Las Vegas, the city of wonders. The city reminds us of casinos. Every gambling enthusiast dreams of visiting the Vegas Strip at least once in their lifetimes. But did you know, the boom in the online casino industry is largely influenced by it?
In this post, we’re going to explore the history of Las Vegas gambling and how it has set the course for the iGaming industry for years to come.
Las Vegas: Where it Rains Real Money
The Las Vegas we know today was founded way back in 1905. This small area in Nevada was just there as a train stop between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. If you know the legend of ‘Vingt-et-un’, you know how Madam Dumont reigned in this area with her gambling parlor.
Until 1931, gambling was highly prohibited by the government. But the 1931 state legislation opened the door of Las Vegas for all gamblers across the world. The economy of the city is almost entirely dependent on the casino industry and it all started back then.
El Rancho is credited to be the first hotel casino in Las Vegas. It was formed by Tommy Hull who managed a license from the authority to do so. The area that we know as the Vegas Strip was home to El Rancho and it brought many other businessmen to pursue the same dream.
Up until 1970, Las Vegas was nothing but a gambling destination. But during that time, a trend of converting casinos into mega resorts started taking place and the world’s outlook toward this city changed forever. Now, it’s the gambling capital of the world as well as the best place to spend the holidays with your friends and family.
Las Vegas and Online Casinos
Let’s face it. Not all governments in the world are equally forgiving to gambling. But we all love the thrill and risk associated with gambling. But we can’t just fly to Vegas for a few slots or to spin the roulette! Especially when we are not from the USA.
This problem alone led to the invention of online casinos. In 1994, the first online casino was introduced by Microgaming named ‘Gaming Club Online Casino’. It housed the most popular casino games like Blackjack, Craps, Video poker, different roulette games , and so on.
Microgaming started a new era for the casino industry. As the internet was getting better every year, developers tried even more to make every home a probable casino!
You didn’t need to leave your home and visit Las Vegas to bet against a Blackjack dealer. You didn’t have to spend thousands of dollars in food and stay to win a few hundred from the slot machines. The destiny of online casinos was decided then and there.
Fast forward to today, the online betting industry is valued at over 100 billion! As massive as it already is, experts anticipate that it will keep increasing exponentially. While Las Vegas still remains the first choice for hardcore casino lovers, online casinos have filled the void more than we could ever imagine.
The Scope of Online Gambling
In most cases, the online experience is not as good as the physical one. For example, you don’t get the same thrill by watching videos of Hawaii when compared to actually visiting it!
And it was true for the online casino industry as well. The internet was not at its best during the late 1990s and early 2000s. So, people still felt the need for another Las Vegas.
Security was also an issue. People didn’t feel as safe on the internet as they did at a real casino. And it led to the birth of regulatory bodies like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Financial Services and Gaming, etc. Now, online casinos are properly licensed and regulated to ensure your safety as a player. Just like the casinos in Vegas!
But the second decade of the 21st century was the time to write history. The technology allowed online operators to take the experience years ahead of its time.
And now, the online casinos are even better than the real thing! Most online casinos are packed with bonuses and promotions that physical casinos hardly offer. And it’s understandable. Brick and mortar casinos have operating costs more than online ones.
Arabic online casinos are attracting new players every day by lucrative casino bonuses. A welcome bonus is what you get when you sign up at an online casino and make your first deposit. Then there are deposit bonuses.
Introduction of Live Casinos
Although online casino games and slots were very lucrative to most, a huge chunk of people still missed the human touch. There is something magical about a professional dealer dealing with the cards. And this concept was fundamental to the introduction of live casinos.
Online operators now utilize the latest technology to stream live games like Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, and many others with real dealers. The technology used is so advanced that the players can interact with the dealer to dictate their next move!
It was monumental in pushing the boundaries for casinos online because now casino players don’t have anything to complain about. They get the slots just like the ones in Vegas. They get the live dealer just as professional and educated as to the best casinos. And they get top-class customer service.
Online Casino Games
The games library you get at online casinos is even better than in Las Vegas. While the concept is inspired, developers have taken things a notch higher. Apart from all the classic 3-reel slots, you have the video slots and jackpots to shape your luck. The graphics on modern games are far better than what you would find in real casinos. Then there are the table games where the best software providers compete to feature their variant to you.
Final Words
Being a casino enthusiast and living in the 21st century is a blessing. If you have any experience in iGaming you know how glamorous it is. You get the opportunity to enjoy gambling at your fingertips, without leaving the home!
And it’s all thanks to Las Vegas for showing the world the potential for gambling.
