Popular Gambling FAQ With Answers

There are many frequently asked questions relating to online gambling, and we have compiled a comprehensive list of these below. We have divided these questions into four different categories: general online gambling, online sports betting, online casino gambling, and online poker.

General Online Gambling FAQ

Online Sports Betting FAQ

Online Casino FAQ

Online Poker FAQ

General Online Gambling FAQ

What is online gambling?

The definition of online gambling is pretty straightforward; it's the placing of a bet or a wager using the internet. There are many different forms of online gambling including sports betting, casino games, poker, and bingo. Please take a look at our Guide to Online Gambling for more detailed information.

Is online gambling legal?

It's difficult to answer this question definitively, because it ultimately depends on where you live. Gambling laws can be very different depending on your location, and in many parts of the world it's somewhat of a grey area. Before undertaking any form of online gambling you should check your local laws yourself. You might like to read our guide to the Legalities of Online Betting & Gambling for more specific information on this subject.

How can I try online gambling?

Providing you have internet access, it's easy to get started with online gambling. You just need to sign up with an online gambling site, deposit some money, and you are ready to go. Make sure to use any of the recommendations at www.bookmob.ca to ensure you choose a safe and quality option.

How do I choose which online gambling site to use?

There are plenty of online gambling sites to choose from on the web, and it can be difficult to decide which one to use. A lot depends on what form of online gambling you are looking to do, and where in the world you live. The main purpose of BookMob.ca is to list and rank the best online gambling sites in a variety of categories, precisely to help our visitors choose which sites to use. Please take a look around the site and you'll find plenty of information and recommendations in categories such as the best slots casinos, the best horse racing sites, and the best sites for gambling in the United States.

How do I get my money to online gambling sites?

In order to gamble online you'll need to fund your account at your chosen online gambling site. Most gambling sites offer a variety of different options for doing this, and the most commonly used methods include credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallet services. You can find more information on this topic at our page on gambling deposit options.

Can I use more than one gambling site?

Yes, you can use as many online gambling sites as you want. Indeed it's usually a good idea to have accounts at more than one site. Some will be particularly good for specific aspects of online gambling while others will be good for different aspects. For example, you might choose one gambling site for playing casino games and another for placing bets on football.

Do I need a PC with Windows to gamble online?

Not necessarily. Some sites are only compatible with Windows, but there are also plenty of sites that work with other platforms. You'll find gambling sites that are compatible with Linux and Macintosh computers, and even some you can use from your mobile phone. Take a look at the following pages if you are looking for a gambling site with specific compatibility requirements:

Is online gambling safe?

Online gambling is safe providing you stick to using safe gambling sites. Like pretty much any industry there are of course some rogue operators, but you'll be just fine if you stick to reputable and trustworthy sites. This is one reason why BookMob.ca exists: to ensure that our readers can find out which gambling sites they can trust. Every single gambling site that we recommend here, we would trust with our own money. We actually have a section dedicated to those gambling sites that we consider to be the absolute safes: Safe Online Gambling Sites.

How old do I have to be to gamble online?

This can depend on where you live and which gambling site you are using. Typically, you'll have to be 18, but the requirement might be 21.

How much money do I need to gamble online?

Most gambling sites have minimum deposit levels, so you'll need to be prepared to deposit at least enough to reach their minimum. These amounts are typically quite small though, so you don't need to have a lot of money to gamble online. Just be sure that you only ever deposit money that you can afford to lose.

How do I get my winnings and how long does it take?

The majority of online gambling sites will let you withdraw money from your account using any of the methods you have used to deposit funds with. You'll have to submit a withdrawal, or cash out, request which is usually very simply to do. The time it takes will depend on which method you use and the gambling site in question. Cash outs using e-wallet services such as Neteller can be instant at some gambling sites, while credit or debit card withdrawals will usually take just a few days and check withdrawals can take a couple of weeks or more.

Are online gambling winnings taxable?

This depends on the relevant laws in your jurisdiction. If you do win money gambling, then you should check your local tax laws or seek advice on this matter.

Why do I have to give my personal information to an online gambling site?

This is largely just good practice on behalf of the gambling sites and it's also often a requirement of a relevant regulatory body. If you are using a reputable gambling site, then you have nothing to worry about in providing your personal information as it will be kept private and safe.

What are online gambling bonuses and rewards?

Most online gambling sites give out bonuses and rewards as an incentive to encourage new customers for signing up and for rewarding the loyalty of regular customers. Bonuses and rewards come in many different formats, and they can add some great extra value to your online gambling experience. In many cases they are essentially free money, although you should always check the terms and conditions of bonuses to see if there are any requirements attached. Take a look at our page on the best rewards sites for a list of places that offer generous bonuses and rewards.

What is the best form of online gambling?

