When the first modern casino games appeared in the early 1900s, things were very different compared to what icecasino and other kasino online offer today. These state-of-the-art machines and other casino games had simple mechanics but still offered the thrill of modern-day games. In this guide, we look at the history of online gambling as we know it today and how it has evolved since its conception.
The Invention of the Internet and Online Gambling
There’s no denying the fact that the internet is one of the greatest inventions in human history. It has not only connected the world and made it a small village but also provided us with unlimited access to information and entertainment.
The gambling industry is perhaps one of the greatest beneficiaries. Any form of gambling that used to take place at brick-and-mortar casinos is now readily accessible online. Slots, poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and even sports betting are now accessible via our smartphones.
All these games moved online in the mid-1990s when the world wide web had fully developed. On November 11, 1994, Antigua and Barbuda passed an important bill. This would lay the foundation for the establishment of online gambling platforms.
The Free Trade and Processing Zone Act 1994 (No. 12 of 1994) authorized the issuing of licenses to individuals/businesses to allow for the operation of online casinos. And just like that, the journey to online casino gaming began.
Microgaming and the First Online Gambling Software
As soon as the act was passed, Microgaming didn’t waste time and launched its gambling program. The company, based in the Isle of Man, started operating its software, which was protected by CryptoLogic. This online security software company enabled Microgaming to provide secure online transactions at its first casino.
At the time of writing this, Microgaming is still one of the heavy hitters in the online gambling industry. They develop all sorts of games, including slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker. They also run some of the most successful online poker rooms.
InterCasino – The First-Ever Online Casino
Shortly after Microgaming had partnered with CryptoLogic, they went ahead to open the first-ever online casino. InterCasino was formed in 1995 and has since been operational. As one of the first players, they’ve revolutionized how things are done in the industry.
They streamlined transactions online, championed the formation of eCOGRA, a body that ensures online casino games are fair and played responsibly, and churned out several other online casino brands.
Need for Proper Regulation
Online casino gaming, in its infancy, was already proving to be a success. As such, many payers were trying to jump on board to have a piece of the pie. With the number of players increasing, there was a need for proper regulation. This is how the Kahnawake Gaming Commission was formed in 1996.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was founded to offer licenses to online casinos. It was owned and operated by the Canadian-based Mohawk Indian Tribe.
The Continued Growth of Online Gambling
The industry grew at a tremendous pace after the formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. In addition to InterCasino, fifteen (15) other operators were licensed by the end of 1996. By the end of 1997, more than 250 online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks were operating worldwide. By the end of 1998, the annual profits had surpassed $1 billion.
Within a short time, online gambling became very popular with players and sports bettors worldwide. Their appeal to offer everything one would want at the land-based casinos and betting shops was one of the reasons why many switched to online.
To put the cherry on top of the cake, they also offered bonuses and free play, something their land-based counterparts didn’t offer.
While safety and security were major issues when the industry began, significant measures and laws have been put in place to protect you today. This makes the online gambling industry safer than most businesses online.
Other Significant Milestones
The overall experience you get while playing online is improving with each passing day. As technology advances, online gambling also becomes better.
After online casinos were formed in 1995, the other significant change in how one would access games came in 2006 or there about. Playtech, which is also one of the pioneers, developed the first-ever mobile-friendly casino. This meant players could walk with casinos in their pockets and enjoy playing games whenever they felt like it.
Around the same time, live dealer casinos were invented. These would allow you to play games as if you were seated at the brick-and-mortar casinos. Compared to their software-based counterparts, live dealer games have real croupiers operating the tables. They deal the cards in real-time, roll the dice as if they were at the land-based casino and spin the wheel as you watch.
Almost a decade later, Virtual Reality slots were developed by NetEnt. While they are yet to be fully developed and integrated into the industry, the two games – Gonzo’s Quest VR and Jack and the Beanstalk VR – have laid the foundation on which future virtual reality slots will be based.
https://icecasino.com/en/online-slots are known to offer fair results. But did you know there are provably fair casino games that let you check the authenticity of the game results yourself? Software developers such as BetSoft, Booming Games, Endorphina, Tom Horn, Habanero, and several others are now developing slots that let you check whether the game’s outcome was fair.
Provably fair games are the latest inventions in the online gambling industry, but they won’t be the last. As technology advances, we expect further additions to the functionality and offerings in the industry soon.
