Online casinos have been a massive success and with good reason. They have quickly revolutionized the gambling industry by providing players with convenient access to a near-endless catalog of games, top-level security and privacy, and lucrative bonuses and payout rates. But it is easy to forget that internet casinos are a relatively recent development. In fact, the very first online casinos to ever exist were created in the mid-1990s. It is only now that we have big names like Bizzo Casino Canada on the market to keep us entertained. 

Which Were the First Online Casinos to Ever Exist?

The first two internet casinos were launched in 1994 and 1995. The earliest of these two, from 1994, was called the Gaming Club and was one of the very first to offer real money payouts. The Gaming Club’s portfolio was initially quite limited; there were only 11 games to choose from at the start. But despite its more limited range of games, the Gaming Club quickly became popular, taking the unprecedented step of offering players a range of bonuses and promotional offers.

One year after the Gaming Club’s launch, InterCasino followed suit in 1995. This online casino was much more ambitious and boasted a selection of 24 different games, ranging from all the classic favorites like Blackjack and Roulette to more innovative titles like poker and slots. InterCasino also took advantage of the virtually limitless space available online, offering payouts of up to $100,000. And it definitely resonated with players, quickly becoming hugely popular.

InterCasino’s immense success was not lost on its competitors, with many more casinos quickly popping up in the wake of its success. By 1998, there were already dozens of other online casinos available. These included the likes of RiverBelle, Jackpot City, and All Slots. And further changes to the industry were also afoot. By 1998, the first wave of internet casinos began to offer bonuses more regularly to incentivize new customers, taking the form of free spins and deposit matches. Although these bonuses were initially quite small, over the years they have become more frequent and far more generous.

However, aesthetic changes were also taking place over the late nineties and early 2000s. In 1998, slot games moved from two-dimensional illustrations to 3D visuals, and have since gone on to even higher levels of visual fidelity, making them one of the most appealing and sought games on the internet casinos. Similarly, table games also got a drastic overhaul, moving from a small, rudimentary display to multicolored, interactive layouts. These changes to the aesthetics of the games and the platforms have been crucial in maintaining user engagement over the years.

Online casinos have gone through quite an evolution since they first emerged in the mid-1990s. Even though their format and gameplay have remained familiar, radical changes have taken place in terms of the platforms, graphics, and bonuses on offer. As a result, today’s online casinos offer players a highly satisfying and interactive experience, brilliantly blending innovation with comfort.