The very first online casino opened up in 1996 and is still around today. In fact, there are several casinos that opened up the first few years that gambling has been on the internet (and hundreds since), making it one of the most successful online industries ever. But it was not always success and easy roads for the online casino industry, as you will soon see.
Even before InterCasino opened their virtual doors in 1996, there was a ton of opposition. Lawmakers and anti-gambling groups lined up to take their pot shot at the upcoming online casino openings. But once the High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies passed the “Free Trade and Processing Zone Act”, the pieces were in place to make online casino history. They started the Division of Gaming to give out the first official jurisdictional licenses so that potential operators could now legally open up their online casinos. Since the US and other big countries refused to give out these licenses, this is a huge part of online casino history.
Luckily since then, several other jurisdictions have started issuing licenses all over the world, including Canada, the uk and more. But that list stops short of the united states, which still steadfastly refuses to issue licenses.
The first online casinos were met with a lot of skepticism, as sending information like credit cards, names and addresses over the internet was still met with a lot of suspicion. Online casinos were thought to be shady or run by the mob. Slow connections meant stalled programs and graphics ทางเข้าเล่นยูฟ่าเบทเว็บตรงand a lack of quality software providers in the fledgling industry meant a lot of stalled platforms.
Enter CryptoLogic and Microgaming, two online casino history pioneers. CryptoLogic went out of their way to provide encryption technology to the online casinos, meaning that sensitive information like credit card numbers were now safe from hackers. Microgaming was one of the first and still one of the best software providers, making crisp graphics and realistic sound back when these things were still hard to come by online. Cable modems and DSL lines made it faster and more convenient to start downloading software, with less lag and connection problems.
All that was left to do was to earn trust, which started happening in 1999. That was the year that Microgaming, in an effort to show the honesty of most online casinos, struck an agreement with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the most famous and honest accounting firms in the world. PWC agreed to start auditing the online casinos’ payout percentages, to prove that they did indeed payout large sums of money- in many cases, more than Las vegas casinos.
Because of all of these developments, the new millennium started the Golden Age for online casinos. The first IPO for online casino stock became available, more jurisdictions came online and the first Progressive Jackpots awarded millions to lucky customers. Business was booming.
Soon after, Poker started to dominate the airwaves, and Poker Rooms, many affiliated with online casinos, became all the rage. With the boom in online poker Room technology, the online casino industry took in billions in 2004, with profits expected to triple and maybe even quadruple by 2010.
Unfortunately, there will continue to be much more to write about online casino history later. This is because the industry continues to have opposition in many camps, which shows no sign of stopping. People like Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona introduce bill after bill trying to shut down online casinos, make it illegal for us citizens to play at them, or at least ban US credit cards from being used to fund online casino gambling.
Though none of these measures has ever passed, they continue to be introduced. With the surge in popularity lately, though, it does not seem like they will make much headway. Hopefully, this means that the next chapter of online casino history has more bright spots than legal ones.
Online casinos can be a very overwhelming experience for the newbie player. Even people who have played in casinos before may feel a bit concerned about playing online. However, online casinos are not much different than their traditional counterparts, as many online casino websites strive to replicate the real life experience as accurately as possible.
Before registering for any casino website, players should do some basic research and read reviews for the casino. Be on the lookout for casinos that exist solely to swindle players out of their money, because as everyone knows, online scammers are rampant. A simple Internet search will warrant players many reviews based on game play, functionality, reputation, and customer service. All of these elements should be well researched before the player submits their personal and financial information.
Additionally, read the website’s terms, conditions, and policies carefully. If these documents sound convoluted and confusing, consider calling their customer support line and asking a few questions. Having a proper customer service center reassures the player that they know where to go and who to contact if they are to run into any issues.
Once a player has found an online casino website they like and trust, they can then continue on to registering and setting up their account. This should be fairly simple and have clear, concise instructions on what to do. Once the account is set up, the player can then move onto the game play. Just like a traditional casino, online casino websites offer a range of games. Some websites offer a larger selection of games while others specialize in just a few. This should be taken into account when choosing your online casino.
Players should then be sure to read the rules of the game, as there may be some slight differences for online play. The online versions of these games are not much different than their original versions. Basic rules still apply, though some game play mechanics and nuances (such as tapping a blackjack table to hit) are impossible to replicate via the internet. Reading the rules and familiarizing yourself with the software or user interface will help smooth the transition for even long-term traditional players.
Additionally, for experienced players, some strategies may need to be altered. For instance in poker, one of the most common strategies is reading your opponents in order to find if they are bluffing or to simply understand what sort of player they are. For online poker play, this element is rather difficult to replicate, so players may need to develop new strategies in order to come out on top. There are many resources available on the internet regarding tactics aimed at helping people with online casino games.
Whether you’re an experienced player or a newbie to the entire scene, online casinos may be a scary frontier to adventure alone. However, with the right knowledge under their belt, players can easily be just as successful in an online casino as a traditional casino, all from the comfort of their own home.