History of online casinos
New casino sites to play real money
Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2008 by satoshi nakamoto. As it slowly gained popularity a foundation called the bitcoin foundation was established in 2012 and its main goal was to develop digital currency. Something so new made an important impact on the financial sector. The thing that made it so popular is that the third party was cut out entirely when making a transaction which is why the online casino industry took notice and before long a few online casinos that accept bitcoin appeared on the market, and in time the first bitcoin casinos were born. Online casinos started adopting the new payment method in 2015. During that time, bitcoin was still pretty unknown to the public, but there were a lot of gamers that started playing games using the cryptocurrency. The big breakthrough came in 2016. During the summer that year, bitcoin’s value started going up and record numbers of online casinos adopted it and started promoting it. Before that, most of the online casinos that accepted bitcoin were specifically made for this payment method. By 2017, when bitcoin’s value was at its highest, hundreds of online casinos accepted it as a payment method.
A brief history of bitcoin and online casinos
The casino industry was among the first businesses that went online. By doing so it managed to increase its popularity and profits while providing millions of clients with the services they need. The industry made the jump online thanks to its active following of technological trends. As technology advanced so did the casino industry and online casino were born.
What are online casinos?
To put it simply, they are websites that offer casino games on the internet, but there’s a bit more to it than that. The games aren’t just the classic ones offered at land-based casinos but reinventions of those games. What’s also offered is a heap of bonuses so the players can earn more prizes. Thanks to the industry’s skill of keeping track of tech trend these websites went mobile and the industry spawned its first mobile casinos. Trends came and went, and one of the few that stay to this day is bitcoin.
The phenomenon of bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2008 by satoshi nakamoto. As it slowly gained popularity a foundation called the bitcoin foundation was established in 2012 and its main goal was to develop digital currency. Something so new made an important impact on the financial sector. The thing that made it so popular is that the third party was cut out entirely when making a transaction which is why the online casino industry took notice and before long a few online casinos that accept bitcoin appeared on the market, and in time the first bitcoin casinos were born.
Online casinos and bitcoin
Online casinos started adopting the new payment method in 2015. During that time, bitcoin was still pretty unknown to the public, but there were a lot of gamers that started playing games using the cryptocurrency. The big breakthrough came in 2016. During the summer that year, bitcoin’s value started going up and record numbers of online casinos adopted it and started promoting it. Before that, most of the online casinos that accepted bitcoin were specifically made for this payment method. By 2017, when bitcoin’s value was at its highest, hundreds of online casinos accepted it as a payment method.
You may ask yourself, why are online casinos so fond of bitcoin? Because the cryptocurrency brings advantages to both sides. On one side, online casinos are optimized for the use of bitcoin and these websites don’t have to pay the fees for the transactions their clients make. By using it, players also pour more money into the games compared to the standard payment methods. Deposits are also instant. On the player’s side, any withdrawals made with bitcoin are instant, unlike other payment methods where you have to wait as long as 7 days to receive your money. Bitcoin is also a plus factor in the player’s safety, due to its increased level of anonymity.
Bitcoin is still among the trendiest payment methods at online casinos. From the looks of it, the cryptocurrency may become the leading option for players in the years to come as more and more bitcoin casinos emerge.
The history of online casino in the UK
The best online casino UK gamblers choose to play at often depends on a number of critical factors and criteria. These usually include a mix of personal preferences, gaming options, sizeable bonus offers, fast payouts and a few other considerations. Perhaps the really remarkable thing here is that UK gamblers now have so many options in one of the fastest growing and strongest online gambling industries in the world today.
Conquer casino is the very epitome of a modern, cutting edge online casino, with strong roots that form part of the history of online casino gambling in the UK. But where did it all begin for the UK online casino gaming industry? We’ve decided that it’s about time that we take a closer look at how the UK online casino industry has evolved over the years into what it is today. As with any online industry, there have been plenty of ups and downs, with mostly ups when compared to how online casino gaming developed in other territories around the world.
Online casino gaming is still a fairly young industry, especially when compared to real world gambling, which has been in existence for millennia. Nevertheless, for a fledgling industry, online gambling has gone through incredible changes at lightning speed, making it one of the most dynamic industries in the world, not just within UK commerce.
UK casino gaming goes online
People in the UK have always had a love for gambling, whether at the racetrack, bingo hall or brick and mortar casino. We love having a few spins on classic pub fruities, or putting a few quid on our favourite football team to win the match. However, when the internet really started to take off in the early nineties, no one could see how this event would forever change the gambling landscape in the united kingdom.
The very first online casino, gaming club, launched in 1994 and was powered by a then fledgling online casinos software provider called microgaming. Anyone who has ever played an online slot or table game knows the name, since this was essentially the world’s first online casino software company, supplying the first virtual versions of classic casino games like roulette and blackjack, as well as the first virtual slot machines. Shortly after this ground breaking series of events, more online casino software brands began appearing, with cryptologic appearing in 1995, hot on the heels of microgaming. Other pioneering software brands included playtech and netent (formerly net entertainment).
The first online casino that catered to the needs of gambler in the UK was intercasino, which launched in 1996, sporting software provided by wagerlogic, a subsidiary gaming brand of cryptologic. The launch of intercasino was met with great excitement in the UK, as experienced gamblers were eager to try out this new concept called internet gambling.
It’s quite remarkable to think how far we’ve come in just over two decades. Back in 1995 intercasino offers a mere 18 casino games. Today, conquer casino is able to offer hundreds of the best online slots, table games, progressive jackpot games, live casino games and mobile casino games. Our range of casino games are as diverse as our players, thanks to multiple software partnerships with the very best software brands including microgaming, netent, thunderkick, quickspin, leander gaming, and many others.
A brief look at UK gambling laws
The UK enjoys a long and colourful history with gambling, some of it legal, and some not so legal. The very first known gambling house, whites, was established in 1693, after making the remarkable transition from hot chocolate emporium, to gentlemen’s club and, subsequently, gambling house. Whites was rather notorious as a gambling house for the aristocracy, where no laws applied and a gentleman’s word was his bond. A particularly infamous wager involved lord alvanley bet a friend £3,000 (a considerable sum of money on those days) as to which of two raindrops would first reach the bottom of a window pane. No one knows who actually won that wager.
UK gambling is filled with interesting stories, legends and crucial events. We’ve jotted down some of the most interesting and significant timeline events leading up to today’s modern UK gambling laws that govern the UK online casino industry.
Crockfords casino established in london. One of the UK’s most famous and longest-running casinos and is still open for business today.
Gaming act of 1853 introduced. The first official attempt at regulating the gambling industry. Among the more important points in the act, was the removal of the state from deciding on debit cases. In addition, all gambling contracts were made unenforceable under law.
Betting and gambling act. Replaced both the gambling act of 1853 as well as the subsequent gambling act of 1874. Allowed for legal gambling for small amounts in games of skill. As of may 1961 betting shops became legal and over 16,000 licenses were issued all over the country up until 1965.
Gambling act of 1968 passed. This particular edition of the gambling act gave licenses to commercial casinos to begin operating in key areas throughout the UK.
UK gambling act is signed. The new gambling act was initially intended to kick start what was to be the UK’s largest land-based casino, slated to be built in manchester. However, plans were eventually shelved in favour of several smaller and more manageable casino sites.
Establishment of the UKGC. Possibly the most significant legal development for the UK online casino industry and for UK online casino gamblers. The UK gambling commission is established to oversee the majority of UK gambling, including land-based casino gaming, sports betting, and online casino gambling. The UKGC establishes its official white list of approved offshore online casinos which are then permitted to advertise and operate within the UK online casino market.
1853 gaming act of 1853 introduced. The first official attempt at regulating the gambling industry. Among the more important points in the act, was the removal of the state from deciding on debit cases. In addition, all gambling contracts were made unenforceable under law.
1960 betting and gambling act. Replaced both the gambling act of 1853 as well as the subsequent gambling act of 1874. Allowed for legal gambling for small amounts in games of skill. As of may 1961 betting shops became legal and over 16,000 licenses were issued all over the country up until 1965.
1968 gambling act of 1968 passed. This particular edition of the gambling act gave licenses to commercial casinos to begin operating in key areas throughout the UK.
2005 UK gambling act is signed. The new gambling act was initially intended to kick start what was to be the UK’s largest land-based casino, slated to be built in manchester. However, plans were eventually shelved in favour of several smaller and more manageable casino sites.
