. The game goes so fast that it is hard for me to check it through. What am I to do?”

“Nothing,” was Benny’s reply. “The casino’s decision is the one that goes. The software used by the casino is the best that can be provided. Discontented players either did not understand the rules or tried to cheat.”

“And what about a stolen credit card that could be used to gamble with?”

“Yeah,” Benny agreed, “that may cause a problem. Contact you credit card company right away, they will cancel the credit card. Also inform the casino. They will help you, they can check if the stolen card is used; this is then a matter for the police.”

A thin and balding man stood up. He looked worried. “I am an accountant”, he said, “so I understand numbers and money moves. I just wonder what is the best transfer service to use?”

“Oh,” Benny looked doubtful, “you cannot expect me to recommend one in particular. There are plenty of them, you’ll find a list on the Internet. You sign up with the one you choose, you give them all the information concerning your means of payment and you use them as a link with the Casino.

“Well, folks, the time is up. I hope you have now a good knowledge of what online casino gambling is about. Hey, Rosalind...”

He looked at the girl who had remained silent for a while.

“How come you have no more remarks to liven up this meeting? No question? I think that having discarded the use of a computer, of a casino and having no money, you are ready to go home and start knitting some socks, no?”

She was frowning and then she looked at him in earnest.

“I have plenty of questions,” she said. “I have a whole bushel of them buzzing in my head. For instance, I would like to know if I can sign in again if I have closed my account.”

“Yes, you can,” he replied promptly.

“And if I won and if it took time to get the money, I would not have had the possibility to pay some bill in due time. Would the Casino cover the interest I would be asked to pay? “

“That’s a silly situation,” Benny grinned and passed his hand in his hair. “What would have happened had you lost? Casinos cant be held responsible for your expenses.”

The girl sighed.

“I have so many, so many questions yet and the lesson is over ! It looks like it is calling for private sessions.”

Benny seemed to think it over.

“ I have a question of my own,” he said and smiled. “Are you free for dinner tonight?