Virtual casinos are a development of the internet, an online recreation of the “real world” experience. They offer some advantages to the gambler and the casino operator. The gambler does not need to dress in a tuxedo or cocktail dress, and the casino operator does not need to finance an expensive building and all the staff. The operator makes his profit from the normal house edge.
There are two kinds of virtual casino – download-based and web-based. A “live” experience is replicated by putting real dealers into studios so the “hit” of a blackjack deal, for example, can be experienced, and human-to-human chat can take place. With sufficient bandwidth, players can see the action via video feeds.
Download-based virtual casinos use a client software download to allow the player to make bids and lay bets. Once the software has been downloaded, which may take a little time, the speed of play is fast, and the graphics and sound are as good as the player’s machine.
The web-based option requires the use of plug-ins and wide bandwidth for all the animation graphics and sound options, unless a simple HTML interface is used.
Just like the real thing, virtual casinos offer a wide selection of games, including baccarat, roulette, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, and slot machines. Bonuses for signing up are offered, which sweeten the deal when a minimum stake is demanded for any wager. Further bonuses in the form of free games are often delivered to match the “comps” of the real world casino.