Overall, it’s fair to say, online casinos set the ball rolling in terms of online gambling in the US.
Who got the wheel spinning?
Microgaming and CryptoLogic are probably still arguing about who was first to market. But in truth, both of their respective products, The Gaming Club and InterCasino, played significant roles in developing the technology required to power the games and financial systems we play and use today.
Even now, Microgaming is one of the most trusted software providers and more than likely to be the operator behind your favorite online casino offering today. InterCasino, meanwhile, is a renowned name within the online casino world given its status as one of the longest-running online casinos in existence.
Neither would’ve been able to function had it not been for the Free Trade and Processing Act, however. The bill, passed in Antigua and Bermuda, granted licenses to companies wishing to provide gambling services online and, in many ways, initiated matters to begin with.
Growing signs were always there
The formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in the late 90s paved the way for more and more companies to gain the gaming licenses needed to regulate online casinos.
This extended to other forms of gambling too and, before the millennium arrived, the online gambling industry as a whole was hitting record levels - over 200 websites generating revenues of over $830 million.
But this was nothing compared with what was to come with the explosion of the internet and giant steps forward in technology; the turn of the new century witnessed online casino numbers reach an estimated 8 million.
With every year bringing more advancements in technology, smarter devices, and the ability for more players to access their favorite games, the industry has continued to blossom.
Fierce competition
With more and more betting operators seizing the opportunity to get involved in a lucrative industry, the market increased further with many operators setting out to become the biggest and the best.
Not only did added competition this increase the options for customers, the overall standard of the industry evolved almost monthly with added features added time and again.
Progressive jackpots, slots based on tv shows and multiplayer games are just a few of the reasons why and how numbers have soared. And, crucially, continue to do so.
Future of casino gambling is online
Graphics used for online casino games nowadays resemble those seen in digitally animated films, making the online casino experience as true-to-life possible.
Whether you’re a traditionalist or not, the future for the casino industry is clearly online.
It’s almost inevitable we'll be talking about a $1 trillion industry in time to come, a milestone that will confirm the online gambling industry as the fastest growing market in the world.