Online
casino
industry
development
timeline...
1994
The
Government
of
Antigua Barbuda passes
The Free Trade and Processing Zone Act,
1994.
Many online
casinos and sports books
today
operate
under
licenses granted pursuant to this legislation.
Antigua
Barbuda
continues
to
be
one
of
the
online
gambling
industries
most
popular
licensing
jurisdictions.
1994
Microgaming, one
of
the internet casino industry's
first
and
largest
software
developers
and
suppliers,
is founded.
1995
Brothers Andrew and Mark
Rivkin
found
CryptoLogic,
with
the
aim
of
developing
a
series
of
unique encrypted communication protocols to settle
transactions securely, reliably and quickly.
1995
Starnet Communications, based in Vancouver, Canada, is established to
develop, license and provide online gambling technology and websites,
including online casinos and
sportsbooks. To
get
around
local legal
barriers, offshore subsidiaries,
are
established
to carry out development,
licensing and e-commerce functions for clients.
1996
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is established in
Canada.
Kahnawake Gaming
Law
is
created
with
the
express
purpose
of
regulating
Kahnawake
licensed online gambling
activities hosted within its jurisdiction.
1996
Boss Specialtidningar AB,
Boss Media's parent company,
begins to develop a
system for casino operations on the Internet.
1996
Microgaming sells off existing casino operations and concentrates on
developing of internet casino technologies.
1996
Cryptologic begins
developing the first Ecash and gaming application, and complete its first generation of gaming software
later
in
the
year.
1996
CryptoLogic's wholly owned
subsidiary,
WagerLogic, completed its first
license.
InterCasino goes
online
in
October
1996, claiming to
be the
first internet casino to accept a real money wager online.
1997
Boss Casinos system development work is transferred to Boss Media AB.
The game server system is located in Antigua & Barbuda, in the West
Indies, one of the few countries in the world willing to sanction Internet
gaming
operations
at
that
time.
1997
Starnet Systems International Inc. is created as a subsidiary of Starnet
Communications, to license turnkey,
customized, Internet gaming systems to independent operators in exchange
for
a
share
of the licensees' revenues.
1997
Starnet launches
WorldGaming.net, a proprietary website licensed in Antigua to accept,
process and manage wagers via the Internet.
1997
PartyGaming is founded as a network of gambling sites offering casino games and operating in the
Caribbean. The incredible growth of the company, lead the shareholders to
list the company on the London Stock Exchange in 2005.
1998
Microgaming launches Cash Splash, the
Internet's first progressive jackpot
slot.
1998
Sen. Jon Kyl
(R-Ariz.), Congress' foremost opponent to online gambling
introduces the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, designed to make it
illegal for any company to offer an online gambling product to US
citizens. The bill
eventually
fails to pass.
1998
Starnet Systems signs its first Internet gaming licensee, Atlantis Corp,
operating out of Antigua Barbuda.
1998
Frost and Sullivan report
that
online
gambling
industry
generated $834.5 million in revenue in 1998.
1998
Boss Media signs its first license agreement with an external customer.
1999
Royal
Canadian
Mounted
Police raid Starnet Communication's Vancouver office for suspected
participation in illegal gambling. While all gaming servers are
located offshore, Canadian Authorities claim that the Starnet's e-mail
server which is located in Canada, is an extension of gaming activities
and therefore in violation of the Canadian Criminal Code.
1999
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), reintroduces a revised Internet Gambling
Prohibition Act, designed to make it illegal for any company to offer an
online gambling product to US citizens. The revised bill also
fails to pass.
1999
Microgaming forms a deal with a big five auditing firm (PriceWaterhouseCoopers)
to review and
report on casino payout percentages.
1999
The first Australian Government licensed internet casino, Lasseter's, goes
online. Lasseter's operates under license from the Northern
Territory Government, which moved quickly to legislate for and offer
licenses to online casinos.
Meanwhile
other
Australian
states
move
toward
the
release
of
their
own
online
gambling
legislation
and
licensing
schemes.
1999
Boss Media´s shares are quoted on the OM Stockholm Exchange´s O-list.
1999
As
at September 1999, Christian Capital Advisors estimated that there were
approximately 700 casinos taking money bets over the Internet
1999
Boss Media
takes
the
online
gambling
world
by
storm
with
the
release
of
its new gaming software platform with multi-player
functionality,
allowing
multiple
players
to
play
the
same
game
at
once,
and
chat
to
each
other
while
at
the
virual
gaming
table.
