one domain or multiple???? help needed from a newbie

[bewisebets]

hi there,
I am new to this site but have been actively learning about seo for 2 or 3 months now. I have bought aaron walls seo book which was fascinating reading. The reason for me getting into seo is because of the site that i am creating. It is an online gambling directory! I am now understanding that to say this area of web development is not held in the best regards is a major understatement and fully expect that many people will not want to help me because of this. However the reason i wanted to create this site was firstly because i use poker rooms as a hobby and have a genuine interest in them, and secondly all the sites i could find were absolute rubbish in this particular area, after months of frustrations, i thought i will build my own, which has proved a lot more difficult than i first expected, because i wnat it to be a great site, which will truely provide benefits to those who use it. My site will be free from popups and flashing banners and impliments an easy to use search facility helping users find exactly what they want. I hope this doesn't sound like too much of a plug, because this honestly is not my intention, my reason for posting here is to gain more information on seo.

Anyway enough with the introduction and onto my cry for help..... Whilst developing the site i only had one domain name, this was to cover all the different areas, casinos, poker halls, sportsbooks, bingo and lottery. My first idea was to use the following structure,
www.mysite.co.uk/casino
www.mysite.co.uk/poker
www.mysite.co.uk/sports
etc

This seems to be how the bbc structures their site

Then i thought it maybe easier for me to optimise my site if i had a different domain for each area as the virgin group do for example

www.mysitecasino.co.uk
www.mysitepoker.co.uk
etc

Then i could use www.mysite.co.uk as almost like a directory for all my other sites like the virgin group does. Oh by the way i guess you already know this but www.mysite.co.uk isn't my real domain name, i just don't want to break any of the forum rules.

Could somebody tell me the pro's and cons of constructing your site in either way? and more importantly which will google prefer?
Thankyou all for helping me
Mark

[gamblingsem]

hi mark

Its probably too late to reply to this post now as you hopefully have built the directory by now.

I too have had a struggle in finding good directories to submit too.

Anyway, on to your question.

I would suggest going with one site and sub directories for each major category.

There are several benefits, the one that always helps me decide is that your linking strategy, especially your deep linking, will be far more concentrated if you use one domain.

A con is the management and cost of multiple domains can be strenuous, therefore concentrating on your one domain will be better.

General rule of thumb for me is, if the site revolves around one general theme then go for one site.

[littleman]

I agree with the one site approach these days...

One small piece of advice (not that you are asking for it, and I see that you posted in Sep, so you may never read this), but I don't think gambling is the right place for someone to start their SEO endeavors. I'd pick something a lot less crowded and cut-throat.

[gamblingsem]

wow, I love this industry (the SEM industry that is) - we have the power of choice!

Yes, gambling is a very competitive industry, but dont let the general concencus put you off. There are people who enjoy the gambling entertainment industry. A service like yours - if done correctly will only do good to an already tarnished industry!

Please let us know what your site is called when it is done.

[Incubator]

but I don't think gambling is the right place for someone to start their SEO endeavors. I'd pick something a lot less crowded and cut-throat.:eek:

That about sums it up to me :)

Cheers

INC