2005 establishment of the UKGC. Possibly the most significant legal development for the UK online casino industry and for UK online casino gamblers. The UK gambling commission is established to oversee the majority of UK gambling, including land-based casino gaming, sports betting, and online casino gambling. The UKGC establishes its official white list of approved offshore online casinos which are then permitted to advertise and operate within the UK online casino market.
Bumps in the road to riches – controversies and scandals in UK gaming
As with any industry, there are bound to be times of scandal and controversy. While some of these can be quite serious, either from a moral or legal point of view, some are just plain cheeky or outrageous. Let’s take a look at some of the more noteworthy controversies and scandals.
Money laundering and terrorism
In one of the more recent controversies that face the UK online casino industry, up to five top UK online casino and gaming operators could possibly lose their license to operate within the UK, according to a spokesperson at the UK gambling commission. The five operators are under investigations pertaining to anti-money laundering measures as well as player prevention failings. While five of the top UK facing online casinos has been singled out, the UKGC investigation does not end there. The commission is looking into at least seventeen other UK online casinos, based on anti-money laundering and potential terrorist financing issues. While no particular UK facing online casino have been named, just yet, UK gamblers will be glad to know that conquer casino runs a tight ship, meeting all of the money laundering, player prevention and anti-terrorism requirements as set out by the UK gambling commission. But then again, we’re sure that this doesn’t come as a surprise.
Loot box controversy
If you’ve ever played a ‘free’ game that you downloaded from your app store, or played via social media platforms or other outlet, you may already be quite familiar with loot boxes. These are essentially consumable virtual items or ‘grab bags’ found within a game that you can purchase. They yield anything from additional weapons (in certain games), to new items for your avatar or character and so forth. For many gamers, the issue with loot boxes is that they are being forced by game designers to ‘gamble’, either with real money or in-game currency.
The idea is for gamers to purchase loot boxes throughout the game, in the hopes that the box or package contains an item that will help them get further in the game. Many gamers are now calling for the UK gambling commission to investigate loot box practices as legitimate gambling platforms, instead of non-gambling gaming as it’s supposed to be. The loot box controversy is interesting as it opens up questions relating to UK online casino gambling, could loot boxes begin to appear in online casino games too? We have our doubts as conquer casino currently offer most games in true free to play modes or separate real money modes. If you’re playing with real money, everything you need is already in the game, although we do offer a range of promotions and bonuses that go a long way in boosting your game time.
Fobts controversy
Fobts or fixed odds betting terminals have pretty much divided the UK public into two groups, those that are for fixed odds betting terminals, and those that are against them. Fixed odds betting terminals look a lot like slot machines, and you can find them in just about any high street betting shop. Games include slots, blackjack, and roulette, normally only found in land-based or online casinos.
The UK government is looking to clamp down on fobts which currently are capable of accepting a maximum stake of up to £100 every 20 seconds. Government regulators are looking to slash this by as much as £50, with some suggesting the figure be closer to £20, or even £2. It still makes more sense to simply open an online casino account, where you are able to select from a wider range of casino games than FOBT terminals allow for. Even better, conquer casino mobile casino means that you can enjoy superior gaming to FOBT terminals on the go.
The evolution of online casino gaming
The state of online casino gaming, particularly within the UK, has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. Within two decades, we’ve gone from a handful of very basic virtual casino games, to cutting edge, 3D virtual games, mobile smartphone games, and live casino games, quite remarkable by any industry’s standards.
The first handful of online casino games was produced by microgaming, after developing their own unique virtual (online) casino games by themselves and launching their own casino to promote the games in. However, after some time microgaming decided to ditch the idea of owning an online casino and instead, concentrated their efforts in supplying other online casinos with their unique, high quality casino games.
Rather than specialise in any one type of gaming genre such as slots, microgaming chose to produce a wide range of casino games right from the start. This included the first virtual 3 and 5 reel video slots as well as the first table roulette and blackjack games. Microgaming also gave the fledgling online casino industry its very first progressive jackpot slot, called cash splash in 1998. For microgaming, this was just the start as they have gone on to produce some of the biggest and most famous online progressive jackpot slots in history.
After a fairly short space of time, other online casino software developers began to appear, helping to grow the still new online casino industry. Today’s top software suppliers got their start back in the late nineties, supplying an ever-growing list of new online casinos with an equally expanding range of digital casino games. Soon new online casino gamblers could choose from a range of classic 3 reel slots, based on the original vegas-style one arm bandits, 5 reel video slots, with expanded game symbols and bonus rounds, and progressive jackpot slots.
Classic casino table games were also on the menu, helping to give new online casinos the same weight and credibility as their brick and mortar vegas counterparts that many of them were actually based on. Initially casino table gamers could choose from a basic european roulette or american roulette, as well as a standard vegas rules blackjack game. However, this was not for long as competing software developers began to produce all sorts of interesting features and variations in an effort to outdo each other.
Today casino table gamers can choose from an ever-expanding range of virtual table games, each with their own unique set of features and characteristics. Choose from traditional roulette, games, or modern mini roulette, or even live roulette, where players can experience a real live croupier spinning the roulette wheel in real time on their computers. The expansion and innovation doesn’t stop at roulette, other popular table games including blackjack, craps, poker, and baccarat all have had multiple versions and variations released over the past two decades, with plenty more to come in the future.
A brief list of online casino firsts
Microgaming launched the very first online casino in 1994
The first progressive jackpot slot, cash splash, was released by microgaming in 1998
The first official online sportsbook was launched by intertops in 1996. Intertops also launched the first mobile sports betting site in 2000
Playtech launch the online casino industry’s first ever live dealer casino in 2003
Key influential online casino software developers
Without the vision of smart and innovative software developers, we simply would not have an online casino industry to speak of. In fact, the very first online casino was actually designed and operated by the very first online casino software brand, microgaming. Microgaming had to write their programs and protocols from scratch as there was no template which they could simply follow; they truly are the pioneers of the online casino industry.
Microgaming launched their casino, gaming club, in 1994 but soon saw the potential in designing and developing a range of high end online casino games for a newly expanding industry. They subsequently dropped their casino idea and began to supply online casinos with a range of slots, table games and other casino attractions. They also introduced the world to the first online progressive jackpot slot called cash splash. The progressive jackpot slot was an innovation which allowed players to contribute a percentage of their wager to a growing jackpot, hence the term ‘progressive jackpot’. This proved to be enormously popular and soon microgaming were expanding their line of progressive jackpot games, each with more features and bigger minimum progressive jackpot totals.
Microgaming progressive jackpots biggest payouts
Out of all the online casino software providers that offer progressive jackpot slots, none is more successful than microgaming. Starting the ball rolling right at the beginning with cash splash, a successful progressive jackpot slot in its own right. However, no one can ever forget about the biggest single microgaming progressive jackpot payout, £ 13,230,200, won by a UK soldier named jon heywood in 2015 on mega moolah, microgaming’s most popular progressive jackpot slot of all time. Here is a short list of some of microgaming’s other successful, high payout progressive jackpot slots:
Of course microgaming is not the only online casino software provider that make excellent progressive jackpot slots. Here are a few more we love at conquer casino:
Playtech
Monty pythons spamalot
£ 2,710,257
Netent
Mega fortune dreams
£ 2,160,300
Microgaming essentially started it all, but there were other early innovators who got involved at the ground level of the online casino industry and many UK gamblers got to know them quite quickly too. We’re talking about what are now considered to be household names, including playtech, net entertainment (now known as netent), and cryptologic.
Cryptologic started out as a developer of encrypted communications protocols and related security platforms. However, they entered the online casino software industry in 1995, initially in a bid to find a viable platform to test certain security platforms and parameters. Cryptologic created a separate arm for their online casino gaming software called wagerlogic. Although you will still find the name in online casinos, the firm was incorporated by amaya gaming in 2012.
Playtech started in 1999, bringing together experts in several fields including multimedia and software engineering. Playtech launched their first online casino games in 2001 and quickly grew to become one of the major online casino software suppliers in the industry. Playtech offer a diverse library of cutting edge games which includes a variety of 3 reel and 5 reels slots, virtual casino table games, online poker rooms, online bingo rooms, mobile casino gaming and much more. Playtech were the first online casino software brand to launch live dealer casino games in 2003.
