And then there was Microgaming...
Today, anyone with a personal computer and modem can play their favorite casino games for real money, just by the click of their mouse. Yet the technology required to make online gambling a reality took years to develop, and as such it has changed dramatically since it was first introduced in 1995.
The world's first ever online casino, Internet Casinos, Inc., was launched a year after the world's first ever online casino software was developed. Considering that it was the first, Internet Casinos, Inc. was actually quite advanced with regards to its variety. It featured 18 different casino games, online sportsbetting, and even access to the National Indian Lottery.
1994 was the year that Microgaming was established, and the release of their exclusive software sparked other industry investors to get their piece of the cake too. Between 1995 and the year 2000, some of the industry's most recognized online casino software developers were born, including Cryptologic, 888 Holdings Plc and Playtech. Each company brought a different feel of online casino gambling to the table via their software, and each enjoyed their own success as online casino gambling around the world began to take off radically.
Major contributions to online casino technology development
Microgaming headed the software development industry by releasing the latest online casino technologies before the rest. In 1995, only a year after their establishment, they had developed a player tracking system and various management tools for online casino operators. 4 years later they released PlayCheck, an online audit technology for commissioning and auditing reports on online casino payout percentages. That same year, Cryptologic had signed a deal with William Hill to launch a virtual version of its casino, representing the first land-based operator to establish an online platform for its casino. This earned Cryptologic a spot on the NASDAQ National Market 12 months later.
The first ever flash based online casino was launched in 2000 when Microgaming released Web Casino. The company continued to head developments in technology as it ventured into 2001 with the world's first fully localized multi-language online casino system. Simultaneously, Cryptologic and Playtech were hard at work trying to keep up; Cryptologic signed a deal with the UK famous Littlewoods Gaming, and Playtech struck a contract with Swiss Casino as the first with an existing online operator.
2002 was full of surprises for many of the companies. Cryptologic made some significant strides in the industry, the first of which being certified in the Isle of Man - making it the first company to adhere to regulatory standards similar to those of land-based casinos. It also introduced online casino gambling in multi-currency, and launched the fist ever Java version of casino games. Alongside all this was also the development of the first poker and bingo sites.
Playtech was just as hard at work that year, launching for the first time some of today's most important online casino gambling features, including live online support, the refer-a-friend bonus, online gambling addiction prevention tools, multi-line slots and even the Blackjack Switch. Casino Solei, Europe's first land-based casino to go online, was also taken on board by Playtech. And to top off 2002 with a bang, Microgaming set a world record with the largest ever jackpot won online - over $1,500,000 via their still popular Major Millions.
And to make the journey into 2003 that much sweeter, Playtech launched the internet's first real time videostreamed online casino gambling product, featuring live dealers and 1-on-1 chat between players.
To infinity and beyond!
Today there are over 160 companies providing online casino software solutions. This not only proves how much the industry has boomed over the last decade, yet shows the extent to which continuing to develop innovative technologies is important to each company and the industry as a whole. The most recent development to have experienced major success is mobile casino gambling, making the activity even more accessible and user friendly than ever before. Other more recent developments have also been launched, including rapid roulette - a physical roulette wheel with a live dealer, yet touch screen technology to place bets via video screens in remote locations, and blackjack based video poker games - featuring a live dealer and real chips over a video screen.
Clearly, the development opportunities are endless. Each day companies are discovering more and more ways to integrate different forms of communication to make online casino gambling bigger and better, and the sky's the limit when it comes to new innovations!
