The gambling industry has evolved throughout history. Gambling as a form of entertainment dates back to ancient times. While land-based casinos have been ruling the world for ages, online casinos are revolutionizing the industry. So the question is, will casino sites replace land-based casinos?
News Highlights:
- Gambling has evolved so much that it transitioned to the modern online era
- Player behavior changed when online casinos appeared
- The benefits of online gambling raise questions about the future of land-based casinos
When Did Online Casinos Come About?
Gambling was going smoothly in land-based establishments, right until the internet appeared. People would travel to distant destinations to get access to the most lavish casino floors to experience the thrill and excitement of casino games. Las Vegas became the dream destination for many gamblers.
Everything changed in 1994 when the government of Antigua and Barbuda decided to implement the Free Trade & Processing Act. This law allowed operators to apply for a license and create their online casinos.
The First Online Casino
Towards the end of that same year, another milestone happened. Microgaming, the then-small software company, created the first-ever online gambling platform on the Isle of Man.
Soon after, Microgaming created the first-of-its-kind, fully functioning online casino called The Gaming Club. Back then, the casino site was very different from those we can play today, but it still offered players the chance to play games online.
Real Money Casino Transactions
A year later, CryptoLogic invented the first real money transaction system over the internet. It was the missing piece to creating a real money online casino, revolutionizing gambling for good. CryptoLogic launched InterCasino, where players could gamble online for real money.
The Role of the Internet in Online Gambling
Since casino players were now able to join an online casino and play from the commodity of their homes, they started playing their favorite games online.
Players saw they were cutting back on travel and accommodation expenses, they had more time to gamble, and they had the chance to do it on their terms. This provided them with the convenience they needed and helped the industry continue evolving.
New casinos appeared, new games were released, and new players were joining. The industry was flourishing, but so was the competition. Thanks to the internet and its magical powers, developers and operators were able to innovate, create unique content and solutions, and keep raising the bar.
High Tech Online Gambling
Today, you can play at online casinos with virtual reality gadgets, and you can even experience augmented reality gambling. Playing on your mobile device has become the new norm. Thanks to HTML5 technology, you can access any online casino via any browser, with seamless speed and performance.
Online casinos have even created dedicated apps for any operating system, so you can download them if you’d prefer to. This is only scratching the surface. There’s so much more happening in the industry today and more to happen in the future.
Benefits of Online Gambling
Players around the globe log in to online casinos every day, whether it is to play for fun or real money. Check out some of the reasons why members enjoy playing at online casinos.
- Convenience
Being able to play on the go is one of the main advantages of online gambling sites. You can play at home, at a bar, on your laptop, or your smartphone.
- Variety of Bonuses
Many land-based casinos give bonuses, but online casino bonuses are really something. No deposit bonuses, welcome packages, free spins, and tournaments are some of the offers online players can find.
- Game Selection
One top online casino can offer more game types than any land-based casino can. Whether it’s online slots, table games, scratch cards, bingo, live dealer, or sports betting, you can have all these games in one site.
Where Does This Leave Land-Based Casinos?
Previously, when only online video games existed, players lacked that real-life casino atmosphere. With the creation of live casino games, everything changed. Thanks to the high-tech solutions, developers have brought land-based gambling and all of its thrill much closer to players.
When you load a live casino game, you are greeted by a real-life dealer, who communicates with you and the other players and deals the cards. Via multiple cameras, you can see the table from various angles. Talk about an authentic land-based casino experience!
Judging by the fact that developers have put in a lot of effort into bringing land-based casinos online, it’s safe to say these sites will not replace brick-and-mortar casinos. Many people still enjoy visiting land-based casinos for the thrill that only real-life casinos can provide.