Netent, formerly known as net entertainment, is slightly older than playtech, having launched in 1996, a short while after microgaming. Netent is a scandinavian online casino software company with headquarters located in stockholm, sweden. Like microgaming and playtech, netent provide a wide range of high quality online casino games covering all popular genres including table games, slots, bingo and more. However, if there are two areas where netent really stand out, it’s in their themed 3D animated slots as well as their unique mobile casino gaming platform known as netent touch.
Crossover gambling opportunities
Betting and gambling in the UK have always been prefect dance partners, with many punters dabbling in a bit of casino gaming whilst enjoying their regular horse racing or greyhound race betting. After microgaming launched the first viable online casino in 1994, it opened the door for many other interesting and convenient gambling opportunities.
Traditionally casinos and betting shops are separate and independent entities, with very little in common other than the opportunity to put some money down in order to make a profit. However, within the virtual world anything is possible and many of the more traditional UK sports betting brands began incorporating online casino gaming into their more traditional sports betting sites, offering those that like a bit of both worlds a convenient online gambling opportunity.
Gaming on the go – mobile casino gaming in the UK
The history of mobile casino gaming in the UK is actually surprisingly long, stretching back to the first WAP (wireless application protocol) phones that began to appear on the market in the early 2000’s. For the first time ever, mobile phone users including nokia, motorola, and ericsson could download games to their devices. WAP-enabled games were relatively simple affairs and could not be played for real money, however, it was at least a start.
Around 2001 a new platform became available for mobile phone users, called java, or more precisely, java platform micro edition, java ME for mobile phones. Java was a huge improvement over WAP as it allowed for faster and smoother games. As far as we know, the very first java-based casino game was a classic 3 reel slot game simply called pub fruity, which became available around 2005. There were of course a few other games too, as more and more software developers began to see the potential in mobile gaming that came about with java applications. However, gamblers still could not play for real money, and instead had to take advantage of various in-game purchases in order to advance in the game. Among the most popular mobile games of the day was a mobile poker game called downtown texas hold’em, which rewarded players with chips which they could use to move forward and play against more advanced opponents. There were additional issues with java, as more and more handset models began to become available on the market, not all used the same java script, creating problems with game compatibility and so forth.
The first so-called smart phones began to appear around 2007, with the launch of apple’s brand new smartphone called the iphone. Smart phones were to revolutionise not only how people could communicate, but how they would eventually choose to gamble within a virtual world. Smartphones were essentially ultra-compact computers, with similar features to desktops, as well as similar computing power and functionality. Apple iphone users could now download applications or ‘apps’ directly from the apple store online which included the newest mobile casino games, with texas hold’em being the most popular new mobile casino app of the day. About a year after the launch of apple’s iphone, google introduced their own smartphone version called android, and the race to produce the best and most advanced smartphone was truly underway.
While apple may have been the first to launch a smartphone, it was google’s android that really revolutionised the mobile casino gaming industry for one very basic reason – accessibility. The inherent problem with iphone is that it was built on a closed ecosystem, meaning you needed an iphone device in order to access appstore games. However, android was an open platform, available to a diverse range of makes and models. Android devices could be purchased in a wide price range, from very basic all the way through to flagship high end models.
As a result of the accessibility aspect that android made possible, far more mobile casino apps and games became available for download from the play store, googles version of apples appstore. UK gamblers could now access individual casino games such as multi hand blackjack or european roulette, slot machines, and video poker games. They could also download apps directly from online casinos to expand the range of mobile gaming options available to them. Real money casino games were now possible to play on a range of devices including iphone and, from 2010 onwards, on ipad tablets too. Various device manufactures using the android platform including sony, samsung, nokia and others, made smartphones and tablet devices available which casino gamblers could use to enjoy various slots and other casino games on.
The HTML5 revolution
HTML5 integrated the three core languages of the internet, javascript, CSS and HTML, which allowed game developers to finally fulfil the ultimate desire of write once and run anywhere. HTML5 was a significant breakthrough for mobile casino gaming developers as they could now create a game that could play across any device, from desktop and laptop computers, to smartphones and tablets, without any issues in lag, display or gameplay. The once excluded windows phone and blackberry users could now simply access online casinos directly via their mobile device browsers. HTML5 is now used by the vast majority of UK online casinos including conquer casino, where you can easily access a vast range of high quality casino games on any HTML5-enabled device of your choosing. You can also access great mobile casino bonuses and promotions, 24 hour player support, and the most advanced mobile security ever developed for mobile devices.
The rise of live casino gaming
Playtech introduced the first live casino games in 2003, which proved to be immediately successful. For the first time ever, online casino gamblers in the UK and other parts of the world, could enjoy the best of both worlds – the convenience of online casino gambling, with the excitement of real brick and mortar casino gaming. Live dealer casino gaming is like no other online casino gaming experience on the net. Thanks to breakthroughs in live streaming and internet bandwidth capabilities, live casino games can now be streamed live and in real time, directly to your computer or even your mobile device. Sophisticated studios are made to look exactly like a brick and mortar casino lobby, complete with elegant dealers and croupiers, real tables, real chips, real cards and other accoutrements.
Playtech are still one of the undisputed leaders in live dealer casino gaming, with two of the most sophisticated, state of the art live casino studios under their banner. Playtech studios stream live casino games from europe and the philippines to hundreds of online casinos 24 hours a day, providing a great mix of european and asian casino games including roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, sic bo, and others.
Many other online casino software developers such as evolution gaming and ezugi took their cue from playtech, pushing the live casino gaming boat out even further. Today, live dealer casino games are prolific and most online casinos, including conquer casino, offer an eclectic range of live dealer games, with live versions of american, european and french roulette, several varieties of live dealer blackjack, live baccarat, various live table pokers including casino hold’em and more.
Online deposit methods– making real money gaming easy
Of course, for all UK gamblers that want to enjoy real money online casino gambling, being able to transfer funds safely and quickly is vital. UK online casinos are among the best in the world when it comes to providing safe and reliable deposit methods for their players. The earliest deposit options included popular visa and mastercard credit card and debit card options, although this soon expanded as growing internet commerce technology made new methods popular.
The visa brand is recognised all over the world as a trusted way to transact securely between merchant and customer. Visa has a long history that stretches all the way back to the 1950’s and has been used to make secure online casino deposits since the mid-nineties. While not everyone can qualify for a credit card, visa do have their own debit cards available which are ideal for online casino depositing.
Mastercard
Similar to visa, mastercard offers a secure way to deposit into an online casino account. Mastercard is also available in both credit and debit card options.
Paypal
Paypal is one of the most popular online payment options in the world and particularly here in the UK. Paypal has been around since 2002 and is accepted by millions of websites including amazon, ebay, and most online casinos.
Neteller
Neteller is another popular online ewallet which originally launched in 1999. Neteller is one of the most widely accepted deposit methods for making fast and secure online casino deposits. The brand is owned and operated by the publicly traded british global payments company paysafe group, also responsible for paysafecard and other secure online payment options.
Brave new world – the future of online casino gaming in the UK
In just over two decades, we have seen some incredible innovations and revolutions within the online casino industry. Just when you think nothing new could possible occur to change the direction of the industry again; something new does indeed do so. So, with that in mind, what does the future hold for the UK and international online casino gaming industry?
Many online casino gaming experts have long been predicting that mobile casino gaming will take over from the more traditional desktop-based online casino gaming, moving in to 2018 and beyond. This does make sense since mobile technology has virtually transformed the lives of billions of people all over the globe. We do everything on our mobile devices now, from communicating, socialising, and gaming.
Perhaps one of the most exciting developments which many believe will change the online casino industry once again is virtual reality. Virtual reality is by no means a new concept and it has actually been around since the mid-eighties. However, it is only because of more recent technological breakthroughs in smart device technology, that a more viable virtual reality platform is becoming available for the mass market. The virtual reality applications for online casino gaming are very exciting and could take the live casino gaming concept through the stratosphere. Imagine being able to play a real live casino game through your virtual reality device and feel like you are literally in the casino room?
Virtual reality applications go beyond just the enhancement of the live casino game and some forward thinking virtual reality designers are already planning a virtual and fully immersive virtual reality casino experience. This would enable users to strap on a virtual reality headset and be able to explore an entire casino floor in true 3D immersion. Players would be able to travel through the casino lobby in real time, stopping off at whichever casino game took their fancy. This would give everything a new dimension, from playing the latest video slots, to more traditional casino games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat or poker. Best of all, this new platform could combine the best of mobile casino gaming technology with live dealer gaming technology in an entirely new platform, virtual casino gaming wherever you happen to be.
