Table 9.1 shows the breakdown of Web sites by game type. Note that the values do not sum to 100%, because some Web sites offer more than one type of game. Nearly 80% of the Web sites offered casino type games. Almost half processed sportsbook wagers on sporting events, such as football games. Betting on horse and/or dog racing was offered on 23% of the Web sites. Only a small percentage of Web sites (7%) conducted lottery games. Many European countries operate Web sites for their lotteries where players can buy chances to win. Access is usually limited to citizens of each country.
Casino sites offer the same kind of games offered in actual casinos: poker, blackjack, roulette, slot machines, and so forth. Bet denominations range from pennies up to thousands of dollars. Some casino sites have card rooms where players compete against each other rather than against the house. This is an example of person-to-person or P2P betting. It also occurs at some sports betting sites.
Online casino games operate in much the same way as the electronic games found in actual casinos. Both depend on random number generators. Real slot machines have a computer chip built in. Online games have random number generators written into their programming. While slot machine payoff percentages are dictated by the state, online payoffs are not. However, online providers who never have winners would not have return customers. Therefore, their programs are designed to pay out a particular percentage. Online games are particularly appealing to people who enjoy card games because the betting limits are much lower than in actual casinos. For instance, an online gambler can play blackjack for $1 a hand, while many actual casinos require a $10 or $25 per hand minimum.
TABLE 9.1
| Analysis of Internet gambling Web sites by type, 2002 | ||
| Types of gambling on site | Percentage of sites | Number of sites |
| 1(out of 161) | ||
| 2(out of 160) | ||
| SOURCE: Adapted from "Table 2. Results of Internet Gambling Web Site Survey," in Internet Gambling: An Overview of the Issues, U.S. General Accounting Office, December 2, 2002 | ||
| Casino | 79.6% | 129 |
| Sportsbook | 49.4% | 80 |
| Lottery | 6.8% | 11 |
| Bets on horse/dog racing | 22.8% | 37 |
| Internet gambling payment options Credit cards: | ||
| Visa | 85.8% | 139 |
| MasterCard1 | 85.1% | 137 |
| American Express | 4.9% | 8 |
| Discover | 1.2% | 2 |
| 3rd-party payment transfer services: | ||
| PayPal | 66.7% | 108 |
| FirePay | 21.0% | 34 |
| NETeller | 32.7% | 53 |
| EZPay | 1.2% | 2 |
| Equifax | 0.0% | 0 |
| Direct wire transfer: | ||
| Bank wires | 59.3% | 96 |
| Western Union | 46.9% | 76 |
| Money orders and various checks: | ||
| Money orders | 27.8% | 45 |
| Traveler's checks | 8.0% | 13 |
| Bank drafts, cashier's checks, certified checks | 40.1% | 65 |
| Personal checks | 29.6% | 48 |
| Electronic banking systems or processors: | ||
| Idollar2 | 5.6% | 9 |
| Electronic Financial Services1 | 15.5% | 25 |
| Other banking systems1 | 28.0% | 45 |
Some sites require players to download software onto their personal computers in order to play. The software still runs through a program at the Web site, so the user must be online to play. Other games are played right at the Web site. Many Web sites use high-technology software that allows players to play gambling games in virtual reality. They can "look" around the table or around the casino room. Players can even "chat" with each other via online messaging during a game. Both of these effects make online gambling more interactive for the user.
Many sites offer free play to introduce visitors to the types of games offered and give them a chance to practice. Visitors who decide to play for money must register, open an account, and deposit money into that account. This requires input of personal information, including name and address. Typically, the user sets up a user name and password for future access. Money is transferred to the gambling site via credit or debit card, through an account with an online bank or payment service, or via electronic check or wire transfer.
Most online sites offer bonuses of 5–20% of the amount of the initial deposit. These bonuses usually
FIGURE 9.1
require that the gambler wager an amount two to three times the size of the bonus. Other sites offer prizes, such as trips, for repeat business. Winnings are typically deposited into the user's online account or paid via a certified check mailed to the winner.
User Comments Add a comment…