Now, the word casino is more popularly associated with gambling, Las Vegas, strict security, live performances, and movies such as Martin Scorsese’s Casino and the James Bond film, Casino Royale. There are more than 4500 casinos located all over the world today.

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The popularity of the Internet, led to the expansion of casinos. Gambling is no longer limited to facilities normally located near popular vacation spots, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and cruise ships. Gamblers can now bet, play, and wager through online casinos or virtual casinos.

Land-based or traditional casinos use the latest and most efficient security systems. This is to prevent cheating or manipulation by certain individuals. Because the Internet allows its users to be anonymous to a certain degree, security becomes an issue with online casinos. Gamblers and online casino owners alike are worried about fraud, scam, and spam.

To ensure their credibility, most online casinos use software from reliable and popular companies such as Microgaming and Playtech. The gaming software developed by Playtech Cyprus Ltd. is certified by the testing facility, BMM International. The Playtech gaming software is used by major gaming companies such as the GoldenPalace.com of Mohawk Internet Technologies, Betfred of United Kingdom, Centrebet of Australia, The Tote (or The Horserace Totalisator Board) in Britain, and Christchurch Casino of New Zealand. Casino Tropez, Prestige Casino, and WindowsCasino.com are just some of Playtech’s casino brands.

Such companies reportedly use random number generators to ensure that the numbers, cards, and dices do not appear in any specific pattern or order. Random number generators, including those employed in online casinos, usually undergo statistical tests for randomness and predictability.

In addition to using gaming software from notable companies, legitimate and credible online casinos have the Safe and Fair seal of the e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance displayed in their websites.

There are general types of online casinos - web-based casinos, download-based casinos, and live casinos.

In web-based casinos, gamblers or Internet users can play casino games online. This means that they do not have to download the program or software to their computers. Playing online casino games through web-based casinos requires plugins such as Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java. Any web browser that supports these plugins can be used. Playing online casino also requires broadband Internet connection because of the graphics and animation of online casino games. However, the Playtech Casino, noted for its three-dimensional graphics and ambient sound, has a download-version that can easily be downloaded even by players on dial-up Internet connection.

Unlike web-based casinos, players must download the software client of download-based casinos before they can start playing the casino games. Common problems associated with download-based casinos are download and installation time and malicious software (malware).

Live-based casinos are similar to web-based casinos. Downloading the games is not necessary. The difference is that live-based casinos simulate the land-based casino environment. To be specific, they allow players to interact with one another and with dealers. Playing live-based casino games require web cameras, microphones, and headphones (if separate from the microphone)/speakers in order to see and hear other gamblers and the dealers.

Online casino games are similar to those offered at land-based casinos. These include online poker, online bingo, online slot games, craps, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.