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Futures trading is fast becoming a very popular investment option, because a lot of people have managed to make it big trading futures. If you're interested in joining that elite group of successful individuals, but have no idea how to take that first step, then read on, because this article will tell you how to learn from simulated futures trading.

The internet has made available countless of online tutorials and lessons on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from designing your own garden to designing your own website. Futures trading is no exception, and if you look hard enough, you'll be able to find a rare gemstone or two; a website that will impart to you all the knowledge you'll need to get started.

Sure, you've gotten the basics down, and you've got the theory etched into the back of your eyelids, but without practical application, the knowledge you've gleaned from all that reading and researching won't mean a thing. Previously you might have read about concepts and theories and strategies in your research; by the end of it you'll know the rules of the game.

But how do you play the game?

That's where a simulated futures trading program comes in. At this point, if you're a beginner, you might be asking yourself: What exactly is a simulated futures trading program anyway?

It's exactly what it says it is; a program that simulates the futures markets, one that allows you to apply all the theories that you've learned into practical application by practicing futures trading, without having to risk any real money. Many futures brokers have made such programs available online for the usage of their prospective clients, usually free for a limited trial period of thirty days, but if you feel the need for more practice, you should be able to continue using the program for a nominal price. Simulated futures program may vary from one futures broker to the next, but they come pretty much standardized in certain aspects.

Normally you would be given a simulation account, with "fake" money to make trades with. You can use this money the way you would use "real" money offline, but of course, because it's a simulation, any losses you make won't burn a hole in your pocket. Along with the simulation account, the program would provide you with the same tools and information any real trader would have, and this is why learning through simulation is advantageous for beginners. Since the program is essentially a simulation of the real world futures markets, you would be exposed to the same exact market conditions as you would be if you were trading for real, and the simulation should give you a good measure of how you would fare should you delve into the real world markets. Every decision made in the simulation would be a determinant factor in your potential success or failure in your real trades, so it is imperative that you get the most out of your practice with the simulated futures trading program before embarking on the real deal.
Eventually the hands-on experience prior to your real dealings with the futures markets will prove to be invaluable, because at some point of the simulation you might feel that futures trading might not be for you. So rather than potentially having the bitter experience of losing your money in the futures market, and THEN deciding that trading futures isn't for you, you can easily back out from any further ventures with futures trading as long as you're still practicing with the simulated futures trading program.