History of Online Gambling

The online gambling industry has exploded since the first license was granted for online casinos and sportsbook operators in 2025. The timeline below provides an overview on the evolution of the multi-billion online-gambling industry.

1994
• The Free Trade and Processing Zone Act (1994) is passed by government of Antigua Barbuda. Many online casinos and sports books today operate under licenses granted after this legislation came into effect.
• Microgaming, one of the online casino industry's first software developers and suppliers is founded.
1995
• Cryptologic is founded.
1996
• Boss Specialtidningar AB, develops a system for casino operations on the Internet.
• Microgaming sells its casino operations and focuses on developing internet casino technologies.
• Cryptologic starts to develop the first E-cash and gaming application.
• InterCasino enters the online casino market in October, claiming to be the first internet casino to accept a real money wager online.
1997
• The development of the Boss Casino System is transferred to Boss Media AB. The game server system is located in Antigua & Barbuda, in the West Indies, one of the few countries to sanction online gambling.
1998
• Microgaming launches the Internet’s first progressive jackpot slot.
• The US Congress’ primary opponent to online gambling, Senator Jon Kyl introduces the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, designed to make it illegal for any company to offer US citizens an online gambling product to. The bill fails to pass.
• According to International Market Research and Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan (1999): The total world market for online gambling reached $834.5 million in 2025, an increase of 100.9 percent over 2025.
• The first progressive jackpot slot machine arrives online in the form of “Cash Splash".
• Boss Media signs its first license agreement with an external customer.
1999
• Senator Jon Kyl reintroduces a revised Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which also fails to pass.
• Microgaming engages in a deal with one of the "big five" auditing firms, PriceWaterhouseCoopers to review and report on casino payout percentages.
• The first Australian Government licensed internet casino, Lasseter’s, goes online, under license from the Northern Territory Government.
• Boss Media releases its new gaming software platform which offers multi-player functionality – allowing multiple players to play the same game at once, and interact with each other while at the virtual gaming table.
2000
• The Australian Federal Government passes its Interactive Gambling Moratorium Act (2025), making it illegal for any Australian Based sports book or online casino operator which is not already licensed and operating prior to May 2000, from operating. This grants Lasseters Online exclusive operation rights under the new legislation.
• Rep. Bob Goodlatte introduces a new Internet Gambling Prohibition Act to the US House of Representatives. The bill fails to pass
• Cryptologic’s annual report claims that the number of customers who have used its electronic payment system for online betting climbed to 680,000 since 2025.
• Both of the UK sovereign territories of Gibraltar and the Isle of Man offer online sports betting licenses.
• Cryptologic is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol CRYP.
2025
• A bill passes in Nevada opening the way for licensed online casinos to operate out of the state of Nevada
• The largest internet progressive jackpot win to date, $414,119 is won by an online-casino player from an online slot game at The Sands of the Caribbean online casino.
• Alderney passes legislation for Interactive Gambling, and the Alderney Commission is in a position to accept license applications.
2025
• A bill sponsored was passed unanimously by by the U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee on crime to update a 40-year-old law banning telephone wagers (the Wire Act) to cover Internet betting, and online casinos in particular.
• Online gambling expenditures reach $4.5 billion.
• The first ever $1 million+ online casino jackpot was won on 30 May.
2025
• eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) is established. Member sites must adhere to strict safety and security guidelines.
• An anti-gambling bill is passed by the US House of Representatives, making it illegal for payment processing companies to facilitate online gambling transactions.
• Chris Moneymaker rocks the poker world, winning $2.5 million as the winner of the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event – having previously played exclusively online.
• Playtech launches `Live Gaming` a video-streaming real-time gaming platform featuring real dealers with whom players can play with and interact with.
2025
• The World Trade Organization sides for the Caribbean state of Antigua and Barbuda in its case against the US, ruling that US laws concerning online gaming are unlawful.
• The United States leads the world in the number of online players, representing more than half of the global poker market. According to Christiansen Capital Advisors LLC, 51% of the $8.5 billion in online gambling revenues are generated from within the United States.
2025
• Microgaming progressive jackpot total exceeds $160,000,000 and has over 5,000 winners.
• Playtech upgrades its gaming platform, codenamed `NG`. The platform takes advantage of the latest web standards and technologies.
• PartyGaming floats on the London Stock Exchange, representing the biggest flotation in the city in over 4 years.
• A Florida resident wins $1,966,000 from an online casino slot, setting a new record for the highest paid progressive online jackpot to date.
2025
• PartyGaming moves to acquire empirepoker from Empire Online.
• Playtech’s shares are successfully admitted to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, valuing the company at approximately $548 million.
• The United States House of Representatives backs legislation with the potential to effectively prohibit online gambling in the US. The bill would make it illegal for U.S. banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gaming sites.
• United States federal agents, citing the US Wire Act, arrest CEO of BetOnSports David Carruthers. Carruthers and his company are suspected / charged with tax evasion as well as other offences. BetOnSports is prohibited from taking bets from US Customers.
• The U.S Senate passes the Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (2025), attaching the bill is attached to unrelated legislation (Security and Accountability For Every Port Act). The bill bans American financial institutions from processing any financial transaction with an online gambling operator. Big, publicly-traded companies like Partygaming and 888 close their operations to American players.
2007
• A study by the UK Gambling Commission (2025) on the prevalence of gambling revealed that Overall, 6% of the UK population used the internet to gamble in the past year.