Virtual reality is just one future possibility for the online casino industry but it is a significant one. The advent of crypto currency since 2009 has also given rise to speculation that the future of online casino gaming will be purely crypto-based. As more and more online casinos in the UK begin to accept crypto currencies like bitcoin and ethereum, it seems likely that this is likely.
Conquer casino is known for always having an ear to the ground, bringing you the biggest and best innovations in online casino gambling first. Our mobile casino provides the very best in HTML5-driven mobile gaming and our live casino features the latest innovations in live dealer casino gaming innovations. We will certainly never stop looking forward into the exciting future of online casino gambling, ready to introduce you to the latest innovations that our modern technology is able to offer.
History of online gambling
In the modern world, the idea of life without the internet is an almost unthinkable prospect. There’s a whole generation of people that have never known a time when the web didn’t exist. Many of us have become practically reliant on online access as part of our everyday lives, and the internet has had a huge impact on so many things. The way we communicate, the way we shop, and the way businesses operate have all changed dramatically thanks to the world wide web.
The internet has had a significant effect on many industries, and few more so than gambling. From small beginnings, online gambling has become a business worth billions of dollars. There are hundreds of gambling sites providing all kinds of different products and services to customers all over the world. Anyone with an internet connection can easily play casino games, place wagers on sporting events, play poker, and much more.
On this page, you will find information on how the various forms of gambling have evolved online. We have also provided detailed histories of some of the major gambling sites and the technology and software companies that have played a big part in the development of this industry.
History of major gambling sites
There are many gambling sites on the internet today. Some of these have been around since the very early days of online gambling and have established themselves as well-known names. Others have entered the market later on, but still built strong reputations. Over time there have also been a number of sites that have not gone the distance, and for one reason or another have ended up closing down.
Throughout the history of online gambling, there have been a few sites in particular that have made a big impact on the industry. The stories behind how these sites have evolved over time can be quite fascinating. We have written accounts of some of the biggest and best-known gambling sites, and you can find the history of these sites on the following pages.
History of online gambling technology companies
Many gambling sites use third-party technology providers for some or all of their products. Some of these providers supply their software to many of the biggest operators, which is why you will often notice similarities at different sites. The innovation and creativity of these companies has been instrumental in the way online gambling has developed.
We have studied several of the most notable technology companies in the online gambling industry and written about their past and what they are doing today. You can read more about the history of the following companies.
History of online casinos
The first form of gambling over the internet to really take off was online casinos. In the same year that antigua and barbuda passed its free trade and processing act, 1994, a company called microgaming was formed. This company claims to have been the very first to provide a fully functional real-money online casino, the gaming club. Other companies have made similar claims, and it is difficult to verify exactly who did come first.
Intercasino, owned by the company cryptologic, was certainly one of the early online casinos, and it is still in existence today. Regardless of exactly who came first, microgaming and cryptologic were certainly notable companies in the early days of online casinos. They both played key roles in the development of the technology required to power the games and the financial systems needed to process customer transactions.
Those familiar with the online casinos today would probably be disappointed with what was on offer back in the 90s. The range of available games was fairly limited, and the software was nowhere near as functional as modern online casinos. Considering it was new technology, though, it was still impressive stuff. As more and more companies started to get involved, the number of casino sites grew, and over time they developed to become far more advanced.
The market became very competitive very quickly, with many operators trying to become the biggest and best. Big bonuses for new customers became commonplace, and many casinos introduced loyalty schemes for their regular customers. The overall standard of the software available was almost constantly improving, and additional features were frequently being added.
Progressive jackpots, themed slots, and multiplayer games were just a few of the things that really helped online casinos to grow in popularity. However, there were some people that were reluctant to play, fearing that the online games could be manipulated in some way and would not give fair results.
Live casino games are fairly commonplace online now, but they were a major development when they first appeared. Players could actually watch live video streams of dealers and croupiers in real time, and this proved to be incredibly popular. Today, many players much prefer to play the live games, rather than the graphic-based ones.
A more recent development is the addition of mobile compatible games at many sites, meaning you can play your favorite games from your smartphone or tablet. Again, this is something that has proved to be very popular and is a good example of how online casinos are continuing to advance. There is little doubt that we will see even more progress over the coming years.
History of online sports betting
Online sports betting began shortly after the early online casinos. The first site was intertops in 1996, and others soon followed. The placing of wagers on sporting events over the internet was very popular with gamblers all around the world, and the industry took off in a big way. A number of new companies were formed to enter the market, and most existing bookmakers opened up web-based operations to complement their existing businesses.
As with online casinos, things were very competitive. Betting sites also offered generous bonuses and free bets to new customers as a way to attract more bettors. A number of other promotions were introduced, too, as sites tried to stand out from their competitors. Things like enhanced odds and cash back offers became commonplace, and the range of different wagers that were available greatly increased, too.
In 2000, a new betting site called betfair opened up. Unlike all the other betting sites at the time, betfair itself did not take bets from customers, but instead allowed customers to place bets between themselves. Peer to peer betting was incredibly popular almost immediately, and remains so to this day. It became known as exchange betting, and several other companies subsequently launched similar sites, although betfair dominated this particular market.
Live betting was introduced for the first time in 2002, allowing bettors to place wagers on a sporting event while it was taking place. This was another major development and also an instant success. The vast majority of betting sites went on to offer a live betting service, and these days you can bet on a massive range of sporting events while watching the action. Mobile betting is also available at most of the big sites, making it possible to place wagers using a phone, tablet, or other mobile device.
Placing wagers online is easy and convenient and offers many other advantages over more traditional betting. These traditional forms of betting haven’t disappeared completely, and probably never will, but using betting sites is certainly the preferred option for many.
History of online poker
On january 1st, 1998, a new site called planet poker became the first to offer online poker. The site soon started attracting players, despite frequent technical problems and issues caused by the speed and unreliability of dial-up internet. Planet poker never fulfilled its potential as being the first poker site, and other operators came into the market and were much more successful. Interestingly, though, the rake levels set by this site are still the industry standard today.
Paradise poker started out in the following year, and it was more advanced and more stable than planet poker. It experienced fast growth as a result. This site also offered seven card stud and omaha games in addition to texas hold’em. The following year, poker professional dutch boyd launched his new site, poker spot. This was the first site to offer online tournaments, but suffered numerous problems with processing customer payments and lasted only until 2001.
Two new poker sites that were to become giants in the industry opened up in 2001: partypoker and pokerstars. Paradise poker was still the front-runner, but these other two sites quickly became serious players. Partypoker began running tournaments that offered qualification to live events, and these proved to be particularly popular. Another site, ultimatebet, was also making a name for itself at the time.
2002 was a notable year for both partypoker and pokerstars. Televised poker was attracting larger audiences, perhaps due to the introduction of card cameras that showed the hole cards of players, and partypoker started advertising heavily on these shows. The advertising worked, and they became the largest poker site. Pokerstars was not too far behind, and they improved their standings with the launch of the world championship of online poker.
When chris moneymaker won the world series of poker (WSOP) in 2003, he not only took home prize money of around $2.5 million, he also arguably had the biggest ever impact on online poker. Moneymaker had won entry into the WSOP by playing in a $40 tournament at pokerstars. Suddenly everyone dreamed of winning big money, and the popularity of online poker increased dramatically. The following year, another site that was to become a major player opened: full tilt poker.
Online poker was popular all over the world, but nowhere more than in the united states. The industry changed forever when, in 2006, legislation known as the unlawful internet gaming enforcement act (UIGEA) was passed by the american government. This created a great deal of confusion about the legality of online gambling in the US, and many poker sites (and other gambling sites) closed their doors to american customers.
In the last few years, the popularity of online poker has leveled out somewhat. There are still a lot of people playing, and a lot of sites where they can play. Many of these sites are now on networks, sharing a pool of players to increase liquidity. The overall standard of online poker software is higher than it has ever been, and continues to improve.
