Online Poker and the Online Lottery
888Poker is a global online poker network with an eyeball-popping 10 million users and a flurry of new signups every 12 seconds. Its sister site, 888Sport, launched in 2010 under the auspices of its parent company, Cassava Enterprises LTD, and is the world’s second largest online sportsbook. It has a long and distinguished history of being a leader in fixed odds sports betting and bingo. The two may not be intertwined, but they do have one thing in common: they both have their own casinos.
In terms of a US audience, the big kahuna is the plethora of land based casinos and poker rooms available. The state of Nevada alone has over 50 casinos, making it the undisputed gambling capital of the country. Some of these have been around since the first gambling license was issued in the state in 1924, and many still stand today. There are even more locations across the nation. Some states, like Illinois, have no legal gambling whatsoever, which is a bit of a bummer.
The most popular game among Americans is blackjack. The other biggies are roulette, craps, baccarat and video poker. There is also a growing number of sites catering to European players, and the Europeans aren’t the only ones in town. A number of states are considering legislation to allow gambling of all types in their backyards, which should open the doors to more online operators.
There are no guarantees that the internet will ever replace the old-school gaming establishments, but it will certainly augment the overall experience. With the popularity of social media, it will be interesting to see which sites are able to compete with each other in the online gambling arena. If you’re looking for a reputable site with a good customer service team and a nifty mobile app, 888Poker is a definite contender.