While it may seem like a recent movement, online casinos have been around for the last two decades. It has naturally grown a lot since its humble beginnings. To put this into perspective, in 1996, there were only 15 online casinos available. Things started to grow and the following year the number rose to 200. Fast forwards to 2018 and there are around 2800 online casinos to choose from.
Data from 2020 onwards is hard to come by, but it’s easy to imagine how these figures would’ve skyrocketed due to global lockdowns and social distancing. What we can confirm is that the online casino market is expected to be worth over $100 billion by 2026.
So When Did It All Start?
With the internet becoming a more “regular” occurrence, it only makes sense that gambling would make the move to a more easily accessible platform. In 1994, the world was introduced to the first online casinos.
The Gambling Club were the first to get started with this, located on the Isle of Man. This movement was an instant hit, and in the same year, Barbuda and Antigua passed the Free Trade & Processing Act. As a result, businesses could apply for licenses to own and operate online casinos. People flocked to play as a result, mostly due to curiosity.
In the following year, CryptoLogic Limited offered online casinos the ability to process secure online transactions. Casinos were now seen as a safe place to invest money and transact with the online community. Many people saw this as a safer gambling option as they were no longer required to carry around large sums of money.
Popularity continued to boom and more and more online casinos were developed to meet this demand – and turn a profit of course. Physical casinos were now faced with the reality that online versions are a real threat.
How Online Gambling Has Changed
If you think back to 1994 and the types of devices able to connect to the internet, it already paints a pretty clear picture of how things have evolved. As technologies began to evolve, so did the design of the various online casino games. Suddenly, bold colours, insane graphics and exciting music were all an option when it came to development. Live video streaming also become an option for players seeking a more personal experience.
In addition to this, several online transaction options now exist to offer players peace of mind that their money is safe. And the best part? You don’t even need to leave your home to play at sites like Big Dollar Casino.
Making The Move To Mobile
It makes sense that as online gambling evolved, it would reach the point where it would need to be mobile-friendly. From mobile-friendly websites to app development, online casino game makers have had their work cut out for them to ensure that people are able to play their favourite games anytime, anywhere and from any device.
Moving Forward
The online gaming industry is showing no signs of slowing down, with more and more games being released to keep players entertained. We look forward to seeing more vibrant graphics and immersive, real-life experiences in the near future.
