The shift to online play has forever transformed the casino landscape, leading to new variants of classic games and some entirely new formats. In the space of a couple of decades, online casinos have rapidly developed on the back of evolving technology and improved broadband infrastructure.
Interested to learn more about how the developed of theย casino onlineย unfolded? Read on as we explore the history of online casinos and the details of their growth from the 1990s to now.
The birth of the online concept
Casinos had been around for centuries by the end of the 20th century, along with many of their classic table games. But the advent of the internet saw the landscape shift, as plenty of industries began dipping their toes in the idea of an online offering.
It wasnโt until the mid-90s that the concept of online casinos became more than a pipedream. The technology needed to develop enough for sites to offer players a secure and stable platform, along with finding ways to adapt games like Blackjack and Roulette into a digital format.
Microgaming โ a software company โ is widely credited with the creation of the first fully functional online casino platform in 1994. It wasnโt long before more competition arrived on the scene, even though many of these early sites could only offer basic graphics and suffered from slow internet connections.
Growing in the new millennium
By the early 2000s, technology had already advanced significantly, helping to improve the look and user experience of online casinos. As internet connectivity also improved, with an ever-growing number of households hooked up to the internet, this encouraged the continued growth of the online platform.
At the same time, Poker saw a major boom in popularity as more players became aware of the card game through televised games and popular culture.
With better graphics, animations and sound effects at their disposal, developers were encouraged to create new varieties of classic casino games. Many new Slots also appeared online, no longer having to compete for floor space in land-based venues.
Mobile optimisation and fusion games
In the space of another decade, online casinos had to adapt to the introduction of new devices including smartphones and tablets. The number of players accessing games through mobile devices grew sharply, leading existing sites to quickly begin optimising themselves for these platforms.
Plus, some online casinos even created dedicated apps so that players no longer had to rely on web browsers.
Alongside this, an entirely different format of games began to debut โ live casino games. These feature a live dealer who handles physical game components in a studio, all streamed directly to online players. The fusion of elements of online play and live play allowed for a fresh spin on classic table games, as well as the rise of game show-inspired games.
Technology is never static for long, so it only seems likely that online casinos will see even more changes in the years ahead. Who knows what new developments could be in store and how they could shift the way players access casino games online?
