F1 Grand Prix

Gambling is as at least as old as Christianity (that is, if Ben Hur can be trusted). About 2,000 years later, Bugsy Siegel took the concept a step further and built the Flamingo Hotel in the desert town of Las Vegas. For decades, Vegas was about the only legal option for gamblers. In the '70s, Atlantic City legalized casino gambling; in the ensuing decades, state lotteries, Indian casinos, gaming ships, offtrack betting parlors and card clubs have sprouted across the landscape.

For years, one barrier to the growth of Internet gambling has been strong opposition from those most threatened by gambling sites: legal American casinos. The American Gaming Association, a trade group of gaming firms, maintains this view regarding online wagering: "The industry has been state-regulated and we think it should remain that way. The Internet is presently unregulated and we support a federal law regulating Internet gambling."

But over the last several months, at least some traditional casinos have pursued the time-honored strategy of joining an Internet gambling trend that they can't beat. In November 1998, for example, a division of Hilton Hotels acquired the company that runs Centrebet, a Web and telephone sports-wagering system based in Australia (www.centrebet.com.au). Anyone over the age of 18 can set up an account with Centrebet and place money on a variety of worldwide sporting events, including U.S. college and professional sports.

How Online Gambling Sites Work

Almost all online gambling sites work the same [some have first-class reputations; others are less trustworthy.] Would-be wagerers open an account with a credit card, although some sites also accept cash and cashier's checks. The minimum amount to begin an account varies. Casino games are available on a site or via downloadable software. They almost always include slots, blackjack and video poker, but many sites carry more exotic games, from baccarat to pai gow. Bets generally range from $1 to as much as $300 and more.

Some Advantages

It seems that many will continue to turn to Internet betting for its clear advantages. For one thing, gambling from one's home allows for a variety of techniques that would get one tossed out of a regular casino. Blackjack players can very easily count cards, or even consult odds charts; the Kennyrogerscasino.com site actually has a printable chart showing the best strategy for every possible hand of blackjack.

And for sports bettors – who make up a majority of online gamblers, according to industry insiders – the ease of using cyberbookies can't be beat. "I use the service because it's convenient and I have access to it when I want," says one online gambler. "I wager on football games and usually bet in the neighborhood of $1,000 every weekend. I've not had problems being paid."