Online Blackjack Guide: Strategy and Casino Rankinge

1) What do I need before I start? You will need a few different things. You need access to a computer, understanding of the basics of blackjack, and some cash available for entertainment purposes. If your goal is to simply practice online, you can skip the cash. I learned to play in Atlantic City by practicing online.

2) Should I play blackjack online? You should only play online if you can afford the money, have enough time to play, and are willing to keep accurate records of your play. If you can't do this, I don't recommend playing online.

- Is it fair? We believe the most reputable online casinos are fair. Our internal calculations based on over $200,000 in wagers from the casinos represented on OBG are consistent with the posted odds by the casino. Be careful though, many of the online casinos have posted odds that simply are not that good. Make sure you understand how the subtle changes in the rules of the game influence the odds tremendously. Try to stick to well known casinos to avoid the possibility of being ripped off. All casinos on OBG are constantly monitored by my players and I. They are known to be safe.

Most of the casinos on OBG also use proprietary software owned by other companies. These companies independently verify the odds of the individual games and the casinos are unable to change the odds on the games themselves. These software companies don't want to ruin their reputations by manipulating the odds. The added protection of the software companies is a consideration in picking an online casino.

- Is it safe? I have wagered over $200,000 online without any hitches. No money stolen, no identities stealing, no bogus credit card charges, nothing. I'm not saying that these things don't happen, but if you stick with reputable online casinos (all the casinos on OBG), you should be safe. All casinos on OBG use SSL (secure sockets layer) for transactions, downloads, and gameplay. SSL helps protect your personal information. This is the same technology used when you make a purchase at Amazon or Ebay. Here's a link to read more about SSL.

- Is it legal? I have spent thousands of dollars trying to get the answer to this one! I have paid several lawyers to look into this for us and they all came up with the same thing.... maybe! The thing is, no one has ever been charged, arrested, convicted, or even accused of gambling online. In fact, there has only been 1 person arrested for having anything to do with gambling online. His name was Jay Cohen and he was the owner of an online casino that was in the US. The law is clear that you can't operate a casino online on US soil, but as far as playing online, the law is far from clear. Lawmakers are still arguing over internet commerce and online gambling appears to be in the "gray" zone for now. We'll keep you posted of any major changes.There are many resourced to get more information on this.topic: www.gamblingandthelaw.com, www.igamingnews.com, and

www.gambleonthenet.com.

Update: 9/1/03: There has been an arrest of a man in the U.S. for placing sports bets online. Please be careful, consider contacting local authorities prior to wagering. The laws on this matter are unclear at this time.

- Will I get paid? After attempting over hundreds of cash ins at hundreds of casinos, I can reports the I have NEVER been stiffed by an online casino. While it may have taken a very long time for some of the less reputable casinos to pay up, I have always been paid. Understand that most of the online casinos will ask for extra paperwork before processing any cash ins to help prevent fraud. Always keep good documentation of all your records in case of any discrepancies. If you have any problems with any casinos, we want to hear about it. Email us HERE.

- Is online better than offline? Absolutely, if you want to win money. Although, not as much fun as AC or Vegas. Take look at our Online vs Offline page.

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