Gambling, one of the most popular hobbies in the world, has also taken the internet world by storm, with the iGaming business experiencing some of the highest growth rates in history over the last two years. As we remained inside due to lockdowns and quarantines, more individuals resorted to online gambling as a new alternative of online entertainment, and iGaming businesses reported an increase in the number of new and returning consumers.
With the number of online casinos reaching an all-time high, the opportunity to play casino classics like roulette, blackjack, poker, and even game shows lured online bettors from all over the globe in 2021, as online gambling became one of the most popular online hobbies. If iGaming was formerly seen to be a shady business, it is now recognized as an essential component of the online entertainment sector.
It’s also clear that iGaming was one of the entertainment markets that most benefited from technology advancements in recent years. What started as simple games with rudimentary graphics on MS-DOS has evolved into complex platforms with a multitude of gaming offerings and graphics that provide an authentic casino experience. The emergence of mobile gaming, and the introduction of technologies such as live streaming and virtual reality has completely transformed the industry.
If we’re able today to play our favorite table games and even enjoy real-time gaming through live streams, it’s because developers and operators pushed the envelope to provide us with improved gameplay and safer platforms. In this article, we’re taking a look at this brief history of casino gaming, from its early steps on MS-DOS to the first online casinos and finally all the breakthroughs brought by the 21st century.
MS-DOS beginnings
It may be hard to believe, but it’s been almost 40 years since the release of the Microsoft Disk Operating System, or MS-DOS. The very idea of MS-DOS gaming may bring back floods of memories for 80s and 90s kids, especially all the great games we used to keep. MS-DOS games were the real deal back then, with titles ranging from Lost Vikings to Doom and many more.
The first casino video games came up in this scenario. And even though there were plenty of options available, such as Caesars Palace and Vegas Gambler, graphics and sound effects were still rudimentary, and game options were limited to slots and a few card games. Even Donald Trump tried his hand at casino video games, with the release of two MS-DOS games named after his hotel-casino in Atlantic City: Trump Castle: The Ultimate Casino Gambling Simulation and Trump Castle 2.
With the introduction of more complex and sophisticated operating systems like Windows and Mac OS, casino video games became more enticing, with better graphics and gameplay, but there was still no money involved, since at the time financial transactions over computers were not possible. We would only see major changes with the emergence of the Internet.
The first online casinos
Following the early 1990s internet boom, online casinos arose thanks to platforms established by two industry pioneers: Microgaming's innovative online gambling software and CryptoLogic's platform for online casino money transfers. These two businesses teamed up to develop InterCasino, widely regarded as the world's first online casino.
After that, a slew of new online casinos sprung up, and by the end of 1996, there were about 15 casino-focused gaming sites. However, due to technological limitations at the time, game selection was still restricted, with most operators merely offering slot machines.
As personal computers became more dependable devices and internet connections became quicker, iGaming developers and operators began pushing for upgrades and innovations, focusing on the introduction of new games, enhanced graphics, and gameplay improvements. As a result, additional casino games such as roulette and blackjack were soon created, and by 1997, there were over 200 casino websites with a diverse selection of games.
Recent advancements
In the late 2000s, the HTML5 programming language was introduced, allowing developers to create new codes that could be used on a variety of platforms and devices, leading iGaming operators to provide these games on both desktop and mobile devices. The vast majority of online casinos are now mobile-friendly, with some even offering apps for iPhone and Android devices.
However, today one of the most attractive features of online casinos is the ability to play live games. Unlike typical online casino games, which rely only on random number generators, live dealer games are handled and operated by professional croupiers and broadcast to players from land-based casinos or high-end studios.
The increased application of streaming technology and services in the early 2010s enabled this trend, as live dealer games significantly altered the way we play traditional casino games online. We may now participate in a live game of roulette, blackjack, or even game shows like Monopoly Live and Dream Catcher, and communicate with the dealer and other players, rather than merely watching automated gameplay.
