The internet is one of the top inventions of human history. With the help of the internet, we now have instant access to entertainment and information. However, there is one thing that you may not be aware of – with the rise of the internet, you also have more opportunities to earn money online.
There is no doubt that the internet has changed our lives. One industry that has been making ample use of the internet is the online gambling industry. In this article, we will talk about the history of online casinos.
How Did Online Gambling Begin?
According to research, it has been found that the first internet gambling sites started around the 1990s. However, these were very basic platforms, unlike the ones that we see today. Most of these sites were located in places like Barbuda and Antigua, mostly because of their Free Trade and Processing Act; this was a bill that granted licenses to new online casinos located in the Caribbean nation.
At the same time, the first of the many casino software providers also started to emerge. In fact, Microgaming was one of these software providers that revolutionized the online betting industry. Even today, Microgaming is considered one of the most prominent providers in the market today. As of now, many online casinos, like Zodiac Casino, make use of this provider.
How Did Online Gambling Become An International Revelation?
Another important development in the history of online casinos was the formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, in 1996. Based in Canada and operated by the Mohawk Indian Tribe, this commission was established to deal with licenses related to online gambling.
Soon after, the online betting industry started to expand very rapidly. There were roughly 15 gambling sites by the end of 1996. By the end of 1997, this number boomed to more than 200 types of online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker websites around the world. This industry started acquiring revenues as large as a billion dollars.
When Did Sports Betting Become Popular?
With the sudden rise of various poker websites and online gambling platforms, it was natural for sportsbooks to catch up with the pace. The first sportsbook was released in 1996; InterTops was the first site where punters could place their bets on different sports and teams. Soon after its initial success, many other types of sportsbooks started emerging, like Zodiac Casino, Ladbrokes, William Hill, etc.
Revolutionizing Online Gambling – Betfair
Betfair is an online betting site that entered the online gambling industry roughly around 2000. This was the first betting site that offered peer-to-peer betting. This was considered quite a unique and fancy move where bettors could wager against one another and the site took some commissions off their bets.
Soon enough, internet technology started improving and in-play betting saw a major improvement. As of today, you will find very popular wagering options for both mobile and desktop betting.
Online Poker – History
The first online gambling site that offered poker was Planet Poker, which started in 1998. Soon, the platform attracted a large number of customers. However, many people started experiencing various technical glitches and problems with the site, particularly because people were making use of the dial-up internet service.
However, the failure of Planet Poker helped the poker industry understand its many shortcomings. Eventually, all the poker sites started implementing these improvements and started serving thousands of customers from all around the world.
What Is The Future Of Online Gambling?
Of course, online gambling has seen its shares of ups and downs; but there is no denying that this industry generates billions of dollars yearly. Hence, there is still hope for the legalization of online betting in the future. For instance, Europe has already begun to legalize online gambling as the right for every adult and it seems that the US is following suit. Most online gambling sites are hopeful that online betting will become the way of life in the future.