History of casinos in the UK
History of casinos in the UK, from land based to online casinos
Gambling by visiting UK casinos is something that we have inherited from our forefathers. Throughout the course of history, people have taken special interest in gambling games to risk their money for a return and to, most importantly, have fun. Casinos have become an integral part of our lives, and no matter how much we deny it, mankind and gambling are interlinked with each other through an unbreakable bond. One cannot exist without the other, as both walk hand in hand.
One of the most famous past time for humans throughout history till now has been gambling. From the prehistoric times when gambles were made on the most trivial of assets, to now when people go as far as putting all they have on stake, gambling was and is an excessively growing trend.
The interest people have in gambling has been fuelled off late by the innovations that have sprung up within the institution that provide the best platform for gambling, the casinos. UK casinos have, for ages, provided the masses with an opportunity to put their skills in gambling on display.
Casinos in the united kingdom have been providing some of the most luxurious and lavish experiences to the visitors through history. The country is now host to an astounding 140 land based casinos, all of which provide an exemplary atmosphere to the visitor.
The incipient of the great british gambling
Gambling has been part of british society from a long, long time. People living in this part of the world have taken solace in gambling for many a century now. During the incipient of gambling within the united kingdom, gambling was very different from what it is today. Gambling, back in the day, had very little to do with the more contemporary innovations like roulette wheels and slot reels. Gambling in that day and age was more limited to the possessions people had. Betting would take place on the result of a jousting match, or a wager would take place on a coin game named cross and pill.
Some other favourites for the people at that time were a three card game called as the bragg, which is an ancient version of poker. Betting was also done on board games, as the options were very limited. As time progressed, the british started betting on more serious issues. Sports came into the mix, as events like horse racing and football attracted a lot of attention for gamblers to practice their betting skills.
The first sightings of casinos in the united kingdom were seen during the 19 th century. The UK casinos were formed in the shape of gaming clubs and were strictly restricted to members only. Crockfords was the first of the gaming clubs to open in 1828 on the curzon street. The club was opened with the support of the duke of wellington.
Many other gaming clubs started following suit, with the help and support of different influential people, as casinos were not entered in the constitution as a legal entity till as late as 1960.
The development of the casinos
Gambling has been part of the british society from a long time, but the legalized casinos started functioning more recently.
The casino was first opened by george alfred james as a gambling establishment for members only. The establishment featured a restaurant, a bar, a dance floor, and a gaming room. The gaming room was adjacent to the bar and had a variety of games like the six pence, baccarat, and black jack slot machines.
A year later, george alfred james started further enlarging his casino empire. He built the prince of wales club in cardiff, the golden horseshoe, for working men in london and the kingsway casino in south port. The kingsway casino stood up as his flagship, as the kingsway introduced a whole new level of lavishness. The kingsway casino was the first of its kind in united kingdom as it featured occasional visits from the stars of that time. The kingsway was also host to some of the best musical performances, from prominent musicians.
Old video interview with george alfred james about UK casinos:
The casino empire set up by george alfred james kept on thriving until he died in 1976. Ever since the gambling act legalized casinos, and because of the endeavours of george alfred james, casinos have become an integral part of the modern society in united kingdom.
New table games and further innovations have all now been accommodated within the law because of the continuous relaxations provided by the government in the law. The casinos in UK present a picture of unmatched grandeur today, with many of them being under the ownership of the same company. The grosvenor and the genting group comprise of almost 75 percent of the casinos running in the UK currently.
The genting group
Genting group, who are one of the top casino owners in the united kingdom, originate from malaysia. The first resort under the ownership of the genting group opened in malaysia in as early as 1971. Genting group currently owns a mammoth amount of 50 casinos across the whole region which makes it one of the biggest forces in the casino market. Two brands fall under the ownership of the genting group, the genting casino and genting club. The crockfords, which is one of the oldest gaming clubs, is under the flagship of the genting group.
The grosvenor casinos
Incorporated in 2007, the grosvenor casinos which are owned by the rank group, represent one of the largest brands of in the region. With an ownership of up to 30+ casinos within england and scotland, the grosvenor casinos have high stakes in the UK market. The recent addition of the gala casinos within the grosvenor casinos for a whooping sum of 179 million pounds has meant that with 54 casinos, the grosvenor have the highest amount of casinos under control in the UK market.
Although, the history of casinos indicates that the rise in gambling power within the people of the united kingdom is at an increase, it also helps indicate some other disturbing facts. Some of the worrying trends that were seen in gambling during the history were:
- Gambling promoted the differences between classes: throughout the history of gambling, it would be the rich who played the high stake games in the clubs. The poor would indulge in very basic dice or coin games in their separate lodges. The rich would bet on the horses in betting houses, specifically made for the purpose while the poor would do so at the race meetings. With the divide visible, the gambling trends laid down a basic segmentation in the society that was to remain for the times to come.
- Gambling was declared illegal for the poor, and legal for the rich: henry VIII passed a law which specifically banned all poor people from gambling at anytime during the year except christmas. The acts of the 18 th century also set an invisible boundary by placing high gambling limits to keep the poor away from gambling.
- Gambling had to reach the people: this was a more contemporary problem that came up with gambling. With so many means of communication available, people started looking forward to a more suitable gaming experience, something that was provided to them without having to go to the casino. Something that would make them try their luck in the comforts of their home. All of this was provided by the development of the online casino experience.
The formation and evolution of online casinos in UK
The year 1994 was a formidable year in the formation of online casinos within the UK. The advent of online casinos meant that there was a shift from the traditional land based casinos, to the virtual world that we all are currently accustomed to. The move kick started from the island of antigua and barbados within the caribbean. The major breakthrough in this regard was the signing of the free trade and processing zone act.
Even after the development of the act, it was in 1998 that william hill launched the first UK online casino, through his betting services, sportsbook. The online casino trend in the UK was certainly gaining pace and it was soon expected that it would overpower the presence of other land based casinos. While the UK was a little late in jumping on the online casino bandwagon, there were a variety of new innovations in this regard being done in the rest of the world.
Microgaming took the lead and launched the first online casino in 1994. The casino started gathering viewership at a slow rate during the beginning, but a lot was expected from it later on. Just after the launch of microgaming, cryptologic by the famous duo of mark and andrew riokin started frenzy amongst casino enthusiasts. The casino by the riokin brothers offered a first transactional system of its kind. The transactional system introduced by the duo was safe, reliable and easy to use for the users.
Following the success of microgaming and cryptologic, many casinos started trying their luck in this developing new market. The chances of innovations were plenty, and there were a lot of gains to be had.
The start of the 2000’s meant that there was a very major change in the range of people that the internet catered to. The start of the 20 th century signalled the start of the spread of the internet. The internet was spreading across the world at a rapid rate. People were getting internet connections in their homes, which eventually showed an increase in the number of opportunities that the internet presented. With this transition from the real world to the online world happening at a fleeting pace, it was significant that the opportunities presented be grasped as quickly as possible.
The development and the evolution of the casinos within the UK took a turn for the better with the start of the 20 th century. Entrepreneurs had realized that the internet was here to stay and for success to be achieved, it was pertinent that the opportunities which came along be seized with both hands. As soon as the realisation that the online casinos were serious business dawned upon the investors, they started looking out for ways through which they could join this bandwagon of success.
The interest from the investors meant that the online casino industry got a major boost during the 2000’s. There were plenty of online casinos opening, which were all met with a huge response from the public.
Has online gambling, changed the overall UK casino industry?
With gambling becoming part of the daily routine of the average UK adult, the participation in casinos is at a record high. The restrictions on casinos that were part of the past have been reduced in both the land based casinos and the online casinos. The percentage of the total adult population that have tried online gambling has increased from 9.7 percent in 2008 to a whopping 15.9 percent in 2015.
Active accounts, that have been used once or, more than once by the user in the last 12 months have risen up to 18 million. Furthermore, the participation in the online casino slots was 37 percent during the year 2015, which is a massive success.
The cash involved within the online casinos is also on the rise, with researchers quoting as much as 366 million pounds won through online casinos during the year 2014. With such astounding numbers to boast, the success of the gaming site is no more a secret. Online casinos have revolutionized the way casinos have been viewed throughout history with the help of an amalgamation of several different techniques and methodologies.
The biggest way through which online casinos have changed the overall gaming industry is that they have made room for innovation. Innovation within the slots is something that is very common and part of online casinos. The innovations have been assisted with the presence of unlimited storage space online. Land based establishments face the issue of space constraints, something which cannot be felt or imagined while on an online slot. Users get a variety of slots , all of which add to the choice the user has.
