Online Gambling: How it All Began

Gambling has been around for ages, ever since ancient royalty started betting on the outcome of wars. Even specific games like poker have their roots in ancient times. The first incarnation of the popular card game was seen in 12th Century Europe. Since then, gambling gained such a widespread following that entire venues were established, completely dedicated to the pastime, but how did we get from massive, flashy land-based casinos to being able to play the exact same games from desktop computers?

It was 1994, and the no one had expected that new invention called the “internet” to become so popular. The World Wide Web had been around for just over a year and people were using it to connect with other people, go shopping and handle their banking. It was only a matter of time that casino operators saw the benefit of brining gambling to into the homes of gamers via the internet.

In 1994, the Free Trade and Processing Zone Act was passed, granting licenses to operators who wanted to open casinos on the web. That very year, casino software developers Microgaming and Cryptologic were established, and soon began working on programs that would allow individuals to play casino games and wager money from their computers at home.

Finally, after two long years of hard work, Microgaming and Cryptologic opened InterCasino, the first online casino to ever open its doors to the general public and accept actual cash deposits. However, the casino met with criticism concerning the safety and security of the website. It wasn’t until 1999 that Microgaming first enlisted in the help or PriceWaterHouse Coopers to audit their payout practices and publish their findings. Many more online casinos started to pick up on this trend and soon, online casinos became trusted and reputable online institutions and in places like the UK became regulated by the Gambling Commission.

Today, there are literally hundreds of online casinos on the internet and online gambling has become a very popular pastime among individuals all over the world. Because of the multitude of casinos out there it’s very important to read a good online casinos guide to make sure you choose the right casino. Online gambling is now a trusted and viable form of entertainment, bringing the excitement of land-based casinos into the comfort of your own home.