A Timeline of Online Gambling

A Timeline of Online Gambling

By Alex J. Coyne © 2017 For Great Bridge Links

Ever stop to think how online gambling got its start? We were wondering about that, too! Here’s a closer look at online gambling from its start in the early-90s to where we are today – full of firsts, jackpots and record-wins. Here goes…

1994:

Antigua and Barbuda was apparently one of the first countries to pass regulations specifically pertaining to online gambling; of course, gambling is still legal there today. Maybe it’s time for a vacation…

1996:

InterCasino opens, becoming the first online casino to go live; they’re based in the UK, and still exist today. Visit their official website for more information.

1998:

Planet Poker opens, becoming the first online for-cash poker room. The site is still active today, though now it’s geared towards poker rules instead.

1998:

UK-based online gambling provider Bingo Blitz goes live.

1998:

Microgaming develops and launches the first ever online slot machine called Cash Splash; there are still plenty places where you can play it, too!

1999:

The US attempts to introduce the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which would have aimed to make online gambling illegal for US citizens – lucky for gamblers, the bill doesn’t go through.

1999:

The Kahnawake Gaming Comission is started in 1999 (some sources state 1998) and becomes one of the first regulatory bodies for online gambling; they are based in Canada.

2001:

PokerStars is founded in Costa Rica on the 11th of September of this year,

2003:

Casino for Charities launches in the UK and claims to be the first online gambling provider offering the takings to a charity of the player’s choice.

2009:

Viktor Blom, also known as Isildur1, made poker history when he took part in all of the largest online poker pots at that point in time.

2010:

A law is passed in New Jersey to legalize certain forms of online gambling; this makes it the first of its kind for the US.

2013:

A mysterious internet stranger named Nakowa became the largest Bitcoin win in history after taking home 11, 000 bitcoin through Just-Dice.com. 

2014:

The D and Golden Gate Casinos in Las Vegas become the first casinos to accept payment in Bitcoin – though, apparently not for gambling with for some reason. 2014 also saw the casinos getting their own Bitcoin ATM’s. The way of the future, eh?

2015:

Jon Heywood wins the largest ever online slot jackpot (€17,879,645), a UK-citizen playing Microgaming’s Mega Moolah. 

2017:

MGM launches the first MGM-branded online casino website called ‘playMGM’, which also offers sports betting through their playMGM app.

2017:

Australia sees online gambling and sports betting banned after the passing of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill.

2017:

After the lifting of a ban on online gambling apps by Google, 888 Casino becomes the first to showcase their (for cash) gambling apps back on Google Play.

One of the top online casino gambling sites is Mr. Bet. They provide the latest games including new online slots.You’ll enjoy your time on the website – it’s nicely designed and offers lots of information and an affiliate program. Mr. Bet is owned by Faro Entertainment N.V.