2000
The Australian Federal Government passes its Interactive Gambling
Moratorium Act,
making
it
illegal
for
any
Australian Based online casino or sports
book operators not already licensed and operating prior to May 2000,
from operating. Lasseters Online is the only
Australian
based
Internet
casino
able to operate under the new legislation.
2000
Microgaming releases its second progressive internet slots game, Lots a
Loot Progressive Slot.
2000
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) introduces a new Internet Gambling Prohibition
Act to the US House of Representatives. The bill fails to attract
the required two thirds majority vote to pass
2000
Cryptologic's annual report claims that the number of customers who have
used its electronic payment system for online betting has climbed to
680,000 since operations began in 1996.
2000
The UK sovereign territories of Gibraltar and the Isle of Man offer online
sports betting licenses. A number of large UK betting shops purchase
licenses from these
jurisdictions
in
a
move
to
avoid
UK
betting
taxes.
2000
Microgaming releases 3 more of its progressive internet games:
WowPot,
Fruit Fiesta slots,
and SupaJax video poker progressives.
2000
South African giant Sun International Hotels
Limited
signs
a
license
agreement
with
Boss Media
for
use
of
the
latters
online
casino
software.
This
is
Boss'
first
agreement with a land-based casino company.
2000
Cryptologic lists on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CRYP.
2000
Casino
Sur
is
launched,
becoming
the
first
online
casino licensed in Argentina.
2001
Results
of a survey published in PRNewswire (22 March 2001)
claims that
around
8
million people
had
already gambled with real money online at that
time.
2001
The Australian Federal Government passes legislation making it illegal for
any Internet casino or sports book to offer its product to Australian
residents.
Following
numerous
last
minute
amendments
resulting
from
pressure
from
powerful
terrestrial
gambling
associations,
the
legislation contains significant concessions for
local sportsbook and racing operators.
2001
The
Nevada
legislature
passes a bill
opening
the way for licensed online casinos to
operate out of Nevada. It is estimated that it will still be a year
or two before the drafting of license regulations and agreement from the
US Department of Justice will allow the granting of the first licenses.
2001
Starnet Communications is fined $100,000 for involvement in internet
gambling. No company officers were fined or charged.
2001
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission hosts its 20th online casino licensee,
up from 12 the previous year.
2001
An online casino player wins
US$414,119 playing the Rags to Riches
slot game at The Sands of the Caribbean online casino. This is the
largest internet progressive jackpot win to date.
2001
Alderney (British Channel Islands) passes legislation for Interactive
Gambling, and the Alderney Commission is now is a position to accept
license applications.
2001
The Gambling Review Report is released in the UK. Subject to rounds of
negotiations before its recommendations become law, the review suggests
legalizing all forms of online gambling, which would make Britain one of
the few OECD countries to allow it.
2001
Partypoker.com, now one of the largest online poker brands launches.
2002
A
bill
sponsored
by
Rep.
Bob
Goodlatte,
R-Va that would update a
40-year-old law banning telephone wagers (the Wire Act) to cover Internet
betting, and online casinos in
particular,
was
passed
unanimously
by
the
U.S.
House
Judiciary
subcommittee
on
crime.
The
bill
fails in
the
House
and
Senate
and doesn't become law.
2002
The
first
ever
$1
million
plus
online
casino
jackpot
goes
off
on
30
May.
A player
at Captain Cooks Casino playing
the Microgaming
progressive
slot
game
Major
Millions
wins
$1,594,649.
2003
eCOGRA (eCommerce and online gaming regulation and assurance)
is founded with the goal of providing a best practice operating framework and
related compliance testing for the as yet largely unregulated industry.
2003
Chris Moneymaker, an accountant and part time poker amateur, takes out the 2003
world series of poker, providing what many believe to be one of the major
catalyst to the general and online poker boom that sees sites like
Partypoker.com grow their customer bases exponentially over the ensuing years.
2004
Worldwide online casino revenues are
estimated by research group Frost and Sullivan to have reached just over $8
billion, up from $3 billion in 2001.
2004
Search engine giants Google and Yahoo make the decision to
remove all online gambling related advertising from their
websites, following a US Justice Department announcement
that advertising online gambling may be construed as "aiding
and abetting" illegal betting pursuant to the Wire Wager Act
1961.
2005
Only 4 years after launching
their online poker business, PartyGaming lists on the
London Stock Exchange with a market value of approximately
£4.6 billion.
