Let’s face it, online poker and even something as innocent and fun as Internet bingo has risks — and not just the possibility of losing or becoming addicted. Because of the vast amount of money involved, there’s also the risk of becoming an Internet gambling scam victim. Here are some things to look for before choosing an online poker or gambling site, so you don’t become a target:
Make Sure the Site Looks Professional
Ask yourself whether the site looks like there was a lot of thought and money behind its construction. If you can’t find the answers to basic questions or there’s little or no information on the rules and how to play each game, be careful. In fact, if the site looks lacking in any fundamental way you should probably look for another place to play.
Check for Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) Membership
The IGC is a non-profit trade association for the interactive gaming industry. Before you put money on a site or even register, check their membership list to see if it’s listed. A site not being a member doesn’t mean they’re running a scam; but IGC members tend to be major players in the online gambling industry and have pledged to adhere to a code of conduct that protects players.
Make Sure the Site Has Player Support
It’s standard for legitimate online poker and general gambling sites to have 24-hour support with both a toll-free phone number and e-mail contact addresses. Some even have real-time, interactive support. If you want to be extra careful, send an e-mail or call their customer support prior to putting money on the site or registering . If you can’t think of a specific question, ask them what gambling software they use. If you don’t get a response or it takes more than 24 hours to get an answer, consider playing at another site. If you decide to play video poker on the site, keep all their contact information (including the physical address) in a safe location offline, so you’ll have it should the site suddenly go down — or worse yet — disappear.
Run a Test
If a site allows free play, start there to see if everything meets your expectations. If they don’t have a “play for free” section or if you’ve already decided you like what you saw while playing free, then start small. Don’t put large amounts of money on the site at first. Try several small transactions (deposits and payments) and make sure the transactions go well before you go onto betting big.
These are just some of the things you should be aware of to protect yourself when choosing an online gambling site. For more detailed information on what to look for, visit the IGC’s Beginner’s Guide.
Dice and poker chips photo licensed through Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike
July 5th, 2009 Topex Posted in Online Poker, Poker Lessons, Poker Photos, Poker Strategies, Poker Strategy, Poker Tips 11 Comments »
Although we hope anyone who plays poker does so responsibly, let’s face it, it’s easy to get out of control when it comes to gambling. People think they can beat the poker odds by knowing just a few poker hands they learn on television, but they usually don’t realize how much strategy is involved when they first learn to play poker. That’s even more true with online poker, because the recent popularity of Texas Hold-em makes it so accessible.
Almost anyone who has a computer and a credit card can play poker online, so there aren’t as many barriers as there used to be when you had to drive (or fly!) to a casino. That’s why never before in World Series of Poker history have we seen so many new poker players rush forward to try to take their place next to big winners like Phil Hellmuth and Jamie Gold. And occasionally it works. But more often than not, it’s the seasoned pros like Annie Duke and Doyle Brunson that take home the gold. That’s because they’ve played for years and what is just so much poker theory for most people is practical experience for them.
Even if you play responsibly, not all online poker sites are created equal. That’s why we feel it doesn’t hurt to point out a few of the pitfalls inherent in the online poker world:
- Not all poker sites are legitimate. Some exist only for “phishing,” which means their goal is to get your personal information and credit card data. So before you join, make sure the online poker site is legitimate and offers secure transactions. A good way to ensure you play on a safe site is to register on sites recommended by trusted sources or are on the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) membership list.
- Make sure your computer is secured against viruses and spy ware by installing anti-spy ware and anti-virus software in your computer.
- Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Good poker strategy involves more than just knowing how to play; you have to know how to set limits in advance. And don’t set a goal for how much you want to win, especially when playing online poker, because that can keep you gambling long past when common sense says you should stop. Do set a limit of how much you’ll allow yourself to bet though — and stick to it.
- Always remember that online poker and gambling in general can quickly go from fun to addiction if you have an addictive personality. If people who care about you tell you you’re getting out of control, listen to them. If you think you’ve been bitten adversely by the gambling bug and you’re in the United States, you can call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1.800.522.4700 for referrals to a variety of resources.
Poker chip set photo is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License
July 5th, 2009 Topex Posted in Online Poker, Poker History, Poker Lessons, Poker Photos, Poker Players, Poker Strategies, Poker Strategy, Poker Terms, Poker Tips, World Series of Poker No Comments »
Welcome to The Online Poker Expert, your source for news about the world of online poker!
Poker is one of the hottest game’s in the world right now — online or offline. So there’s plenty to cover about how you can learn to play poker easily, or if you play already, how you can improve your existing poker strategy. You’d be amazed how studying poker hands of the pros can make a difference in your own play, and we’ll bring you coverage of some of those hands.
We scan the Web looking for the latest news about popular poker players, such as Annie Duke, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Jamie Gold, so you can keep up with their winning poker strategies. We also feature highlights from the High Stakes Poker television show and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments. You can also expect poker tips that will help you put poker odds in your favor, instead of your opponent’s. We’ll also bring you reviews of fun poker accessories and advice for staying safe when you play online.
We love poker, so we enjoy writing about it. We hope you’ll find what we have to say helpful!
Online poker photo is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c9b06471-1109-4d8b-9c4a-b37439a49fda)