📜 The Early Days of Online Gambling (1990s)
-
📅 1994: Antigua and Barbuda
Event Details First Licensing Antigua and Barbuda became the first jurisdiction to issue licenses for online gambling, paving the way for future operators. -
📅 1996: Online Casino Launch
Event Details Casino on the Internet The first online casino, InterCasino, launched, offering a variety of games and attracting players worldwide.
📈 Growth and Regulation (2000s)
-
📅 2003: Emergence of Poker Rooms
Event Details Online Poker Boom Partypoker and other sites gained popularity, leading to a massive increase in online poker enthusiasts. -
📅 2006: Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
Event Details Regulatory Challenge The UIGEA was enacted in the US, making it illegal for banks to process transactions from online gambling sites, impacting US-based operators.
🌍 Global Expansion (2010s)
-
📅 2011: Full Tilt Poker Controversy
Event Details Site Shutdown Full Tilt Poker faced legal actions, leading to its closure and highlighting the need for regulatory reform in online gambling. -
📅 2013: New Legislation in New Jersey
Event Details Regulated Online Gambling New Jersey legalized online gambling, becoming one of the first states in the US to do so, revitalizing the market.
🚀 The Modern Era (2020s)
-
📅 2020: Rise of Mobile Gambling
Event Details Mobile Accessibility The increase in smartphone usage drove the popularity of mobile gambling apps, enhancing user experience and accessibility. -
📅 2021: Cryptocurrency and Blockchain
Event Details Payment Innovations The integration of cryptocurrencies in online casinos offered players a secure and anonymous way to gamble.