Human beings have engaged in betting since antiquity. For quite a while gambling was an activity that took place only in exclusive casinos. Not everyone could afford or access these places. Online gambling, which became a reality around 1995, allowed gambling to be a past time for many lots of individuals. Software that simulates games of chance had been in existence for a while. The use of internet became common place and cost-effective and was important to the establishment of gambling websites. Another necessary factor was the mechanism to make and receive payments online in a secure manner. The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle was the creation of authorities that licensed and regulated gambling operators.

Once gambling web sites were established around 1995 they began to proliferate quickly. The period 2000 to 2006 was a boom time for the on-line gambling industry. This is only because online gambling offers several benefits over land based gambling. The largest advantage is that players can engage in online gambling from home. All that they need is a home computer or lap top by having an Internet connection. Players no longer have to spend cash to travel to the casino

No spending time and money to travel to casinos or going on holidays to Las Vegas. Players can come home and immediately log on to their favorite online gambling site.

Online gambling is exceptionally convenient for folks who are afraid of posh casinos, with well dressed staff efficiently conducting operations and knowledgeable players who are proficient at the art and science of gambling. Internet gambling is an anonymous activity. Many of these games are played solo with the internet casino software. Even in multiple player games there is no need to be face to face with other players. Most of players use nicknames and nobody need know from which a part of the world they can be from. Also they can make their mistakes without anxiety about being made fun of and can learn the ropes at their own rate without having to worry about losing a great online gambling site deal of money. And formal dressing may be dispensed with.

Another major benefit of gambling websites is that it delivers greater average returns to the player. The expenses involved in setting up and operating internet gambling sites is significantly lower than that for land casinos. Because there is no real estate, there are actually no expensive buildings and minimal staff to pay. Thus making gambling sites do not need to make a lot of cash to cover their costs and supply a return to their owners. Because of the competition within the online gambling industry, the savings are handed on to the players in the form of larger average returns. This really is particularly evident in online slots where the typical return is around 95%. Where as land based slots the regular return might be well below 90%.