With the creation of the internet in the early 80s, it was only a matter of time for casinos to get their games onto the internet. It was not until the late 90s when online casinos were made. Back then, online casinos weren’t trusted because of uncertainties with players putting their card details into a computer screen.
It was a matter of time before players began to trust online casinos, and now they are as popular as traditional land-based casinos. Online casinos are so popular now because of the added benefits players get when they sign up. Great marketing and promotions are what’s got online casinos on the map.
History of Online Casinos
The first online casino was made in 1996 and was named InterCasino. The online casino took its first bets in 1996 and was the start of what would become a multibillion industry in America alone.
1996 also marks the establishment of NetEnt, one of the best online casino game developers in the world. In 1996, they developed some amazing games that really pushed the online casino world forward.
Without NetEnt we would be missing out on some amazing online games. In 1998 the world’s first online poker game was produced and things were flying for the online gambling business. Huge revenues of $834 million were made in 1998, a lot of cash for a newly developed domain.
Let’s roll forward to 2006. This is the year when online gambling was hit and took a nosedive. The U.S government banned online gambling. This threw the online gambling world into a huge mess, with potentially billions of dollars being lost.
It was only until 2012 when the first state in Delaware where online casinos were legalized. In 2013, online gambling began again in the state. Slowly other states began to allow online gambling such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Nevada.
What’s so Good About Online Casinos?
Online casinos have come a long way in the past decade. With these great strides, land-based casinos see fewer players coming in to gamble. That’s because players can open a laptop, tablet, or phone and play from the comfort of their homes. Great marketing online and TV adverts have made online casinos super popular.
You can’t go a day without seeing an advert telling you to come to sign up with the greatest bonuses. The thing is they aren’t lying, the bonuses really are amazing for new players. So here’s the good stuff you can expect from online casinos.
The Interface
Online casinos make it easy for players to navigate around the website. The best parts of the website are visible and placed in eye-catching areas. For instance, you’ll find your profile in the top corners, with the deposit button usually next to it. The deposit buttons are always big and flashy so players can find it to add funds to their accounts.
The best online casinos have glitch-free websites, where everything runs super smoothly. The only time the website runs slow is if the players have to have issues with their devices or internet connections. Profile pages always have all the information about your accounts on them and it’s all in clear view. Honestly, it’s hard to say anything bad about the top online casino interfaces when they are so well-developed.
The Games
Online casino games are some of the best games you can find. There are usually two main games developers that are used online, those are Evolution Gaming and NetEnt. They both provide online casinos with virtual games like blackjack, slots, and many more games, alongside live games.
The live casinos are amazing as they have live dealers and live chats so you can interact with other players. Online games are diverse with 1000s of different types you can find. Slots have different themes so you’ll always find something that looks appealing to the eye. The games are always updated as well so it’s not going to be the same old games popping up.
Return to Player Percentage (RTP)
The RTP for online casinos is much higher than offline casinos. Online casinos will have RTP that can reach as high as 99% on certain games. This means on average for every $100 wagered players will get back $99. Offline casinos can have RTP as low as 75% on some of their slot machines. It’s not as attractive as what online casinos provide.
The Security
Security is a big thing for any online website that handles people’s money. Online casinos have some of the best security to keep players’ funds safe. Online casinos use either a 128 or 256-bit encryption system. That’s the same encryption level that banks use so it’s safe to say online casinos keep personal data as safe as possible.
The Bonuses
The number one marketing tactic online casinos use is the welcome bonus. Online casinos will give players bonuses to sign up and deposit funds to their accounts. It’s just a way to get more players onto the platform. They usually provide players with a match bonus that gives 100% more money on their deposit.
That means if you deposit let’s say $100, the online casino will give you another $100 free. There is always a catch with free money. The online casino will expect players to reach the wagering limit set before they can withdraw any bonus money given to them. It also applies to money won with the bonus money.
Some online casinos will give free money when joining the online website. It can be great but it’s not a lot of cash. They usually give out $10 maximum for free. It’s probably enough to play a few games of online blackjack. Free money is always good, so there’s no harm in giving it a go.
The Ugly
There are always going to be bad things about gambling online. Online gambling has its drawbacks for some players with psychological negatives that come into play. For instance, getting addicted to gambling is a huge issue with online casinos. This will see players gamble huge sums of money and end up in debt.
This usually has negative effects on social life and relationships for people who get addicted. Online casinos try to regulate addiction but it doesn’t seem to be enough because they put the decision into the player’s hands. So here are a few things you might want to know about the ugly side of online casinos and gambling.
It’s Extremely Convenient
Online casinos make it very easy to play games. Some say it’s far too easy playing from the comfort of your home because it leads to negative gambling habits. Players seem to get carried away playing for hours, that’s because the online casinos are 24 hours and don’t close their doors.
It’s true that traditional land-based casinos can be 24 hours, but the live table games are usually open at peak hours when people come in. Live casinos online are always available and have players on the table at all times of the day.
Cash-Out / Withdrawal Delays
The thing that annoys players the most is the delay of cashouts. Once you make your withdrawal it takes between 3-5 working days for the money to reach your account. This means you won’t see your winning in your bank account for a week at the maximum. Online casinos are quick to take your money but take a while to give it back. It’s much different from land-based casinos where you can instantly get your winnings at the cashier’s desk.
Some online casinos give players the option to cancel their withdrawals before it’s been processed. This can lead to gambling addicts to relapse and cancel their withdrawals. Addicted players then carry on playing a few hours later. The best thing to do here is to disable the account for a few days till the online casino has processed the money.
Online Hacking
Online casinos have some of the best security in the world mentioned earlier. However, players don’t have the same level of security on their laptops. A lot of players don’t have anti-virus software and are liable to be hacked through their own computers. This is an issue some players don’t understand too well. Many think that if the online casino is secure then their devices are secured too.
The main issue here is if players save their banking details to their laptops. This is where hackers have the ability to steal banking details. Your banking details are safe on the online casino, but if they are saved onto the browser then there is a possibility of funds being stolen from your bank account. The best thing to do is never store your banking details on a device that doesn’t have top-level security.
What Can You Take From This?
There are a few key points to take away here. Online casinos are made for the players to have a good time and get the most out of their experience. Casinos do as much as possible to get you to the website by using bonuses and promotions. Their security is also amazing and can’t be flawed.
However, players also need antivirus security on their laptops to keep any other information saved on their devices safe. The final key point to take away is that online addictions with gambling are a real thing and can cause a negative impact on players’ lives.
Remember to always have fun when playing online and don’t let addiction get the better of you. There’s always something better out there for players who are addicted.
