The History of Online Gaming
Online gaming evolves into a booming industry in less than 20 years.
Online gaming hit the scene in the 1990s, beginning with Microgaming in 1994, the first company to provide the software that makes online gaming possible. After Microgaming, an entire industry was formed to serve the online gaming community, however the software pioneer continues to be in the top spot for quality gaming.
See how the online gaming industry has progressed throughout the years:
- 1995 – CryptoLogic was the next software company to join the online gaming community. The first casino launched to lead the way for more. InterCasino provided players the first outlet for online gaming.
- 2000 – Online gaming began spreading to United Kingdom territories. The first host countries were Gibraltar and Isle of Man, which expanded the industry’s ability to offer licensing in sports betting. CryptoLogic earns its own ticker symbol on the NASDAQ exchange and maps the path for other companies.
- 2005 – The industry gravitates toward England to offer a new market for European gamers. It makes its way onto the London Stock Exchange. PartyGaming made a statement by entering the FTSE 100. A new winning record was set in progressive jackpot play to the tune of $2 million. The amount replaced the former $1 million purse. The industry is able to make bigger payouts because of a loyal player following.
- 2010 – Online gaming shows a growth rate of 12.5 percent. Players are spending 10 percent more hours per week online, according to a market research company. Payment options begin to expand and online gaming is now available in countries such as, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and Finland.
