Casino History

Casino History

Gambling has always been a popular pastime and organized gambling started with offering racetracks, where you could bet on horses and greyhounds that ran races. Soon, betting shops opened, where you could place wagers on these races without having to visit the tracks physically. Then came land casinos, offering a huge assortment of games that could be played for the chance to win amazing payouts.

Gambling as we know it today is a very popular pastime for millions and with the offering of online casinos, you now have the ability to enjoy the same types of casino games right from the comforts of home. Online gambling has changed over the years and with new technology always being introduced, it will continue to change and offer the best possible experience, great game selections, and some major payouts that can be generated.

Enter Online Gambling

The very first internet gambling sites started appearing in the 90s, but they were nowhere near what you experience at an online casino today. The games were rather basic and there were not many selections. The best initial sites were based in Antigua and Barbuda due to the Free Trade and Processing Act. This unique bill provided various Caribbean nations with the ability to provide online casinos with licenses to operate, starting the growth of the industry.

During the 1990s, Microgaming entered the picture, making it one of the first software providers to begin offering real money casino games online. Microgaming continued to have a huge presence in the industry and now, it is known as one of the largest and most reliable providers of casino game titles. Microgaming powered casinos deliver a massive array of game titles, great paying bonuses, and some of the most rewarding progressive jackpots available anywhere online.

The Online Casino Industry Evolves

In 1996, another major development in the industry took place when the Kahnawake Gaming Commission was formed. This was owned by an Indian tribe that was based on Canada and t eh goal of the Commission was to issue gaming licenses. The creation of this Commission went hand in hand with the appearance of the first real money gambling sites. After this, the online gambling industry enjoyed a great growth spurt, with many top rated sites emerging to cater to the needs of real money gamblers from all around the globe. By the end of the year, there were already 15 internet sites that were operating with a license.

Just one year after, the industry boomed, and there were more than 200 sites that were up and running. These included online casinos, sportsbooks, as well as amazing poker rooms. With annual revenues already breaking $1 billion, the online gambling industry was off and running.

Over the next few years, a number of other software companies entered the industry, developing popular games that drew the attention of many. Players were introduced to titles from Playtech, IGT, Net Entertainment, Aristocrat, and a number of other providers that are still quite popular today.

The 2000s brought many advancements to the industry and in 2000, Gibraltar and Isle of Man began issuing gambling licenses to online sites. In 2001, the UK legalized online gambling and Alderney started to issue licenses. During this year, Playtech also took things to a new level with the introduction of live dealer casino games.

In 2003, eCOGRA was established, which is now one of the most trusted organizations in the industry. The UK kept up with gambling trends and passed the United Kingdom Gambling Act in 2005 and just four years later the U reported revenue exceeding 1.6 billion.

The Birth of Mobile Gambling

While players from around the world were already enjoying the world of gambling from the comforts of home, things got even more exciting when the first mobile casinos were introduced in 2012. The initial mobile sites were available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Today. You can access mobile casinos using any device with any operating system due to the use of web-based software. Where no download is required to gain access to the site or any of the supported games.

By 2015, just about every operating online casino offered a mobile platform. Now, you can enjoy high quality games, access to bonuses and promotions, enjoy trusted banking options, and so much more just by using a mobile device. Mobile gambling has quickly become the leading method for accessing real money casino games and with so many mobile casino and gambling apps, you will easily be able to find endless action in a secure environment.

The gambling industry has gone through many changes over the years and it is expected to continue to gro. With more games being developed, additional live dealer platforms and titles being released, and new casino sites always popping up, online and mobile gambling will continue to be one of the best and easiest ways to access real money games without having to leave home.