All in all, the transition from land based to the internet is still under process within the UK. Land based establishments have a sizable group of people to cater to, while online casinos have started garnering a huge target base of their own. From the incipient of gambling within the UK, to where we stand today as a nation in this regard, the progress of the casinos has been exemplary.
Heightened interest within casinos and gambling has meant that the astounding numbers that we see today are going to be toppled in the foreseeable future. All the innovations and increase in interest towards gaming can’t help one from wondering what the future holds for the industry within the UK.
What does the future hold?
Gambling in casinos within the UK has benefited a lot from the gambling act, which came into force almost 11 years ago from today. The boom in the casino gambling within the UK as the result of the act means that the future of gaming within UK is under sunny skies. The land based establishments have enriched themselves with the fine addition of dining restaurants, dance floors, and bars within the casino. The response from the public is mind blowing and it can be said that the future of land based casinos in the UK is in safe hands.
On the other hand, the increase in TV advertisements has meant that there is an overall growth in the target market for online casinos. Brits, who have never had the experience in the different slots available today, can add to their knowledge by accessing the various casino sites, within the comforts of their home. With the increase in the trend of gambling, it won’t be a surprise when UK surpasses america as the home to the best UK casinos.
A brief history of bitcoin and online casinos
The casino industry was among the first businesses that went online. By doing so it managed to increase its popularity and profits while providing millions of clients with the services they need. The industry made the jump online thanks to its active following of technological trends. As technology advanced so did the casino industry and online casino were born.
What are online casinos?
To put it simply, they are websites that offer casino games on the internet, but there’s a bit more to it than that. The games aren’t just the classic ones offered at land-based casinos but reinventions of those games. What’s also offered is a heap of bonuses so the players can earn more prizes. Thanks to the industry’s skill of keeping track of tech trend these websites went mobile and the industry spawned its first mobile casinos. Trends came and went, and one of the few that stay to this day is bitcoin.
The phenomenon of bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2008 by satoshi nakamoto. As it slowly gained popularity a foundation called the bitcoin foundation was established in 2012 and its main goal was to develop digital currency. Something so new made an important impact on the financial sector. The thing that made it so popular is that the third party was cut out entirely when making a transaction which is why the online casino industry took notice and before long a few online casinos that accept bitcoin appeared on the market, and in time the first bitcoin casinos were born.
Online casinos and bitcoin
Online casinos started adopting the new payment method in 2015. During that time, bitcoin was still pretty unknown to the public, but there were a lot of gamers that started playing games using the cryptocurrency. The big breakthrough came in 2016. During the summer that year, bitcoin’s value started going up and record numbers of online casinos adopted it and started promoting it. Before that, most of the online casinos that accepted bitcoin were specifically made for this payment method. By 2017, when bitcoin’s value was at its highest, hundreds of online casinos accepted it as a payment method.
You may ask yourself, why are online casinos so fond of bitcoin? Because the cryptocurrency brings advantages to both sides. On one side, online casinos are optimized for the use of bitcoin and these websites don’t have to pay the fees for the transactions their clients make. By using it, players also pour more money into the games compared to the standard payment methods. Deposits are also instant. On the player’s side, any withdrawals made with bitcoin are instant, unlike other payment methods where you have to wait as long as 7 days to receive your money. Bitcoin is also a plus factor in the player’s safety, due to its increased level of anonymity.
Bitcoin is still among the trendiest payment methods at online casinos. From the looks of it, the cryptocurrency may become the leading option for players in the years to come as more and more bitcoin casinos emerge.
The history of online gambling
The online gambling industry all kicked off in the mid-1990s. However, it was in the early 2000s that online casinos started to be regarded as a legitimate, regulated business, with controls in place to protect players and casinos.
Since the beginnings of the online gambling industry, countless milestones have been achieved, and the online casino industry as a whole is expected to be worth more than 94 billion USD by 2024.
Of course, gambling itself started a long, long time before the 1990s. Letвђ™s have a quick look back and learn a bit more about the history of gambling before we find out how online gambling began.
History of gambling
Gambling history is fascinating. Believe it or not, gambling is older than the written word! After all, why do people gamble? Itвђ™s to create that pleasurable adrenaline rush of taking a risk, which is further intensified with a victory. Thatвђ™s a feeling that has been around ever since there were humans on earth.
The first evidence of gambling dates back to the paleolithic period, millions of years ago, when humans first started using stone tools. In mesopotamia, where we now find countries such as iraq, kuwait, syria and turkey, the earliest six-sided dice date back to about 3,000BC.
Meanwhile, in china, gambling houses were popular 1,000 years BC. Here, people could play lotto and domino games, and even bet on fighting animals. China was also the place where playing cards first appeared, way back in the 9 th century.
The 17 th century was a big one for gambling. Poker, now the most popular gambling card game in the world, can trace its roots all the way back toв 17 th century persia, with a game called as-nas. And over in europe, the italian city of venice opened the first ever public, legal casino in the west in 1638, which was called il ridotto.
More than a century later, in the united kingdom, harry ogden was the first man recorded to have made a a legal profit from offering legitimate bookmaking services in 1790, when he offered players the opportunity to place bets on horses.
In canada, up until the 1950s, gambling was legal, but considered to be an unsavoury pastime. The country has had its fair share of small, illicit casinos popping up throughout its history, but canada’sв firstв commercial casino opened in winnipeg in 1989, followed by a montreal casino in 1993. Many others followed.
As of 2019, it is estimated that about 76 per cent of canadians engage in some form of gambling, and this pastime is increasingly moving online, where players can access a wider selection of casinos and games at the touch of a button.
History of online gambling
So when did online gambling start? In 1996, the first-ever online casino вђ“ intercasino вђ“ was established, marking the official start of what would become one of the most successful online entertainment forms. It accepted its first real money wager that year, and has since paid out in excess of $3 billion in winnings.
Using cryptologic, a secure financial transaction software provider, it developed several methods to ensure safe and secure online transactions.
1996 was also the year in which the mohawk territory kahnawake gaming commission was established to license and regulate poker rooms and online casinos. And a new swedish developer called netent launched and created some of the most innovative games at the time, offering online players an extensive range of top performing content including progressive jackpots, slots, live dealer games, branded games and a broad variety of table & card games. Along with the isle of man-based microgaming, which was established around the same time, netent remains one of the giants of the industry to this day.
By 1997 gambling websites offering services to online players increased from just 15 in 1996 to well over 200. A report published in 1998 revealed that online gambling revenues had already reached $834 million. Several poker rooms opened at the time, and planet poker introduced the first online version of texas holdвђ™em. Multi-player gaming soon followed in 1999, which enabled online players to chat, interact and gamble in an interactive online environment.
Just a few years later, in 2006, the US unexpectedly banned all online gambling services, a move which had an enormous impact on mobile as well as other online gambling services. The usвђ™s draconian attitude towards online gambling has made canadaвђ™s liberal approach all the more remarkable, and profitable. Not only is it home to the world-renowned kahnawake gaming commission, which licenses online casinos and poker sites, it is now also a hub for a number of online gambling operators and software providers, as well as one of the leading gambling regions in the world.
Important milestones in the online gambling industry
| 1996 | intercasino, the world’s first-ever online casino is launched |
| 1998 | the first ever internet poker room is launched |
| 1999 | multi-player gaming is introduced, allowing players to gamble online and socialise at the same time |
| 2003 | ecommerce and online gaming regulation act (ecogra), an independent, standard authority is created |
| 2006 | united states senate passes the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act. |
| 2008 | progressive slots see jackpots pass the $5.5 million mark |
| 2011 | A player wins a $11.7 million progressive jackpot on netentвђ™s mega fortune slot |
| 2014 | bitcoin enters the picture as an accepted crypto-currency |
| 2015 | microgaming celebrates its biggest progressive jackpot win of over ВЈ13.2 million |
| 2016 | microgaming launches virtual reality headset games using oculus rift technology |
| 2018 | omnia casino, the worldвђ™s first ever 100% artificial intelligence-built online casino, is launched. |
The future of online gambling
But thatвђ™s no surprise when you consider what a long way online gambling has come over a period of 20 years. Back then, not only were choices extremely limited, but the casinosвђ™ effort at making their product as true-to-life as possible came down to poor-quality graphics and minimal setting.