2005
Online casino portal Casino City sues the
US Justice Department, seeking a declaration from the court that the act of
advertising online casinos is legal and protected by First Amendment Rights.
The action is dismissed, as is a subsequent appeal in January 2006.
2005
The Caribbean island nation of Antigua
Barbuda, now one of the world's established online gambling hubs, files an
action against the United States Government before the World Trade Organization
on the basis that US anti-online gambling laws (interpretation of the Wire Wager
Act) violate the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services.
The WTO finds in favor of Antigua Barbuda.
2006
Italy becomes the first European country to move to ban access by its residents
to non-Italian licensed online gaming sites. The move to block all gaming
sites not licensed in Italy was put into effect in Italy's 2006 Budget, and
specifically identifies 684 internet gaming sites which are considered to be
illegal. The law imposes an obligation on Italian ISP's to block the
listed illegal gaming sites, or face fines of up to €180,000 a day for
infringements.
2006
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act ("UIGEA") is passed by the Bush
Administration, attached to the Safe Ports Act. UIGEA renders it illegal
for US financial institutions to facilitate payments between US residents and
offshore online gambling sites. Share prices of listed online gambling
operators with significant US facing operations, like Sportingbet.com, Ladbrokes
and Partygaming plunge overnight as a result.
2006
Frost and Sullivan estimate worldwide online casino revenues to be $15 billion,
almost doubling since 2004. Estimates of future growth are revised
considerably following the passing of UIGEA.
2007
Antigua Barbuda files a claim with the WTO against the United States for
USD $3.4 billion in relation to GATS violations. The EU files
similar claims.
2007
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) introduces the first of a number of
legislative attempts to either modify or repeal UIGEA
2008
In April, Klaus E. from Finland hits the first online casino progressive jackpot
in excess of $5 million. The win of $5,556,753.68 playing Microgaming game
Mega Moolah at Blackjack Ballroom is not eclipsed until May 2009 when the same
game is hit for EUR 6.3 million.
2008
The European Commission begins infringement proceedings against a number of EU
member states including France and Germany on the basis that their anti-online
gambling laws are in breach of EU 'Freedom to Provide Services' provisions.
France subsequently announces intentions to open its market to online gambling
with a new licensing and regulatory regime to come into operation in early 2010.
2008
The 'superuser account' scandals hit the online poker industry
with player analysis and investigations revealing that UltimateBet and
Absolute Poker software security had been compromised and fraudsters
were able to play with knowledge other players' hold cards.
Millions of dollars in fraudulent winnings remain unrecovered.
2009
Microgaming's Mega Moolah
progressive slot jackpot goes off at a record EUR 6.3 million. It
is won by Georgios M from Greece, playing at
the Riverbelle.
2009
Industry stalwart Bodog.com
reaches the milestone of signing its 3 millionth customer account.
Bodog
is one of the few large brand online gambling operators choosing to defy
the UIGEA and continue to accept US player accounts.
2009
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve chief Ben
Bernanke grant a 6 month reprieve on UIGEAs implementation date.
The new June 1, 2010 deadline gives Rep. Barney Frank and cohorts a
window of opportunity to push their proposed regulatory approach.
2009
Gambling Giant Harrahs launches
its first online casino.
www.caesarscasino.com goes live in November and marks the first
major US based terrestrial gaming house to launch one of their brands
online. The move is an about face from Harrah's staunch
anti-online gambling stance and (via AGA) support of UIGEA in 2006.
2010
Despite the UIGEA implementation reprieve, Mastercard surprises the industry by
beginning online gambling payment blocking measures for US players in
February.
2010
Online poker room Pokerstars.com deals its 40 billionth hand of poker.
The milestone is celebrated with a tournament that attracts 36,169
entrants and generates a prize pool of $7,233,800. The tournament
winner received $1.1million.
2010
France's newly formed online gambling regulator ARJEL begins
taking license applications for online poker and sports betting
providers wanting to participate in the regulated French online gambling
market.
2010
UIGEA is implemented in the US on June 1.
2010
North America gets its first government owned and operated online casino
with the launch of Playnow.com. The casino is operated by the
Canadian crown corporation the BCLC, and available only to residents of
British Columbia. Other Canadian provinces looking to address
growing deficits are rumored to soon follow suit with net casinos of
their own.
2011
In April the US Department of Justice Indicts key figures at major US
facing online poker rooms Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute Poker, in
addition to a number of individuals alleged to have been instrumental in
the processing of online poker transactions at US banks.
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