A Brief History – How Did Online Casinos Began

Many of us enjoy a game or two at an online casino. State of the art, high tech games are available in their thousands, from blackjack to roulette, from poker to keno, from baccarat to a myriad of exciting slot games complete with stunning graphics, there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Most of take seeing these sites for granted, while few of us actually consider just where and how they actually started.

Gambling is a practice which has been indulged in by many for centuries. Many states and territories made it illegal to gamble at varying points of history, but the practice prevailed. In spite of the threat of being jailed, there was always someone willing to provide a safe place – from secret rooms behind bars to river boats – where gambling could continue.

As time went by, laws became a little more relaxed and special gambling licences were given out, allowing many of these safe places to evolve into large gambling establishments – casinos – and indeed whole gambling cities. However, it was very much a privilege to be able to visit these casinos. The door to online casinos – and thus access for those less well off – was opened through an act – the F(ree) T(rade) A(nd) P(rocessing) Z(one) A(ct) – passed by the government of Antigua and Barbados in 1994. The FTAPZA resulted in ICI launching their first ever online casino, containing 18 games and allowing access to the Indian National Lottery, in the summer of 1995.
As United States laws still threatened prosecution, these casinos were run from the Caicos and Turks Islands. Two other companies, Intertops and Gaming Club, caused controversy by also claiming to be the first, with Intertops certainly being the first to include sports book in online gambling. However, from here on many more companies began flooding the online casino market. Due to very strict United States laws, this industry has established itself mainly from Asian and European countries, as well as the Caribbean Islands.

In spite of many controlling laws and regulations, popularity has boomed and the demand has caused ever more opportunities to be created. Today there are approximately 500 online gambling sites available, complete with thousands of subsidiaries and affiliates, creating a revenue of a staggering 49 Billion Dollars – and the industry continues to expand!

Although the United States government are still trying to outlaw online gambling, the practice continues to gain more and more popularity, with no signs of levelling out or slowing down. With an economy as unpredictable as today’s, and many being on the verge of serious financial difficulties, more and more people are visiting these sites in the hope of having the one win large enough to change their lives. Adding to this the fact that the variety and quality of games promise a thrilling experience at comparatively little cost and the ease of access, it becomes clear that despite the controversial beginnings, online casinos are certainly here to stay for a long time.?