From live casino rooms that make you feel as though youвђ™re in a real land-based casino, to impeccably-designed slots that captivate you with their graphics and storytelling, the evolution is clear for all to see. Besides that, online operators are focused on improving mobile playersвђ™ experiences and by utilizing the most modern technology to offer the ultimate gaming experience, whether customers are playing on desktop or through a handheld device.
Many operators are now also exploring the potential of virtual reality games that detect player actions to continue enhancing their product offering. The first virtual reality casino, slotsmillion, launched in 2016, and many more are expected to emerge in the coming years as the technology becomes more sophisticated and demand increases.
Online players could soon enjoy their favorite characters in much closer view via virtual reality; itвђ™s entirely possible that virtual reality gambling will eventually become the most popular form of entertainment among online casino players in the future.
Blockchain technology could also become a key component of the online gambling industry going forward. Most online casinos now support bitcoin and other cryptocurrency payments. But even leaving cryptocurrency aside, blockchain technology is fast, safe, and benefits both the casino as well as the player with its airtight security system.
The future for the industry is bright and weвђ™re excited to add more to this page in the coming years!
The history of online casinos
While land based casinos and casino games are steeped in centuries of history, in stark contrast the online casino industry has a very short history in terms of its advancements. The first land based casino was established in 1765, but it took over 200 years online casinos to make an appearance.
At just 17 years of age, if it were any other industry, the online casino industry would still be considered to be in its infancy but in just a few short years, it has managed to metamorphose from a fledgling launch into a massive multi-billion dollar global giant that has changed rapidly and adapted to every situation.
There are three main factors that played a role in the emergence of online casinos, the first of which was the development of gaming software which made its debut in brick and mortar casinos in the 70's. Another major factor of influence was the development of technology which enabled computers to connect to a nodal server which allowed access to gambling software, this new technology was known as the internet. Finally, the inception of a regulatory body emerged in 1994 and the rest as they say was history.
Even though the technology required for the creation and operation of online casinos was in existence since the inception of the internet, the first steps towards the start of gambling operations began in 1994 after the free trade and processing act was passed in the caribbean with the first legally established online casinos, the gaming club and intercasino opening their doors in 1995 and 1996 respectively. This was followed by a huge succession of online casinos, with the majority launching in the early 2000's. Now legendary names like bet365 first launched in 2000.
Software giant microgaming was the first software provider to enter the online casino industry and the organisation developed a number of online casino games which could be downloaded to the PC's and laptops of players across the world. In little time other providers emerged, with cryptologic entering the market as a contender, and both they and microgaming pioneered various gaming applications and platforms, which yielded huge profits and opened up a market for a number of eager entrepreneurs who happily entered the industry.
From this juncture onwards, little could stop the rapid growth, development and expansion of online casinos which continually competed to provide fresh, innovative ideas to enhance the player's online gambling experience. As the internet capabilities improved from dial up to broadband, online casino technology was adapted to offer a richer, faster, better experience and that quest for innovation continues with each new technological development.
What were once basic online casinos with an offering of a handful of online slots and one variation of each table game, no bonus offerings whatsoever and a direct contact to the company's CEO published on their sites have now become multi-billion dollar corporate machines with hundreds of online slots, multiple single and multiplayer versions of casino games, huge online casino bonus offers and a variety of promotional offers to attract players in an ever increasingly competitive environment, all of which are supported by teams of customer care staff in almost every conceivable language.
Nowadays a player may play his or her favourite online casino games from the comfort of their own home, chat with other casino players from across the globe and even interact with live dealers! Not to mention that smart phones and tablet devices have now made mobile online gambling possible in almost any situation. There are industry watchdogs and regulators as well as huge debates on the legality and regulation of online casinos across the various countries of the globe.
With every passing year, technology develops and the world of online casinos becomes more exciting and more complex. In just a few short years it is simply a marvel at just how far this industry has come and we can't help looking back on it all with much nostalgia and pride.
History of UK online casinos
History of UK online casinos
Meta description: when did the UK online casinos start? Read more about the history of online casinos in the UK.
Our forefathers have been gambling to risk their money and expecting something in return. This activity continues today. With modern technology, anyone can easily gamble at the comfort of his/her home. Thanks to the UK online casinos, you do not have to drive miles away just to visit a casino or a betting shop.
Online casinos have become a vital part of the gambler’s life in the UK. Gambling and humankind are somehow intertwined. They are linked together via an unbreakable bond. Despite the strong link, online casinos are offering the latest no deposit casino bonuses to attract more customers to sign and deposit money to their accounts.
These bonuses will allow you to make your gambling as a pastime with no risk. After all, you do not deposit anything to your account. You can play for real money until you have consumed all the bonuses.
The interest in online casinos is fueled by the innovations that emerged in the industry to provide customers the best platform for internet gambling. The arrival of the internet in the UK completely brought a new way for people to gamble. It is also one of the reasons the UK gambling commission started the gambling act of 2005.
Evolution of UK online casinos
It all began in 1994. The birth of internet casinos in the UK caused a shift from a land-based casino to the virtual world. But the move started within the caribbean. When the free trade and processing zone act was signed, it boosted the presence of online casino activities in the UK.
After the development of the act, william hill introduced its first online casino in the united kingdom. From there, the online casino trend was increasing. People expected that it would overtake the existence of land-based casinos. And they are right.
The UK was not the first to adapt to online casinos. Despite it being late in the bandwagon, most innovations are seen in the UK online casinos.
When microgaming launched the first internet casino in 1994, viewership was quite low. But it was expected as gamblers were still testing the waters and adapting to it.
After that launch, cryptologic company began to entice casino enthusiasts by offering them a transactional system. There were plenty of opportunities available and they gained a lot from the system.
The start of the 21st century signaled the spread of the internet. It was disseminated across the world at an increasing rate. People were having internet connections from their homes. This alone presented new opportunities for those who want to gamble.
At an increasing pace, the transition from the real world to the virtual world was a significant move that the UK online casinos grabbed. They realized that the internet would stay for good. And that piqued the interest of investors causing a major boost of the online casinos in the 2000s.
The start of 2000 was also the beginning of many online casinos opening. Because of that, there was tight competition in the industry. Many operators try to become the best in the field.
With the competition, many casinos offer huge bonuses to new customers. They also started to introduce loyalty programs for their existing customers.
The software used to operate an online casino is updated regularly to adapt to modern technology. Developers add features frequently to attract more clients.
To boost the popularity and growth of UK online casinos, developers started to include themed slots, progressive jackpots, and multiplayer casino games, among others. Unfortunately, not all gamblers in the UK are hooked on this thing. They still believe that online games could not provide fair results as they are manipulated in some way.
The increasing popularity of online casino allowed live casino gaming to emerge in the scene. As the technology developed, regular online casino was insufficient causing online casinos in the UK to offer something different.
And they developed a live dealer. In here, a human being would deal, pay and communicate with the player live.
The first live casino had one dealer and one game. It also had one table. The sole game was blackjack. As you look at the list of live casino games today, you will be bombarded with its number.
The list will now include live roulette, live baccarat, and others. Some UK online casinos offer a side game to prevent players from getting bored while they wait for the launch of a live game.
From there, live casino gaming is now available 24/7. They are now a commonplace over the internet. Most players now would like to deal in real time and face a live dealer, rather than facing a graphic dealer.
Sports betting online
Live casino game was not the only game you can take part in. Besides slots and live baccarat and other casino games, you can also engage in sports betting online.
It was in 1996 that the first online sports betting started. Betting on sporting events online became a thing in the UK and it has spread all around the world.
A variety of new companies formed to provide online sports betting. Those existing bookmakers started to open up their web-based betting operations.
Online sports betting was also competitive, thereby, forcing betting sites to offer free bonuses and bets to new customers. As sites wanted to stand out, they introduced different promotions.
In 2000, betfair opened a new betting site where customers can place their bets between themselves. The site did not take wagers from customers.
This process is known as peer to peer betting. It immediately became popular and it remains prevalent today. Most online casinos in the UK integrate online sports betting in their system to further attract more customers.
Live betting allowed punters to place their bets on a sporting event while it was happening. You can bet a variety of sporting events as you watch the action.
As the popularity of smartphone and tablet emerged, mobile online casinos became a thing. Most online casinos have their own mobile version. With mobile versions, punters can place their bets through their mobile device, like a phone or a tablet.