There's no real answer to this, because it really depends on what you enjoy the most and what you want to get out of your online gambling. If you enjoy watching sports and are good at predicting results, then betting on sports is obviously going to be a good choice for you. If you are a good poker player, then you may be able to make some good money playing poker online. Casino and bingo games are more luck based than skill based, but you still have a chance to win some money and they can be great fun.

Should I use a gambling system?

For as long as gambling has existed there have been people claiming to have great gambling systems for winning money. For the most part, such systems are useless and don't work in the long run, and there are certainly no systems that can beat the house edge in casino games. Sports betting and poker are a bit different because you can consistently win money if you have the right level of skill, but this isn't the result of using a gambling system.

What happens if I lose my username and/or password?

At most gambling sites there will be an option to retrieve your username and password, usually on the log-in page. This will usually mean that the existing information will simply be emailed to your registered email address, although you may be required to go through a security process to verify your identity. You may be required to choose a new password too. If there's no option to retrieve the information, you can always just send an email to the gambling site or call their customer service department.

What should I do if I have a complaint about an online gambling site?

In the first instance you should make your complaint directly to the online gambling site in question. The best gambling sites are very good at resolving complaints and disputes, and they will act fairly. If you are not satisfied, you should find out who licenses the site and make a complaint to the relevant regulatory body.

Can I get addicted to online gambling?

The short answer to this is yes. It's possible to get addicted to online gambling, but it can also be avoided if you are sensible and don't let your gambling get out of control. It's perfectly possible to enjoy responsible gambling without getting addicted, but you should stop immediately if you think you may be getting an addiction. Please read our article on gambling addiction for more information.

Online Sports Betting FAQ

Which sports betting site should I use?

We would suggest that you use one of the sports gambling sites that we recommend at BookMob.ca. We have researched and tested some of the major sites and have come up with our list of the highest quality and most reliable betting options.

How do I place a sports bet online?

Most sports betting sites are really easy to use. Once you have set up your account and deposited some money it's a simple matter of navigating the site to find the bet you want, and then choosing your stake and submitting your bet.

What sports can I bet on online?

It would be easier to list the sports that you cannot bet on. The majority of sports betting sites cover the major sports such as football, baseball, soccer, horse racing, tennis, basketball and so on. A large number of sites also cover other less mainstream sports too, so whatever you want to bet on it's likely to be covered somewhere.

Do I need to know a lot about sports to bet?

You don't have to, but it certainly helps. If you are just looking to have a little fun, then it doesn't really matter. If you want to try and make money consistently out of betting, then the more knowledge you have the better. It's often a good idea to stick to betting on the sports that you are familiar with, because you are far more likely to get your predictions right.

What is the smallest bet I can make online?

This will depend on the gambling site that you are using, and maybe even what you are betting on. Most gambling sites have a very small minimum bet though, so you are unlikely to have to bet more than you really want to.

What is the biggest bet I can make online?

Again, this will depend on what gambling site you are using and what you are betting on. The maximum bet is usually high enough for most bettors, but if you want to bet larger amounts you may have to contact your gambling site and ask them to increase your limits.

Can I make money through betting on sports online?

Absolutely, if you know what you're doing (or you are very lucky). Successful sports betting isn't easy, but it's certainly possible to make money in the long run if you use sound judgment and are prepared to put some effort into finding suitable wagers to place. Take a look at our Sports Betting Guide for some useful pointers.

Why are the odds different at different sports betting sites?

Sports betting sites use traders to set their odds, generally based on a combination of their opinion on the likely outcome of an event and the amount of money they have taken on each bet. Traders may have different opinions about what's going to happen in a sporting event, and the sites will obviously be taking different amounts of money on various bets, so the odds will vary from one gambling site to another. This is a good reason for having accounts at more than one site, so that you can find the best odds for your bets.

What is live sports betting?

Live sports betting, or in play sports betting, is when you bet on a match or event that's already underway. This means you can watch some of a game before deciding which bets to make. You can read more at Live Sports Betting.

Online Casino FAQ

Which online casino should I use?

We would advise you to take a look at our recommendations for the best online casinos on the following page: Best Online Casino Websites.

What casino games can I play online?

There are plenty of casino games that you can play online; the exact range of games available will vary at different online casinos. Almost all online casinos will offer traditional games (such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat) and a range of video poker games and slot games.

Are online casinos fair?

Yes, or at least the reputable online casinos (such as the ones we recommend at BookMob.ca) are. There are a few online casinos out there that run fixed games and cheat, but the vast majority offer fair games.

Do I need to download any software to play casino games online?

This will depend on the online casino. Some casino sites require you to download software while others have games that you can play directly through your web browser. Many online casinos offer both options.

What online casino games offer the best chance of winning?

