For some, getting started as an online gambler is simple: find a site, register, and start playing. For others, particularly the less computer-savvy, wading through the virtual mire can seem like a nightmare. How do I get the games? Is it safe to download? What the heck is JAVA? Can my computer handle it?

Below are the answers to these and other pertinent technical question you'll need answered in order to get started down the path to becoming an online gambler.

Necessary Hardware

In order to play online, at the very least you need two critical components: a computer compliant with gambling software and access to the Internet.

If you bought your computer within the last five years, chances are that it is already equipped with the necessary hardware to gamble online. That is, it already has everything it needs to run the casino's software. How can you be sure? The basic rule of thumb is simply having Internet access - if you're computer is able to surf the 'Net, you're probably good to go. If you don't have Internet access yet, and you're working with an older model system, you'll need to check to see if your computer can handle the job. While you don't need to have the latest, state-of-the-art system in order to gamble online, your system does at least need to meet the following minimum requirements:

Pentium chip
16 MB of RAM (Random Access Memory)
256 color VGA monitor
20 MB of Hard drive space
14.4 Kbps modem

While it can never hurt to have a better system and a fast connection like DSL - as these will make everything faster and more realistic - as long as you've got those basic needs met, you can at least gamble on the 'Net.

Necessary Software

Now that you know your system can handle the job at hand, the next step is to get the right software. That's simple enough, just pick a site. Most, if not all, online gambling sites offer their software free to anyone who cares to use it. So, a capable operating system, which we just discussed, and an Internet browser are all that you really need to get started. These browsers, such as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape and also free and if you don't have the latest version simply visit their site and download the update.

Sites that offer casino gaming may also require players to download their own casino software package in order to play the games. I say "may require" because there are several different casino software platforms, some of which allow gamblers to avoid the download process and play right through the browser. (See below). If you should settle on a site that requires the download, don't panic. They walk you through the process step by step and make it about as painless as possible. This software is also free, as the casino's goal isn't to sell you a couple of bucks worth of gaming software, but to get you through the door where they have a shot at getting some real money. With that in mind, always be wary of sites that ask you to pay for their software download, as that's usually the first sign of a scam in progress. Also, don't be fooled by enterprising young hooligans who peddle their casino software CDs on auction sites like eBay. Anyone can get those same CDs just by requesting them from the casino. They're free!

Software Platforms

We briefly touched on the subject of software platforms in the previous section, but now it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty of the casino software choices: platforms.

Just as there are different types of sites and different types of games, so too are different types of software platforms, that is, methods by which a player can access the data and play the games. Currently, there are three major types: downloadable, JAVA-based, and Flash.

Download Platforms

The original form of gambling software, downloadable gaming platforms required the would-be gambler to visit the site and download the entire software package from the casino's server onto their own computer. These original packages were often bulky, typically running as high as 15 MB, as they contained all of the data required to play each game in the casino. These files were so cumbersome, that it often took almost an hour for the entire package to download!

As the industry progressed, however, this form of software package installation has become more streamlined, allowing players to download only the basic casino components with additional optional downloads possible later.

For example, now a player can quickly load the casino's basic software package - usually only about 4 MB - which consists of the general casino images (entrance, tables, etc.,) and only a few basic games like blackjack, slots and a video poker machine or two. Once this casino shell is downloaded, players can then log on to the site and start gambling. If they want to install additional games later, they simply select which ones they want and download them individually by clicking on a link from the original software package.

This method for installing the casino software is especially important for the "larger" sites that have over 100 games, as it allows players to selectively add games and avoid wasting the tremendous amount of time it would take to install so many unnecessary files.

JAVA Platforms

The next generation of online gambling followed with an even easier way for players to access the gaming tables: JAVA-based software. With JAVA gaming, players no longer needed to download the site's software onto their system - they could simply visit the site, register and start playing right through their own browser. This new feature revolutionized online gambling, allowing players the easily jump from site to site, without having to waste time and memory space by incorporating the software onto their own system.

That's not to say that JAVA doesn't have its limitations. One major drawback to this type of software feature is the quality of the graphics. Since the games are played directly from the site's server, rather than from information stored on the user's system, the visual appeal is sometimes mildly diminished. In some poor quality sites, in fact, the games often look more akin to an arcade game from the 80's than a high-tech digital program of the 21st century.

Flash Platforms

The latest innovation in online gambling software, Flash technology allows gamblers to again start playing without the need for the lengthy software downloads. However, while JAVA software sometimes has graphical limitations, Flash uses streaming technology to create a very realistic, smooth-flowing gambling experience. The only real drawback to the player who uses this platform is the need to download the Flash plug-ins - the software necessary to run the program. While this may seem to be just as inefficient as the original download platforms, the plug-ins typically take less time to incorporate, are provided directly from the site and need only be installed once.

Obviously, it is up to the individual to decide which format best suits their needs. Thankfully, many casinos are now offering all three options to players, allowing them to decide for themselves which to use. Some players prefer JAVA or Flash formats because they provide for greater flexibility when site hopping - requiring little or nothing to download. Other players prefer the stability of downloading the entire software package onto their system because they feel more in control of the gaming, get better graphics, and trust the site. In addition, by downloading a site's software, players are more likely to return to that site, which helps to earn more comp points.