Since the advent of the internet in the 1990s, it has become a large part of everyday life and many services have become available online, such as paying accounts or shopping. It is no surprise, therefore, that online casinos were established.
These casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos, began launching very soon after the Internet itself was created. The first internet gambling sites were introduced in the mid-1990s, when Antigua and Barbuda passed a law granting licenses to companies who wished to start online casinos. Since then the online casino industry has grown exponentially, as companies realized they could cater to a larger market, and today there are a number of large companies all competing in the industry. These online casinos are run in similar fashion to the land-based casinos except, however, for the fact that with the online casinos all transactions are virtual.
Players can choose from a number of online casinos to sign up to and then, once they have chosen the game they would like to play, they will place a wager and begin to play. Online casinos generally have a slightly higher payout percentage than land-based casinos, which can make them more appealing to players. Furthermore, online casinos can be accessed from anywhere through a computer or mobile device, which is very convenient for players. Many players will find online casinos in the US and Canada.
Can US and Canadian Players Use Online Casinos
When choosing an online casino in the US and Canada, there are three important factors to consider. The first, and the most important, thing to check is whether the casino accepts American or Canadian players. There is legislation in both the USA and Canada which restricts online casinos in the US and Canada.
The legality of online casinos in the United States is a debatable issue and the laws vary from state to state. It was first thought that online casinos were illegal under the Federal Wire Act, however, this issue was cleared up in 2011 when the United States Department of Justice stated that the Act did not pertain to online casinos, poker or lottery sites. This is good news both for online casinos and for players in the USA because although the states do generally heavily regulate online gambling, it is still possible to play at a number of the best online casinos in the US.
Canadian players are accepted at almost all online casinos, which is an advantage over American players. While Canadian law is somewhat strict when it comes to online gambling, it is not quite so stringent as the laws in the US. While companies will not be given licenses to operate within Canada itself, players can play at casinos based in other parts of the world. Although both countries have laws restricting online slots casinos sites, players can still find online casinos in the US and Canada.
Secondly, before choosing online casinos in the US and Canada, you should check whether US or Canadian dollars are accepted by the casino. Most of the big casinos do allow you to play using both American and Canadian dollars which will make it easier as you do not have to deal with exchange rates. Thirdly, in order to have a great fun when playing at casinos in the US and Canada, players should note what welcome bonuses, promotions and loyalty schemes the casino provides.