Gambling goes way back in the history of man. It was a common practice for two or more people to stake money or some valuables on certain events. However, with the constant development of man, a lot of things tend to change. When we ask; what is the history of online casinos? we must put in mind that its history differs from that of physical gambling itself. Because online gambling has its root in the rise of technology. And while it is now a popular event in the gambling field, it has not always been in existence.
What is the History of Online Casinos?
The evolution of online casinos began in the 1990s. Many factors were to influence the rise of an online gaming house. One of these factors is the availability of technology and the license to carry on. The early 1990s witnessed the states of Barbuda and Antigua passing free trade and processing acts. This act would open the floor for companies seeking to begin online casinos to do so legally.
Hence, in 1994, Microgaming company built the first online casino software. History records this act as the birth of online casinos. However, the full functional activities of the casino were placed on hold.
In the following year, another gaming company; Cryptologic, set out to build an online casino software. This company later set up another arm; Waterlogic, to be in charge of running the casino project. Although the history of online casinos is traced to 1994, the working casinos opened in the year 1996.
The First Online Casinos in the World
The first online casinos were owned by the Microgaming and Cryptologic companies. Microgaming’s The Gaming Club was launched in 1996. Some records state that they owned an earlier site; casinos.co.za. The early casinos thrived without placing real money wagers, and the most popular example is the Intertops Casino.
In that same year, InterCasino was launched by Cryptologic, placing the first money wager. And by the end of that year, about 15 casinos were working. By 1996 the number saw a boost, swiftly climbing to 200 online casinos.
Challenges Of The Early Casinos
Despite steady progress, online gambling faced problems in countries like the USA, Russia, India, and Australia. Restrictions to online gambling varied based on the area. For example, Australia abolishes online gambling with claims of protecting its citizens from the harms of gambling. However, in Germany, only gambling on horse riding was allowed.
The restrictions on online gambling also took a toll on online casinos in general. This effect is because online casinos are online gambling. Over the years many of these restrictions have been relaxed, giving room for more progress in online casino gambling.
Other setbacks include security and payment methods. Casino.co.za only gave access to South African gamblers. Perhaps it is for this reason that people do not often see the site as one of the first online casino sites.
Features Of The Earliest Online Casinos
It is vital to note that the first online casinos were the sample to which casinos of today still follow. Be that as it may, some of the similar traits amid these casinos include;
Comps And Bonuses
It is not easy to get people to try out new things, especially when it comes to gambling and staking money. The earliest online casinos knew that the new nature of their technology could pose a problem. Hence, they made use of comps and high welcome bonuses frequently to attract people. The idea seems to have a high impact as the number of online casinos is steadily on the rise.
Competition
The advent of online casinos records a speed in the availability of site varieties as many companies rushed to get a spot in the limelight. This in turn caused a boost in the competition between the various gambling sites. And by 2000 there were about 700 active online casinos, each with a promise to give the best gambling service.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games became one of the most common features of the earliest online casinos down the evolution line. This feature is a result of the zeal by online gamblers to explore the world of online gambling. As usual, the need to retain and attract customers added to the still improving tradition of live dealer games.
Payment Methods
The payment methods of the earliest casinos were different in some ways. For instance, CryptoLogic built an encrypted communication protocol that made it easier and more secure to make money transactions on the internet. This site is known as Ecash. It is for this reason that their online casino made the first money stake in 1996. The online casino site casino.co.za used a system where players called the casino to get payment access before gambling could continue.
Progress in the History of Online Casinos
There is a huge difference between the first casinos and the current casinos in so many ways. You can spot the differences in the graphics, animation, communication style, payment methods, etc. Also, there were few games available for gamblers as opposed to the present time. The various online casino games today are still going through changes.
Video poker, craps, roulette, and blackjack were the first games opened to online gamblers. And by 1998, the first online jackpot slot opened. Microgaming launched this game with other games, bringing the number of games available at that time to 18 games.
The progress of online casinos has been steady. In its history, there has been a more developed security system. A major landmark is the rise of multiple languages casinos and multiplayer games. This progress is coupled with the introduction of auditing so that gambling history is accounted for and for transparency.
Do People Prefer Online Casinos?
Man likes to try out new things, and see how it works out well. From the rise of online gambling, there is a constant streak of steady growth. Because of the many advantages of online casinos, many people who enjoy gambling prefer to gamble online. Some others balance online gambling with physical gambling.
Differences Between Online Casinos And Physical Casinos
Both online gambling and physical gambling casinos have a lot of things in common. For example; they both involve staking money on a game, playing a game, and having winnings or losses. However, there are some distinct characters between them.
The most obvious difference between online and physical gambling is the means to achieving your gambling goals. Physical gambling requires that you make a physical appearance by walking into a casino, purchasing your ticket, and placing your bets. But online gambling requires you to select a website through the internet from which you can make your stakes.
Gambling Through Online Casinos
Throughout the history of online gambling, the process of gambling online is always similar. It involves;
Choosing A Website
While choosing a website you must be careful not to choose the wrong website. Make thorough research and look out for licenses and reviews on the website. If you have a specific game in mind, you might want to ensure that the website allows such games. You can also look out for bonuses. Online casinos often offer some casino games gambling, but sports betting often requires other kinds of websites.
Signing Up
Signing up is an easy process. It involves providing some details and also funding your set-up account. To sign up, you must provide the correct details. In the past, the information required did not exceed verifying emails. Today, there is other information that you might need to fill in, relative to the site you assess.
Picking A Game
Choosing a game is the next step. Here, you pick a game you want to play, and you play. The variety of games are sports, casino games, poker games, horse riding, etc. Like physical gambling, it is better that you pick a game that you know quite well.
Cashing Out
Cashing out is often the interesting part for all gamblers. Your game determines if you will cash out or not. There are a variety of payment methods from which you can fund your account or cash out winnings.
Conclusion
To answer the question; what is the history of online casinos, we find out that like a seed, the history of online casinos records growth from a low stage to a higher stage. And as the World continues to develop, there are few limits to how high it is capable of reaching in the long run.
