Jan 7, 2009

Online Casino and Poker:


Free poker online was played as early as the late 1990s in the form of IRC poker. The first real money poker game was dealt on January 1, 1998. The major online poker sites offer varying features to entice new players. One common feature is to offer tournaments called satellites by which the winners gain entry to real-life poker tournaments. It was through one such tournament that Chris Moneymaker won his entry to the 2003 World Series of Poker. He went on to win the main event causing shock in the poker world. The 2004 World Series featured three times as many players as in 2003. At least four players in the WSOP final table won their entry through an online cardroom. Like Moneymaker, 2004 winner Greg "Fossilman" Raymer also won his entry at the PokerStars online cardroom


Online casinos offer a simple and relaxing way to enjoy the thrill and excitement of a real-life casino from the comfort of your own home. While these sites are plentiful now, this was not always the case. The first online casino began outside the United States in 1996, and offered a very limited number of games such as blackjack, roulette, video poker, craps, slot machines and baccarat. The very first online progressive jackpot slot game was launched in 1998. While online gaming was gaining in popularity with citizens of the United States, the government was not as accepting of the new trend and passed a number of laws to keep the industry from entering the country. It wasn't until after the year 2000 that online casinos made their first big splash in the United States.


Online casino games, particularly poker, got a major media boost in 2003, when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, and the $2.5 million jackpot, after spending his time practicing his craft entirely online, rather than in traditional card games. His win thrust the online gambling world into the spotlight in the United States, and the industry has taken off ever since. Today, a simple online search reveals more than 6 million hits for online casinos and related stories and information. Today's online casino gamers can participate in a wide variety of games, including the traditional blackjack, poker and slots, as well as newer additions like Keno, bingo, craps and more. While some online casinos offer free play, the majority entice gamers with real and substantial prizes into the thousands of dollars. A number of online gaming establishments also offer bonuses to entice first-time gamers. For example, the Golden Casino, which does accept U.S. players, is currently offering $555 in free bonus money to encourage potential gamers to register for its site. Others, such as the Lucky 18 Casino, are offering as much as a $1,800 bonus for new players. The site you choose for your online gaming adventures is up to you. There are infinite possibilities for fun, games, excitement, cash and more, all from your computer chair!

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