Bingos, Lotteries and Sports Betting

When most people think of online gambling, they are usually referring to online casinos. But these are just the tip of the iceberg. If online casinos aren't your thing, maybe you'd like bingo, lotteries or sports betting.

Bingo

Bingo is one of the oldest ways to gamble and is still very popular today at "bricks and mortar" bingo halls. The origins of bingo can be traced back over 400 years. It has always been a popular game for recreation and for gambling. Online bingo is one of the fastest growing segments of the online gaming industry.

There is not much you can do to improve your odds at playing bingo. Many bingo players will play a large number of cards at once. This certainly increases your odds at having a number on one of your cards. Bingo is similar to lotteries - the more cards or tickets you have for one particular game - the better your odds of winning. You can try using lucky charms to increase your odds, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Online bingo mimics traditional bingo in that players buy their cards and wait for the results. Some may find this tedious and as a result, some online bingo games have added chat features to allow players to talk to each other. Some bingo games offer the option to play faster with some games lasting only four minutes.

Lotteries

Online lotteries operate in the same way and traditional lotteries. The appeal of lotteries whether online or otherwise is the potential to win large amounts of money with little investment. The design of lottery sites is kept to a minimum. Players only need to pick their numbers and find out the outcome.

Many lotteries follow the same rules. Players must pick six numbers from 1 to 49. When the draw is made, six numbers and a bonus number are drawn. If you match all six numbers you win the jack pot. If you match 5 plus the bonus, you win the second prize. If you match 3, 4 or 5 you'll win smaller amounts.

Each time a lottery drawing of winning numbers is held, the odds of winning are the same. This is the 'gambler's fallacy' - just because your numbers haven't won in a long time - doesn't mean they are due to win. The only way to increase your odds of winning is to play many tickets on one draw.

Sports Betting

Sports betting or sportsbooks is one of the oldest ways to gamble there is. Before the Internet came along, if you wanted to bet on sports events you would call in your bet to a "bricks and mortar" sportsbook or at a casino. The Internet has changed sports betting in many ways. Sporting events are not only the types of events wagered on. Some sportsbooks have pushed the envelope by taking bets on elections and even the outcomes of reality TV shows.

Sportsbook web sites are usually quite different from casino web sites. They are aimed specifically at sports fans and often their web sites lack some of the "bells and whistles" of casino sites. Sportsbook site just need to know what bet the player wants to place. Online casinos offer more of a gambling experience by recreating the casino atmosphere and providing players with option of playing many different games. Betting on sporting events isn't less enjoyable, just requires a simpler approach.