By now we've all heard about online gambling and poker playing and you're thinking you might want to give it a try. On your mark, get set, wait!

Before you venture forth, it's a good idea to do a quick reality check because the road to online gambling riches is not without potholes. Here are a few caveats to illuminate the path ahead.

Some casinos, but certainly not all, will ask if you want to download their software package in order to play their games. There are a couple good reasons to do so: (1) you'll get a full-featured package with all the bells and whistles, and (2) there's some evidence that the downloaded packages are more secure.

That said it's hard to argue with the "instant" gaming option that the "no-download" games offer. If you want to get right to, it this is the way to go. One thing to keep in mind is that many casinos offer their games in both the no-download and download varieties. You can always start with the no-download games and upgrade to the full package when it suits you.

2. Will the software run on my computer?

Good question. The answer in the vast majority of cases is "Yes, beautifully!" If your machine is running modern software and you're able to surf the internet satisfactorily then your computer will, in all likelihood, have no problems at all with the casino games. On the off chance that you do encounter a problem, contact the casino's Customer Support people. That's what they're there for.

3. Play vs. Real mode, what’s the diff?

Simply put, Play means you’re not playing for real dollars and Real means you are. Beyond that there’s the question of whether the games you play are the same in both modes. All the casino operators say “Yes, same games,” but there have been a number of instances where players have demonstrated that that’s not entirely true. Your best bet is to go with one of the major online casinos if you want to ensure that your Play mode games are running exactly the same software as you’ll be seeing in Real mode, but even then it’s not a 100 percent certainty in all cases at all times.

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