Modern gamblers are accustomed to a large selection of online casinos. The Internet space offers a wide variety of gaming platforms with interesting promotions, bonuses, and other attractive offers. However, it was not always like this, and experienced players remember well the times when https://inscribemedia.co.uk/mobile-casinos/ were just developing. Read on to find out how online gambling was formed – all the interesting facts.
How the first casinos appeared
The very history of casinos goes back to the Middle Kingdom. It is historically established that dice games were popular in ancient China, and they are still played in online casinos today. With the development of trade, the game began to spread around the world. And the first sweepstakes were popular in ancient Rome, where people placed bets on gladiatorial fights and chariot races.
The first official casino in Europe was Ridotto. The gambling establishment was opened in Venice in 1638. At that time, only aristocrats could afford to play in casinos for money. Later, in 1765, the first casino was opened in France. The most popular game was roulette, which is still among the top casino offers.
In the United States, the active development of casinos began in the 18th century, with each state opening its own gambling establishments. Blackjack became especially popular and is still among the most interesting card games.
Later, the development of technology made slot machines popular. The first slot machine was invented in 1887 by car mechanic Charles Augustus Fai and installed in his car repair shop. The demand for slot machines was huge, and within a few years, slots became incredibly popular. They were nicknamed “one-armed bandits” because the game was launched with one big lever. And to this day, slot machines remain the most popular online gambling games.
How the first online casino appeared
Technologies evolved and over time, the gambling industry needed new and interesting solutions. The real breakthrough came with the development of software. This is how the idea of creating programs that would become analogous to land-based casinos came about.
1994 – Microgaming creates a gaming platform on which it installs simulations of popular slot machines. In the same year, a regulator for issuing licenses to gambling establishments was opened on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.
1995 – the first online casino Gaming Club is opened. This is a gaming platform that offers to play slots for real money via remote access.
1996 – casinos are actively developing, new establishments are opened. A regulator that issues licenses to online gambling clubs also appears in Canada.
1998 – the system of progressive jackpots was invented, which caused a real boom among players. More and more users started registering on gambling websites, and online casino profits increased hundreds of times.
2001 – the era of land-based casinos is over. A new stage in the development of online gambling began. Casino offers expanded significantly: software developers had new ideas on how to attract more players to the game. Welcome deposit bonuses, promotional codes, and other interesting features were introduced.
2007 – the first live games with live dealers appear. Players can interact with croupiers located in the studio and play for real money, just like in a land-based casino. With the development of mobile banking, withdrawals become much easier.
2015 – a real breakthrough in gambling took place. Gambling establishments develop applications for playing from a mobile phone. Smartphones are becoming more and more popular and are replacing conventional push-button machines. Everyone can install free apps for iOS or Android and play their favorite games at any time.
2018 – most casinos begin to use new technologies for streaming games from the studio to online. This allows a wide audience of gamblers to play roulette, blackjack, and other games for real money.
2020 – the coronavirus pandemic and the simultaneous growth in demand for online casino games. Players around the world were isolated, so online gambling began to develop and generate huge profits.
Development of online casinos in the UK
Online casinos in the UK have been operating without a national license for a long time. This caused inconvenience to players, as some providers blocked access to gambling club websites. Everything changed in 2021 when the gambling business became legalized.
The KRAIL commission was created to issue casino licenses. Currently, more than two dozen gambling establishments are licensed in the UK. All of them offer players a wide range of online games. You can play on the Internet only after reaching the age of 18 – this is closely monitored by casino administrations.