Does Hermes, “The God Of Luck” Smile Upon You? What is your attitude regarding online gambling. Do you just take your chances or do you wisely calculate the odds? Are you one of the millions of Americans that like to gamble? How often do you go online to place a wager or visit a land-based casino? These are hot topics on the worldwide web as gamblers, industry analysts and marketing entrepreneurs analyze and embrace the money making potential of online gaming venues. For the majority of Americans, online gambling casinos offer convenient, easy to access entertainment: an innocent diversion. For others Internet gambling becomes an addictive, uncontrollable and costly behavior. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports gambling has similar elements of addictive behavior as those found in drug and alcohol addiction: namely severe depression and chemical dependency. Undoubtedly, greater minds will wonder for years, why do some people just seem to be born lucky: others just plain losers. Scientific research indicates that white-middle aged males are the players most likely to develop a habitual gambling problem. The APA further reports that the following are mostly likely at risk of addiction. • Individuals with a poor education • Single persons • Individuals whose household income is below the mean • Males • Children of pathological gamblers • People with the attitude that money causes and is also the solution to all their problems In theory, when a pair of dice is thrown, all number combinations have an equal chance. Luck and odds factor in. Students of the game of craps now know that seven is most likely to be the score. Mathematical statistics are utilized by gambling venues to calculate odds that favor the house. Odds are also calculated by the popularity of any given game. As an example, when blackjack was first introduced, it lacked dedicated players. To attract gamblers to play the game, many casinos offered odds as high as 10/1. With its quick rise in popularity, now you will be hard pressed to find odds offered on the game to be any better than 2/1. Many successful gamblers claim consistently winning or losing has everything to do with how well you understand the odds of the particular game you are playing. Players should be aware that although the odds of any given game played online are similar to the odds offered by brick and mortar casinos, each individual online gaming website sets their own odds. Odds can vary greatly from game to game and substantially from site to site. Make sure your understand the rules before you play to avoid costly "newbie" mistakes. You can increase your chances of being a winner, if you choose to play at an easy to navigate, user-friendly online casino that meets your expectations. Listen to the pros. If you plan to gamble online, select a trustworthy online casino. Look for one that offers all the games you like in your native language. Read the agreement closely to avoid unpleasant surprises. Evaluate the reputation of the casino by reading online independent reviews and participating in gambling forums. Weigh the bonus offers of various casinos and understand the rules. Some Internet gambling sites require that you play for a specified length of time or make a minimum bet. To best enjoy your online gambling experience, limit your time online, use discretion in your waging strategy, follow the guidelines and understand the odds. You too can be a winner!