The first appearance of online casinos in the mid 90's sparked the beginning of a whole new era, utilizing the web in a way unimagined of before. Online Gambling had begun and was set to become one of the webs most popular pastimes!

Several of the very first few online casinos that appeared, have, rather remarkably, survived the test of time and also have become leaders in their field. Others conversely, were one hit wonders and because of poor marketing along with abysmal customer support they failed miserably and disappeared shortly after opening.

Remember, some were run by genuine businesses wanting to build a reputation for fairness and integrity and stand the test of time in an up and coming, lucrative, market. These were the unfortunates that tried hard but failed.

With all new markets on the contrary, the conmen will appear, ripping off customers and grabbing as much of other peoples cash as they can without the morals, scruples or sympathy.

Unfortunately the online gaming market has picked up more than its fair share of these conmen since its inception which led, in lots of peoples minds to the whole industry being tarred with the exact same brush.

The Press also has a part to play their dogged determination to knock online gambling as often as is possible, citing cases of addiction. Simply, where fortunes may be won there is always an element of addiction. Alternatively, these cases are fairly rare and the vast majority of men and women can gamble small amounts responsibly. Look at how many have a weekly flutter on the lotto without any problems whatsoever.

It's worth noting at this point that the industry in general, over the past number of years, has somewhat gained a reputation for fairness and security. The conmen are now few and far between, although admittedly, some still exist. The leading sites also have measures in place to ensure that problem gamblers get help with their addiction and also are often barred from playing.

These days on the flip side, online casinos, poker rooms and other gaming sites have become fashionable and with the massively growing popularity, the numbers of men and women playing online has grown exponentially. In certain countries or areas however gambling is still illegal, so check what the rules are for your area before playing.

So what is the simplest way of selecting a safe and secure online environment in which to play casino or poker games? Let's look-at several of the ways in which you may protect yourself when gambling online.

Stick with a Well-known Company

Large international gaming businesses are now available online and have a reputation to preserve. They cannot afford any bad press as it will affect the whole of their operations, both on and offline.

Word of Mouth

What better way to get first hand information on how a site is operated than asking others how they happen to be treated there and whether they find it an enjoyable site or not.

Consult a Gambling Portal

There are actually a great many gambling portals available online giving advice on all aspects of online gambling, including, but certainly not restricted to casinos, poker, bingo and skill games.

Read the reviews of the gaming sites they feature or read their forums for the "word of mouth" recommendations. The top gambling portals only promote reliable, tried and tested sites.

Because of the close working relationship held between the site owners and contributors, they're a up to date bunch who will advise with some authority or where to play safely.

Portals also are a good way in which to find out more about the best gambling way to play. Many portal site pages are adorned with rules, strategy guides and often free to play games to try out your skills before committing to regular play.

Secure Payments

All of the worthwhile sites accept many different payment options with secure facilities to make certain your details are protected. Only play at the sites where your details are safe and secure.

Set a Limit

Before you decide to start, set a limit on simply how much you would be prepared to loose and don't cross that line.

Using the above mentioned information you should be well on your way to having an enjoyable time when playing online in a dependable and respectable site.