It's difficult to answer this question definitively. The card games blackjack and baccarat generally have the lowest house edge so you could argue that you have the best chance of winning when playing these games. However, on each you can only win the amount that you have staked (or one and half times if you get a blackjack) so you'll need to win a lot of hands to win big. On the other hand, games like roulette, Caribbean Stud, and 3 Card Poker have a higher house edge but can pay out big if the right number spins in or you get a particularly strong hand. The same is true for online slot games. It's probably best to simply play the games that you enjoy the most rather than trying to work out which will give you the best chance of winning.

Can I play casino games online for free?

Pretty much all online casinos have a "play for free" or "play for fun" version of some of their casino games, so you'll be able to give them a go before playing for real money if you want.

What are progressive jackpots?

Progressive jackpots are jackpots that build up over time as a game is played. They are quite common on slot games, and you'll also see them on video poker games and some table games. At some casino sites, progressive jackpots can grow to be very large indeed; you can win genuinely life changing sums of money.

What are live dealer games?

Live dealer games are casino games where, as the name indicates, you play against real life dealers. This is done using video streaming and is as close to playing in a real casino as you can get, without having to leave your own home. You can read more at Live Dealer Casinos.

Why is there a table limit?

Most online casinos have a maximum amount you can bet for the same reason real casinos do, simply to minimize their exposure to risk. By imposing a maximum wager, casinos can also protect their customers from betting too much. If you want to make particularly large wagers on casino games, then you might be interested in our recommendations on the following page - High Stakes Gambling Sites.

Can I make money from playing at online casinos?

It's definitely possible to make money from playing at online casinos, but the odds are against you in the long run. There's a built-in house edge in every casino game that you play, so the house should theoretically always win. It is, however, possible to upset the odds in the short term if luck is on your side and you play sensibly. The important thing to do is know when to walk away with your winnings if you do get lucky.

Online Poker FAQ

Which online poker site should I use?

You should use an online poker site where you like the software and there are plenty of games running at your preferred stakes. We have made some recommendations on the following page: Best Online Poker Sites.

What is rake?

Rake is how poker sites make their money. They take a very small percentage of the money in each pot in cash games and they charge a small entry fee in addition to the buy-in in each tournament. This is no different than live poker rooms and in fact the rake is generally much cheaper when playing online poker.

What is the difference between cash games and tournaments?

When playing poker cash games each hand is played for real money and if you win the pot the money is yours. When playing tournaments, each entrant pays money to buy in and is given a certain amount of starting chips. Players are eliminated when they lose all those chips and the winner is the last player left in. The winner gets the biggest share of the prize money while other high placed finishers also receive a small share.

How do I know the cards are dealt randomly at online poker sites?

Ultimately, you just have to put your faith in the poker site you are playing at and trust that the games are fair. If you stick to using reputable poker sites, such as those that we recommend, then you can be assured that there's nothing dishonest going on. In reality, there's no benefit to a poker site not running fair games anyway. They make their money through charging rake so it doesn't really matter to them which players win and which players lose.

What happens if I lose my internet connection during a game?

Most poker sites will have a policy for this scenario, although the policies will vary at different sites. As a general rule, your place at the table will be saved and you'll sit out until you manage to log back in. If you are playing in a tournament your blinds will automatically be posted. If you lose your connection in the middle of a hand when playing a cash game, then you may receive "all in protection". This means that the hand will play out as if you were all in and you will still win if you have the best hand. Not all poker sites offer all in protection though.

What poker game should I play?

This is entirely your decision; the most sensible thing to do is to play the game that you like most or the one that you are best at. The most commonly played game is Texas Hold'em Poker, but most sites offer other games too, such as Omaha and 7 Card Stud.

Can I play online poker for free?

Most online poker sites will offer free games where you can play against other real players for play chips. There's no money involved in these and they can be a good way to learn the game. A lot of poker sites will also have freeroll tournaments, which are free to enter but have a small prize pool. By playing freerolls you can potentially win money without having to spend anything at all, but the prize pools are generally very small and have a lot of entrants.

How do online poker bonuses work?

Poker bonuses can work in different ways, but they are generally awarded as deposit bonuses; meaning that you get bonus money based on how much you deposit. These can come in the form of sign up bonuses, which are given to new customers when they first join a poker site, or reload bonuses, which are given to existing customers when they make a deposit. As a rule, a poker bonus will not be added directly into your online account. Instead, it'll be released as real money into your account in chunks based on how much poker you play.

Can playing online poker be profitable?

Quite simply, yes it can. There are lots of poker players all over the world who are making lots of money through playing online poker. As poker is primarily a game of skill if you can study the game, practice, and learn how to beat your opponents on a regular basis, then you can definitely make money. Take a look at our section on poker strategy tips and advice for articles to help and improve your game.

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