Online gambling seems like a new phenomenon, yet it was introduced in 1994 by a small company called Microgaming. The company developed online casino software and launched it shortly. Also, in 1995, Cryptologic developed an application for secure online money transfer. Since then, online gambling has grown to become a phenomenon. The industry has massively grown in both numbers and financial terms.
Consequently, the number of internet gambling websites has increased massively over the years. Poker was widely adopted in online casinos, starting from a poker site created in 1998 called Planet Poker. The gambling site was quite popular after introducing Texas Hold’em to online gambling.
Follow Chat Sports on YouTube for the latest NFL, NBA and college football news & rumors!
Since the introduction of online gambling in 1994, a lot has changed over the years. Here are some of the notable changes:
Technology
Online gambling is driven by technological advancement. Some significant technological innovations include mobile gambling, virtual/augmented reality (VR), and new products such as live betting. Mobile betting was introduced in 2003 in a UK site called “The Betting Place” when a 3G connection was attained. Gamblers could place their choices with five bookmakers from their phones. Now, smartphone owners can download different poker apps, and mobile gambling counts for more than half of online gambling.
Technology has brought new products such as 3D, video slots, and live betting while improving the existing services through VR and AR. With VR headsets such as Oculus Rift, online players can have a realistic experience as if they are in a brick and mortar casino.
More sites and games
One of the most significant changes in the last two decades is the sheer amount of choice that modern players have. There are unlimited betting sites. New betting sites such as Casinomatcher.com provide different choices in a modern website that adds to the superior online gaming experience. Online casinos face stiff competition, and they use technology to gain a competitive advantage and stand out.
Online casinos now cover all types of sports betting events and serve different betting markets. Betting is no longer limited to major sports events, and clients can bet on anything.
Payment
Online gambling payment was not always fast and easy as it is today. In the 1990s, a few credit card processing companies could support an online betting account. Fast forward to 2020, when online players have different payment choices to support their online gambling.
E-wallets started in 1998 with PayPal, then Neteller and Moneybookers came a few years later. Many E-wallets platforms transfer funds instantly from the bettor’s account to the bookmaker or an online casino. Players prefer prepaid solutions such as Paysafecard.
Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency are also accepted in online gambling as they allow for faster transactions.
Conclusion
In just two decades, online gambling has grown from a few websites to $50 billion.
There is fierce competition in the market, with new players taking advantage of technology to give better services to their customers. As technology continues to improve, the online gambling industry will also evolve to provide better services to customers.