The digital revolution changed how people gamble. Do you know where online gambling technology came from? Read on to find out how the internet gave birth to online casinos.
Gambling dates back centuries to the ‘stone-age period (roughly 11,650 years ago). Experts tell us that the earliest six-sided dice were found in Iraq, dating back to approximately 3300 BCE. The earliest written information about gambling comes from ancient China, where players used makeshift wooden tiles to gamble. Historians say gambling was a part of life in Egypt, Southern Europe (Greece), and Japan.
For millennia, people everywhere have enjoyed the game of chance. Risking something (not always money), hoping to change their luck. Gambling has evolved through the digital revolution to the point where anyone can gamble comfortably from their couch using their mobile devices.
Thanks to live online casinos, you don’t have to drive miles to visit a casino; you can remain on the couch in your pyjamas if you want to. Since the mid-1990s, online casinos have been essential downtime entertainment for those who like gambling.
Online Casinos Offer Convenience and Accessibility
One of the primary drivers behind the rise of online casinos is the convenience. Thanks to live online gambling, you don’t have to go anywhere to play your favourite games; since the mid-1990s, online casinos have been essential downtime entertainment in player’s lives.
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, online casinos are always available, allowing players to enjoy their downtime from anywhere with an internet connection. The convenience and accessibility have democratised gambling, making it functional and inclusive to a broad audience.
Smartphones and tablets have further amplified the appeal, allowing players to carry their most favoured casino games on their person. Mobile betting apps make it easy for players to place bets on the move, whether relaxing at home or commuting from place to place.
The History of Online Casinos
Online gambling traces back to 1994 when online casinos were first conceived in the UK, shifting the focus from the land-based casino to that of the virtual world.
The legal move started with the Free Trade and Processing Zone Act signed in the Caribbean, boosting online casino activity in the UK. After the UK introduced the act, William Hill (888 Holdings) was the first to introduce online casinos to Europe and eventually worldwide.
The UK was not the first to explore this side of the internet, but most of the industry innovations happened in the UK. Microgaming powered the first online casino; the company first developed online casino software in 1994. Microgaming is a privately held gambling software from the Isle of Man.
Despite a meagre attendance rate, the developers remained hopeful because a speedy adoption was unexpected and did not happen realistically until 1995. Though the selection of games was limited, Microgaming was determined to create a future where people could enjoy roulette, blackjack, and slots from their homes.
After Microgaming’s launch, Cryptologic companies began enticing gamblers by offering a transactional system with plenty of opportunities available and a system that would benefit players and allow them to gamble with money, not tokens or imaginary prizes.
Online Casinos in the Twenty-First Century
The growth of online gambling pivoted around the turn of the twenty-first century. The shift from the physical to the virtual world happened rapidly as online casinos seized the opportunity to provide a global service. Investors in the industry realised that this was the way forward, resulting in a significant increase in the popularity of online casinos in the 2000s.
2000 also saw the launch of several new online casinos, which have new updated technology and more impressive software. As a result, the industry became popular and highly competitive. To compete, several casinos started giving large bonuses to new players and offering loyalty programs to their current consumers.
Software Updates Keep Online Casinos Fresh
The online casino software is updated regularly to keep up with new technologies. Developers constantly offer new features to attract more customers. In the mid to end of the 00s, developers integrated themed slots, progressive jackpots, and multiplayer casino games, a real-time dealer experience, among other themes, to improve the appeal and growth of online gambling.
One of the setbacks online gambling has overcome is the suspicion that the house is cheating. Online casinos often use blockchain technology to ensure fair play. Today’s online casino industry is incredibly well-regulated, but that wasn’t always the case.
Slot Machines and Fair Play
To go one step further, let’s take a detailed look at slot machines as an example of fair play. Each machine has a built-in RNG (random number generator), which, when activated, runs through many thousands of numerical combinations. By pressing a button or pulling the handle in a land-based casino, the RNG system produces the result, with the player aiming to hit a matching combination of numbers (or symbols).
Land-based slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos use actual hard-wired RNG, ensuring a random result. In contrast, online slot machines use a pseudo RNG system, which is algorithm-based to provide RNG outcomes. The online pseudo-RNG is random and cannot be manipulated by the house.
Winning combinations usually require three matching slots, but the ways to win will depend on the design and manufacture of the slot machine. Some machines need three matching symbols for a win, while others use four or even five matches for a winning payline. The format you choose is a matter of personal preference, and we are sure you will agree online casinos have come a long way since the 17th century when the first land-based casino appeared in Venice.
The difference between the two types of slots is how you pay to play them. Brick-and-mortar casinos have machines that require a coin or token before you can gamble, while online slots use digital wallets that you load with currency. Read about payment methods for Indian Casinos 2023 here – www.masterofcasinos.com/payment-methods/.
Are Online Casinos Safe?
In the mid-90s, when online casinos were in their infancy, several untrustworthy online gambling operators existed to scam players. So, while online casinos have been licensed and regulated in the US since 2013, there was a large gap between the digital birth of online gambling and tight regulation. So, it’s unsurprising that players are wary of online casinos even right now after all the checks and balances of a modern online establishment.
Nowadays, as long as you stick to large organisations with well-known operators, your money is safe as the big players are regularly audited, and the software used is above board and offers random algorithms that mean the house cannot cheat.
Online Casinos from 2004 onwards
Four years into the millennium, online casinos were well established. However, only a few countries have embraced online gambling, with other nations deciding to either ban them or simply fail to legislate clearly, creating uncertainty and confusion to put off players.
By the middle of the decade, 2005, broadband was introduced in the US, creating easy network connectivity in combination with ever-faster and inventive central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) in home-use desktop PCs.
Rather than struggling with dial-up internet access and sluggish browsers, gambling fans began to see the potential of online sites, and game developers also took advantage of these improvements by making technically complex, graphically engaging games.
Technology at Online Casinos Today
As technology improves, so do online casinos. Techs such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have altered how we use online casinos. Many online casinos offer new and engaging gameplay using headsets to provide an enhanced gambling experience. VR and AR offer ultra-realistic interactive wagering and a realistic playing experience.
The new and improved casino technology ensures that players have a 360-degree view of the online environment. At the same time, the smartphone or PC screen provides the immersive appearance of a brick-and-mortar casino. Imagine you could be playing blackjack in Foxwoods Resort Casino or the Pechanga Resort & Casino without actually leaving your home.
Artificial Intelligence Takes Over Online Gambling
Artificial intelligence has changed the face of online casinos since its mainstream adoption in 2020, and the roll-out of ChatGPT and OpenAI has revolutionised the way games are produced.
Substantial changes have provided more intelligent and much more compelling gameplay. AI has elevated high-tech designs and real-life casino rooms, offering a similar but improved environment to play your favourite game.
Artificial intelligence guarantees that participants get the best of both worlds in digital format, making gambling more immersive and enjoyable.
What to Expect from Online Casinos in the Future
The metaverse will try to expand its online side of the gambling industry. You will find some gamification in nearly every aspect of the metaverse right now. The metaverse offers players an immersive, interconnected virtual space enhanced by AI. While it has many uses, gaming has gained massive popularity within the metaverse.
Anyone can gamble at a metaverse casino, and players are not required to identify themselves. Instead, creating virtual avatars is how other metaverse users view players. Players need two components to gamble in the metaverse – a crypto wallet and some digital tokens.
Players with little identification should raise huge red flags as the system is open to abuse. However, the metaverse says its checks are rigorous. Gaming can be fun in the right conditions, but to play safe, we would steer away from avatar-based gaming.
