Few people can imagine a world without the internet. It has irrevocably changed how humans live and continues to do so with each technological advance. With immediate access to information, entertainment, and money-making opportunities, a life without the internet seems almost impossible to imagine.
The online gambling industry has seen unprecedented growth in the last decade, becoming legalized in some American states in recent years. But where did it all begin?
Early web casinos
Most early web casinos were based in Antigua and Barbados as its laws permitted the granting of licenses for online casinos to operate. Microgaming was an early online gambling pioneer. This software provider is credited with revolutionizing the industry and paving the road for today’s sophisticated programs in modern internet gambling sites.
Indeed, Microgaming remains an industry giant today, with a reputation as a trusted software provider. Its programs range the gamut of gambling activities from casino games to live poker rooms.
The rise of sports betting
In the 1990s, InterTops operated an online sportsbook, with many operators following in its footsteps. Once sports betting regulations were relaxed in America, unprecedented growth in this industry followed. Today, most operators provide bettors with a user-friendly online sports betting app to streamline their wagering.
Live sports betting is an attractive prospect to avid gamblers and is possible across various websites today. It provides extra excitement and creates attractive odds that could net a massive win for bettors.
Replacing physical casinos
Online gambling is a new business approach. Its rising popularity is unprecedented, but it has yet to surpass numbers at brick-and-mortar facilities such as Station Casinos. This is expected to change as more American states legalize it. At this time, states like Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan have made a complete move online, although their physical facilities still draw thousands of visitors annually.
Many states have legislation in the pipeline to permit online gambling, owing to growing demand from residents and the prospect of substantial tax revenues to boost local economies. These states include New York, Indiana, California, and Massachusetts.
The future of online gambling
Additional competition has substantially promoted growth in US gambling. Operators are pushing the boundaries and thinking outside the box to develop ways to stand out from their competitors. Measures include using free coins and bonuses to entice players to join their sites and offering loyalty incentives to keep players engaged.
Current trends include live dealer games that most players agree bring a thrilling element to casino games like poker. Cutting-edge visuals and graphics mean that today’s games recreate a casino atmosphere wherever players may find themselves. Experts predict that online gambling will continue to see unprecedented growth in years to come as people’s gambling habits change after Covid restrictions.
