For
some, getting started as an online gambler is simple: find a site, register, and
start playing. For others, particularly the less computer-savvy, wading through
the virtual mire can seem like a nightmare. How do I get the games? Is it safe
to download? What the heck is JAVA? Can my computer handle it?
Below
are the answers to these and other pertinent technical question you'll need
answered in order to get started down the path to becoming an online
gambler.
Necessary
Hardware
In
order to play online, at the very least you need two critical components: a
computer compliant with gambling software and access to the Internet.
If you
bought your computer within the last five years, chances are that it is already
equipped with the necessary hardware to gamble online. That is, it already has
everything it needs to run the casino's software. How can you be sure? The basic
rule of thumb is simply having Internet access - if you're computer is able to
surf the 'Net, you're probably good to go. If you don't have Internet access
yet, and you're working with an older model system, you'll need to check to see
if your computer can handle the job. While you don't need to have the latest,
state-of-the-art system in order to gamble online, your system does at least
need to meet the following minimum requirements:
Pentium
chip
16 MB of RAM (Random Access Memory)
256 color VGA monitor
20 MB of
Hard drive space
14.4 Kbps modem
While
it can never hurt to have a better system and a fast connection like DSL - as
these will make everything faster and more realistic - as long as you've got
those basic needs met, you can at least gamble on the 'Net.
Necessary
Software
Now
that you know your system can handle the job at hand, the next step is to get
the right software. That's simple enough, just pick a site. Most, if not all,
online gambling sites offer their software free to anyone who cares to use it.
So, a capable operating system, which we just discussed, and an Internet browser
are all that you really need to get started. These browsers, such as Microsoft
Explorer or Netscape and also free and if you don't have the latest version
simply visit their site and download the update.
Sites
that offer casino gaming may also require players to download their own casino
software package in order to play the games. I say "may require" because there
are several different casino software platforms, some of which allow gamblers to
avoid the download process and play right through the browser. (See below). If
you should settle on a site that requires the download, don't panic. They walk
you through the process step by step and make it about as painless as possible.
This software is also free, as the casino's goal isn't to sell you a couple of
bucks worth of gaming software, but to get you through the door where they have
a shot at getting some real money. With that in mind, always be wary of sites
that ask you to pay for their software download, as that's usually the first
sign of a scam in progress. Also, don't be fooled by enterprising young
hooligans who peddle their casino software CDs on auction sites like eBay.
Anyone can get those same CDs just by requesting them from the casino. They're
free!
Software
Platforms
We
briefly touched on the subject of software platforms in the previous section,
but now it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of the casino software
choices: platforms.
Just as
there are different types of sites and different types of games, so too are
different types of software platforms, that is, methods by which a player can
access the data and play the games. Currently, there are three major types:
downloadable, JAVA-based, and Flash.
Download
Platforms
The
original form of gambling software, downloadable gaming platforms required the
would-be gambler to visit the site and download the entire software package from
the casino's server onto their own computer. These original packages were often
bulky, typically running as high as 15 MB, as they contained all of the data
required to play each game in the casino. These files were so cumbersome, that
it often took almost an hour for the entire package to download!
As the
industry progressed, however, this form of software package installation has
become more streamlined, allowing players to download only the basic casino
components with additional optional downloads possible later.
For
example, now a player can quickly load the casino's basic software package -
usually only about 4 MB - which consists of the general casino images (entrance,
tables, etc.,) and only a few basic games like blackjack, slots and a video
poker machine or two. Once this casino shell is downloaded, players can then log
on to the site and start gambling. If they want to install additional games
later, they simply select which ones they want and download them individually by
clicking on a link from the original software package.
This
method for installing the casino software is especially important for the
"larger" sites that have over 100 games, as it allows players to selectively add
games and avoid wasting the tremendous amount of time it would take to install
so many unnecessary files.
JAVA
Platforms
The
next generation of online gambling followed with an even easier way for players
to access the gaming tables: JAVA-based software. With JAVA gaming, players no
longer needed to download the site's software onto their system - they could
simply visit the site, register and start playing right through their own
browser. This new feature revolutionized online gambling, allowing players the
easily jump from site to site, without having to waste time and memory space by
incorporating the software onto their own system.
That's
not to say that JAVA doesn't have its limitations. One major drawback to this
type of software feature is the quality of the graphics. Since the games are
played directly from the site's server, rather than from information stored on
the user's system, the visual appeal is sometimes mildly diminished. In some
poor quality sites, in fact, the games often look more akin to an arcade game
from the 80's than a high-tech digital program of the 21st century.
Flash
Platforms
The
latest innovation in online gambling software, Flash technology allows gamblers
to again start playing without the need for the lengthy software downloads.
However, while JAVA software sometimes has graphical limitations, Flash uses
streaming technology to create a very realistic, smooth-flowing gambling
experience. The only real drawback to the player who uses this platform is the
need to download the Flash plug-ins - the software necessary to run the program.
While this may seem to be just as inefficient as the original download
platforms, the plug-ins typically take less time to incorporate, are provided
directly from the site and need only be installed once.
Obviously,
it is up to the individual to decide which format best suits their needs.
Thankfully, many casinos are now offering all three options to players, allowing
them to decide for themselves which to use. Some players prefer JAVA or Flash
formats because they provide for greater flexibility when site hopping -
requiring little or nothing to download. Other players prefer the stability of
downloading the entire software package onto their system because they feel more
in control of the gaming, get better graphics, and trust the site. In addition,
by downloading a site's software, players are more likely to return to that
site, which helps to earn more comp points.
