The history of gambling is a rather complex subject, with gambling origins being almost impossible to determine; at this point, gambling is believed to be older than the written word itself, adding to the overall intrigue and excitement of it. Still, when it comes to online gambling, the information is somewhat straightforward.
In this article, we talk about when did online gambling start, which milestones of online gambling history made it what it is today, and what information relating the history of online gambling we should remember –
What Is Online Gambling?
Online gambling definition comes in simple terms. Internet gambling or online gambling is any type of gambling happening online, i.e. on the internet. This includes casinos, virtual poker, and sports betting. Most markets open for online gambling require a licence to provide gambling services or advertise to residents of that market.
Online gambling is increasing in popularity almost daily, with players around the world enjoying it. Liechtenstein International Lottery was the first online gambling venue opened to the general public, opened in October 1994.
1994 – Free Trade & Processing Act
In modern terms, the Free Trade & Processing Act is the first-ever online casino license. In fact, Antigua and Barbuda were the first to grant a license to online casinos to operate from their territory which was made possible by the Free Trade & Processing Act.
What the Internet gambling is today, it wasn’t a few decades ago; a lot has changed in terms of licencing, player expectations and general rules of playing which is why the Free Trade & Processing Act was considered a real boom back then.
1994 – The First Online Gambling Venue by Liechtenstein International Lottery
The history of gambling, and gambling as we know it today wouldn’t be where it is if it weren’t for lottery.
While a lot gambling milestones happened in 1994, one of the most important ones was, for sure, the opening of the first online gambling venue open to the public – the Liechtenstein International Lottery in October 1994.
1994 – The First Fully Functional Gambling Software by Microgaming
The first online casino in the world went live in 1994, making online casino history and changing the face of the online gambling industry altogether. The name of the first online casino was The Gaming Club. Believe it or not, this casino is still in existence and operational, enjoying the status of one of the most reputable online casinos in the world.
Unsurprisingly, this casino was powered by Microgaming software, offering the provider’s full game assemblage. The Gaming Club has undergone massive changes during the years, keeping up with the modern-player expectations; it has switched from its Viper download platform and is now accessible in instant play mode and via mobile.
1995 – The First Real Money Transactions over the Internet by CryptoLogic
The birth of real money online casinos goes back to 1995 when CryptoLogic came into play and made real money transactions possible for online casinos. A company specialising in real money online transactions, CryptoLogic revolutionised the way online money transactions work, making money processing fast and safe for the players.
Powering it, CryptoLogic helped InterCasino in becoming the first online casino to offer players the chance to bet real cash. The casino is still functioning to this day.
Due to the impact it’s made on online gambling, CryptoLogic is often mentioned shoulder to shoulder with one of the biggest industry giants – Microgaming. Although in different niches, both are important names for the history of online gambling.
1996 – The Establishment of Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The online gambling industry was already booming in 1996, promising a lot of potential for expansion. Some jurisdictions recognised this potential as their own chance to prosper. With that said, Kahnawake Gaming Commission was formed in 1996, becoming a legal body to issue operating licenses to new online casinos.
The commission was formed with the idea of keeping the online gambling industry regulated and fair.
1996 – The First Real Money Wager Online by InterCasino
Online casino history and the online gambling industry overall cannot go without remembering the first online casino accepting real money wager live draw sydney tercepat.
In 1996, InterCasino accepted the first real money wager online through CryptoLogic, changing the face of transactions in online casinos right there and then.
InterCasino was launched in Antigua by William “Billy” Scott, a former Ohio bookmaker.
1996 – The First Online Sports Bet by Intertops
What would online gambling be without a little sports added to it, right? In 1996, sports bettors and bookmakers were legally connected via the Internet for the first time in the history of online gambling by the Austrian-based Intertops sportsbook.
On January 17, 1996, Jukka Honkavaara logged onto Intertops.com, betting $50 that Tottenham Hotspur would defeat Hereford United. With this bet, Mr Honkavaara made history as he was the first-ever person to place a sports bet online.
Oh, in case you were wondering – Tottenham Hotspur did defeat Hereford United, and by a wide margin, 5-1, to be precise!
1998 – The First Online Progressive Jackpot Slot – Cash Splash by Microgaming
Aren’t progressive jackpot slots everyone’s favourite? Well, if not everyone’s, then most people, and – for a reason! They’re fun, exciting, and they can potentially bring you a lot of cha-ching! Making its debut way back in 1998, CashSplash by Microgaming was the first-ever online progressive jackpot slot to be launched for online play, entering the history of online gambling prediksi hk mbah sukro.
Though it may seem strange, this online progressive jackpot slot is still as popular as ever! As it has evolved over time, it is now available in two editions – the original 3 reel 1 payline classic cherries, bars and 7’s slot, and – a newer, more modern version featuring 5 reels, and 15 paylines.
CashSplash pays out often, averaging a progressive jackpot win approximately once in every two days. With its launch back in 1998, CashSplash by Microgaming made slot machine history.
1998 – The First Online Poker Room – Planet Poker
It was January 1, 1998 when the first hand in online poker was dealt, and the iGaming community still remembers it (well, gambling veterans do at least).
The poker site name was Planet Poker, featuring their own Planet Poker software. As online poker is hugely popular to this day, it is safe to say that Planet Poker was the pioneer of online poker, entering online casino history
1999 – the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act
Online gambling in the US has, from the get-go, faced stringent regulations of both online and land-based gambling.
The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999 was a 1999 bill proposed in the US Senate to ban the Internet gambling. This bill was passed by the Senate on November 19, 1999, but was never passed by the House.
In 2006, an updated version of this legislation was attached to the SAFE Port Act when it became law, which was a significant moment for the history of online gambling in the US hasil data keluaran togel.