Gambling is one of the oldest activities enjoyed by humans throughout the ages. There is evidence of gambling in writings and equipment found in tombs and other places. It seems as if games of chance were as popular a millennia ago as today’s online gambling sites and gambling houses.
Some countries, like China, still prohibit gambling as they did over 4,000 years ago, and although there is no longer a Roman Empire, Italy is not too keen on gambling either.
In Ancient Egypt, gambling was an offence against the Pharaoh. If you got caught gambling in Ancient Egypt, a sentence to the forced labour camps awaited.
Gambling has always been a part of our history, becoming a well-established and recognised recreational activity only around the 20th century when the first commercial gambling houses and dens opened.
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Gambling in the United States
The United States has always had a see-saw relationship with gambling, dating back to the first European settlers arrived. The Puritan bands of settlers banned gambling totally in their settlements, but those who emigrated from England had a more lenient view.
In 1910 public pressure led to a nationwide prohibition on gambling, although it was difficult to enforce, and gambling continued more discreetly.
In the 1930s, the United States suffered the Great Depression and The Wall Street Crash leading to the legalisation of gambling again. For many, gambling was the only way they had a chance of climbing out of poverty.
Today, gambling is legal in several states, most famously in Las Vegas and Nevada. However, online gambling in the United States is a grey area, with many online casinos unable to accept American players, although the country is changing its views about internet gambling.
Everyone Enjoys a Gambling Game
The internet is over two decades old. That simple fact means that an entire generation has never known what it’s like to be without this commodity. It is almost impossible for some people to imagine what life could be like without access to the internet, and as long as the internet exists, there will be gambling.
Whether playing cards or watching the spin of a roulette wheel to see if the ball lands in the chosen pocket, most of us have enjoyed a gambling game of some kind.
The internet has given rise to many online businesses, one of the most successful being the online gambling industry. In 2022 we have the choice of thousands of sites dedicated to online gambling. Internet sites range from online casinos where a Random Number Generator (RNG) deals virtual playing cards, rolls the virtual dice and spins virtual reels and wheels to sportsbooks and informational gambling sites that review and rank new online casinos.
Online gambling businesses began appearing in the 1990s when the internet was making progress. Then, many land-based industries were transferring their operations online. The online gambling industry was one of the first and has reaped the benefits ever since.
The first online casino was launched in 1994, although there is no data naming which casino it was and whether it still exists. We know that Microgaming’s partnership with Cryptologic to launch the first online gambling site in the same year as one of the first offshore licensing jurisdictions, Antigua and Barbuda, passed its Free Trade and Processing Act.
The passing of the Free Trade and Processing Act allowed online gambling sites to apply for a license and open offices there. However, today this licensing jurisdiction is associated with corrupt and rogue online gambling casinos.
The Rise of Online Gambling
In the 1990s, online gambling was nothing like today’s experience. The quality of games was poor compared to today but sufficient for the 90s. However, only one or two early online casinos have survived, the oldest in operation dating from around 1996.
In 1998 the first online poker sites emerged, great news for those who love playing cards and a boost to the online gambling market worth $830 million. Since then, there have been many sites, some of which evolved, some that folded. Those at the top of their game use the most up-to-date software, offering a fully immersive experience in a safe and secure environment.
In Conclusion
From the United States to Europe, Asia and throughout the world, those that love gambling games, playing cards or shooting dice can do so online as long as they have a solid internet connection. We all lead busy lives and being able to play our favourite gambling game on the go ticks all the boxes.
Games are now playable over all platforms reaching many more potential players worldwide. They are fully immersive and offered in all genres and themes, so there will be something to suit every style and taste.