Placing bets online has become easy and convenient. It has several benefits over the traditional way of betting. Although the traditional form of casino and betting will not disappear, online casinos and live betting will become the norm.
Overall UK casino industry
Gambling is a part of the daily routine of many UK adults. Thus, it is no wonder that many of them are hooked on online casinos. The total number of adults who tried online gambling continues to increase.
Active participation in online slots has increased in 2015. And it continues to increase at a rapid rate.
Then, cash in online casinos is also rising. In 2014, an estimated 366 million pounds have been won through online casinos.
With such a number, no one cannot deny the popularity of online casinos. They have revolutionized how people gamble.
One of the huge advantages of online casinos is that they have a lot of rooms for innovation. Slot innovation is very common.
Developers provide new features regularly to attract more gamblers. With the latest technology, online casinos do not have to worry about storage space, unlike the land-based casinos where they need to tackle space constraints.
Then, the number of games is immense. All casino players can access and play them.
Despite the transition and success of online casinos, land-based establishments remain popular. The boom in online casinos is the result of the gambling act.
However, to protect consumers from some deceitful online casinos, the UK gambling commission has implemented several stringent policies.
For instance, online casinos must verify the age of their customers by requiring them to submit an identification, like a driver’s license or any government-issued ID. Doing so will prevent underage gambling.
To further its campaign against underage gambling, online casinos are now required to request ids from their customers and will not allow them to play and fund their accounts until they have been verified to be of legal age.
UK online casinos are also obligated to ask their customers to submit all identification forms before they can deposit money to their accounts. In that way, they no longer have to submit additional documents when they have to withdraw their winnings.
Internet gambling is legal in the united kingdom. However, you need to be at least 18 years old to participate in this form of activity.
All online casinos that cater to UK players must obtain a license from the gambling commission. If you are looking for a reliable online casino in the UK that offers best casino bonuses no deposit, you need to search an online casino with UKGC license.
Without it, there is no way to determine whether or not the site is legal or reliable. Who knows, the site will just take your money and you cannot withdraw your winnings.
When an online casino in the UK holds a license from UKGC, it means that it adheres to its stringent policies for fairer and safer gambling online.
Brief history of casinos
While a blackjack dealer isn’t the world's oldest profession, people all over the world have enjoyed gambling for centuries. From clay dice made of bones and early chinese dominoes to lottery games organized by famous emperors, wagering has made its mark on history. Games of chance even predate the invention of modern money itself. Casinos are a natural step in the evolution of gaming. Just like the rest of civilization, modern gaming houses are simply a more organized and socially acceptable version of a pastime already enjoyed by billions over the course of history.
The birth of modern casinos
Contemporary casinos can trace their roots across the atlantic all the way to 17th century italy. In 1638 a venue in venice called the riotto opened its doors. Situated inside the san moisè palace and open to the public during carnival season, players enjoyed a lottery game called birbi and basetta, which fused elements of gin rummy, poker, and blackjack. Although the riotto was technically open to everyone, giant stakes and a strictly enforced dress code meant the games were reserved for the aristocracy, at least in practice. The casino ultimately closed its doors in 1774 as views on virtue and morality shifted.
Gambling on the frontier
In the 19th century, gambling thrived across the USA. From the port of new orleans to the coast of california, wagering had become america's unofficial national pastime. By midcentury, long before las vegas was on anyone's radar, san francisco was the US gambling capital. With the gold rush in full swing, saloons had plenty of organized action and little trouble attracting prospectors.
Gambling continued to thrive following the civil war, with many large frontier cities having fancy casinos. Yet society's views towards vices and risk-taking were changing. In california, for example, professional gamblers were lynched and it became illegal to play games against the house. Ultimately all games became illegal but casinos continued to thrive underground.
The birth of las vegas
Laws mean nothing if they aren’t enforced, which is why illegal gaming houses thrived in the early 20th century through the great depression. From new york to california, many of these dens of iniquity were mob-operated. As state governments started cracking down on gambling, these mobsters fled to nevada where gambling was fully legalized in 1931. In 1946 las vegas was officially on the map when the pink flamingo, a now historic luxury casino, opened its door. Big names like the sahara, riviera, and tropicana not only followed but also attracted the world. By the 1950s las vegas had become the undisputed casino capital of earth, which it still is.
Despite these changes, criminal gangs retained their stranglehold on sin city through the 1950s. Yet throughout the 1960s new laws made it possible for corporations to get into the business, which not only loosened the mob's grip but helped give birth to today's entertainment resorts.
Beyond nevada
In the seventies, americans expanded their casino horizons with the rebirth of atlantic city. The new jersey town was reborn as the east coast's gambling capital. In the 1980s congress passed the indian gaming regulatory act, which paved the way for hundreds of native american casinos across the USA. The days of heading across the country for a little fun were officially over, yet the world had no idea what technology would have in store.
Logging on for excitement
By the mid-1990s, the internet was no longer just a curiosity. It was a valuable tool that aimed to improve every aspect of american life. It shouldn’t be much of a shock that the first online casino games appeared when people still used terms like information superhighway. Although these sites were largely based offshore, they provided service to americans and were not even noticed by the powers in washington. Trailblazing players in all fifty states logged on to sample slots, roulette, baccarat, craps, blackjack, keno, sports wagering, and other casino classics.
Internet casinos really made their mark in the new millennium riding on the coattails of the online poker boom. It wasn’t until the US government enacted the UIGEA in 2006 that online casinos started to retreat. The repercussions were neither immediate nor far reaching with dozens of foreign casinos continuing to operate successfully.
The history of online gambling
Over the past two to three years, the online gambling industry has grown in leaps and bounds. However, online gambling began in 1994 with the free trade and processing zone act passed by the government of antigua barbuda. Many online casinos today still operate under this legislation.
This article will present the highlights in the history of online gambling from its first beginnings in 1994 until the end of 2003.
1994
microgaming (one of the online gambling industry’s largest software developers and suppliers) was founded.
1995
cryptologic, a company designed to develop software packages that can process transactions securely, is founded.
1996
boss specialtidningar AB begins development of a system for online casino operations.
Microgaming begins concentrating on the development of online casino technology.
Intercasino begins operations and claims to be the first internet casino to accept real money for wager.
1997
boss casinos’ development (transferred to boss media AB) is located in antigua barbuda.
Antigua barbuda is one of the few countries to sanction online gambling.
1998
microgaming launches the first online progressive jackpot slot, which it names cash splash.
The internet gambling prohibition act is introduced in the united states. The bill fails to pass.
The gaming industry generates $834.5 million in revenue.
1999
lasseter’s, the first australian-licensed internet casino goes online.
Estimates exist of approximately 700 internet casinos taking bets online.
New gaming software becomes available that has multi-player functionality, allowing multiple players to play together and chat to each other while involved in the online game.
2000
the australian federal government passes the interactive gambling moratorium act. This makes it illegal for any online casino, not licensed and operating before may 2000, to operate. Lasseter’s online becomes the only online casino allowed to operate in australia under the new legislation.
Estimates exist of approximately 680,000 customers using online electronic payment systems for internet betting.
Gibraltar and the isle of man begin to offer online sports betting licenses.
2001
up to 8 million people are estimated to have gambled online with real money.
It becomes legal for licensed online casinos to operate out of nevada, according to new nevada legislation.
An online gambler wins $414,119 playing slots at a caribbean online casino. This is the largest online win to date.
2002
the first ever win of over $1 million in an online casino jackpot, was won. The winner was playing a progressive slot game at captain cooks casino when he made his win.
2003
ecogra (ecommerce and online gambling regulation and assurance) is established. This aims to regulate strict safety and security guidelines for member sites.
An anti-gambling bill is passed in the united states house of representatives, making it illegal for payment processing companies to facilitate gambling transactions that are done via the internet.
Chris moneymakers wins the 2003 world series of poker after having only played on online gambling sites prior to the competition.
“live gaming” is launched, which is a real-time, video-streamed game featuring live dealers and the ability to play one-on-one and chat to the dealer.
So, let's see, what we have: the casino industry was among the first businesses that went online. By doing so it managed to increase its popularity and profits while providing millions of clients with the services they need. The industry made the jump online thanks to its active following of technological trends. As technology advanced so did the casino industry and online casino were born. At history of online casinos
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