In today’s world, online casinos are hugely popular, they are even ahead of real gambling establishments on this attribute. The whole secret lies in the affordability of virtual gambling casinos, you can bet at £3 deposit casino uk even with a minimal budget. In addition, the sites offer a huge selection of entertainment. Often the list of available slot machines includes not even hundreds, but thousands of titles. In addition, many operators additionally offer live games, in which bets are made with a croupier.
At the same time, the constant development of casinos has led to the need to regulate this area. There were created regulators with national and international class. Operators to protect the interests of their side united in the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) To reach such a scale, the sphere of online casinos has traveled a long way of development. Let’s take a look at how online gambling has evolved.
When did the first online casinos appear?
Imagine an online casino without the Internet and a large number of users in it is impossible. The first virtual gaming platform appeared in 1994. By this time, the number of Internet users was about several million people all over the planet. However, the provider Microgaming still took a risk and released the first online gaming platform. Later, Playtech, Realtime Gaming opened their online casinos.
Initially, the online casinos featured exclusively reel machines. They were based on slot machines. The first online machines had extremely simple game mechanics. Three to five reels were presented on the field. The number of additional bonus options was significantly limited.
In 1994 the first steps on legislative regulation of this sphere were taken. In Antigua and Barbuda, the relevant law was adopted, which regulated the issuance of licences for the organization of virtual gambling sites.
Today, the number of online casinos is huge. Regulators are also a lot. At the same time, each of them puts forward its own requirements for operators.You can read the regulations set by the UKGC (British regulator).
Evolution of online casinos
After 1994, the sphere of online gambling only developed. Already in 1996, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission organisation was established in the USA. Its task was to regulate the activities of gambling platforms. By that time there were officially recorded 15 units. After that, their number began to increase rapidly. A year later, in 1997, there were more than 200 online casinos. Another year later, the total profit of virtual gambling sites was calculated. According to the independent company Frost & Sullivan, it was more than $ 830 million dollars.
The same period marks not only the growth of casinos, but also the emergence of diversity. In 1998, the first online poker rooms began to appear. In parallel, providers began to offer gamblers slots with jackpots. In this case, the apparatus can win not only the prize for the appearance of winning combinations, but also a super prize. The size of the jackpot can be several hundred thousand dollars and even more. Currently, the largest super prize was received in the slot Mega Moolah. The size of the jackpot reached 19.4 million pounds.
The year 2001 was a watershed year for the sphere of online gambling. The number of users who tried betting in virtual gambling reached 8 million people. In parallel, developed the range and functionality of devices. Since 2007 live games became available. However, in the initial period they were available only in desktop version. Betting against croupiers at gambling tables from mobile devices became possible only since 2015. The pioneer in this field was Evolution Gaming studio. And since 2017 at the provider’s tables began to play progressive jackpots. By the way, it still holds a leading position among providers offering live games.
Online casinos and the pandemic
A new impetus to the development of online casinos was, strangely enough, the coronovirus pandemic. During this period, people found themselves cut out of the usual flow of life. Everyone was locked up at home, forced to seek entertainment in four walls. Online casinos with bright slots, big wins and unobtrusive atmosphere of success became an interesting way to spend leisure time. Many new casinos opened during this period. However, along with this there was a rise in ludomania, i.e. gambling addiction. In response, many regulators introduced restrictions, deposit limits and even a ban on too large attractive bonuses. Even operators under the jurisdiction of regulators Curacao, MGA (they are famous for particularly loyal conditions for players and platforms) tightened the policy of responsible gaming, introduced the possibility of temporary profile freezing.
Online casinos are constantly evolving, offering their users more and more interesting gambling games, large winnings. Today it is possible to bet even in cryptocurrency. In addition, the introduction of VR and AR technologies is being tested, which means that progress will continue.