The History of Online Gambling and It’s Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

Have you ever played casino games online? Did you wager real money or just play for fun? How many times have you walked into a real casino and walked out a winner? These are all fun questions to ask, but in reality, even if you don’t gamble or play card games… billions of people around the world are.

Thanks to the massive growth and reach of the internet, online gambling is growing at a rapid pace and we are likely still only scratching the surface of what’s to come. Statista reports “In 2015, the online gaming market had a volume of $37.91 billion U.S. dollars, this figure was forecasted to increase to $59.79 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.” — and just like with all nearly all markets or products/services being sold online, there are always going to be ways for affiliate marketers, businesses and brands to cash in on the process.

To discover more about the world of online gambling and to see just how much money is actually being made, lost and spent… let’s refer to the “The History of Online Gambling” infographic below.

The History of Online Gambling and Where We Are Headed

Whether it’s slot machines, poker, table games or sports betting… the world of online gambling is growing at a rapid pace without a slowdown in sight. The very first online casino went live in 1994, and from there it has just been an upward trend with more sites going live and millions of new players signing up daily. From a market of $24.73 billion in 2009 to an expected market of $56.05 in 2018, the industry has more than doubled in size in a short period of time. Should the U.S. continue to allow more states to go live with their own localized casino and online gaming sites, these numbers could grow even faster.

When it comes to finding an online casino or game of your choice, the sky is the limit. From independent sites focused just on online poker to full-out casinos that offer everything from slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, it’s simply a matter of finding which site caters the most to your interests.  In the world of online poker, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Razz, and HORSE are the big attractions.

In addition to finding your favorite games to play, it’s also important to know what gaming sites are allowed in your country. To help with this process, there are plenty of review sites online that come out with the latest promotions, player bonuses and any new rules and regulations that might be coming into effect within the industry. You can see one such resource at best New Zealand casinos, which provides reviews and game details for players living in New Zealand.

As mentioned, each country will have their own gaming regulations, so it’s important to keep an eye on where, how and when to play online.

Playing games from the comfort of your home also offers a new perspective on how betting takes place as well. There is no longer a need to drive to a local casino or getting frustrated with other individuals smoking around you and annoying you in the process. There is also the advantage of privacy and focus as well.

When it comes to betting, there are a few different methods that come to mind.

• Sports Betting – Predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.
• Novelty Betting – Also called proposition bets, alternative bets or special bets, and they allow the player to bet on a range of events and outcomes such as the weather, winners on reality TV shows and even then President of the United States. This is one area where online betting is completely different from what offline casinos offer.
• In-Play Betting – This is betting that takes place after an event has started and up to its conclusion. Sporting events are the most common.

In addition to regular casino games, there is a massive demand for online bingo and horse race betting.

Millions of players around the world are glued to their desktop and mobile devices every day to play online bingo, with the chance of winning big cash prizes, while also wagering a few dollars in the process. The American style 75-ball bingo has roughly 552 million-billion-billion possible number combinations for a single bingo ticket. Now you can start to see why online casinos love pushing the game so much, as the odds are always in their favor.

While all of this is taking place, there is also a massive movement to mobile gaming. As more smart phones and advanced mobile devices get into the hands of people around the world, it’s becoming way too easy to download a quick application and start playing from anywhere.

Not all online betting needs to be focused on traditional casino games. Betting on eSports (electronic sports and video games) is quickly gaining ground and building up a massive following in the process. To see the massive numbers behind this rapidly growing niche market, view this infographic on Engadget.

It’s not just a matter of watching people play head to head games and picking a winner, it’s also about international games and world championships. Think about the betting options of March Madness and brackets, but with nearly any type of online game you can think of… while also throwing in a whole world of players at the same time.

Some of the most popular games for eSports betting are StarCraft, Dota 2, Halo, Call of Duty, Counter Strike and League of Legends. Should you take the time to learn more about this new way to bet on actually ‘playing games’, you will never look at them as just games again. Big names around the entertainment and sports world are getting active in eSports, but the question of where and how all the big money will be distributed and made is always up for questioning.

In addition to betting on video games and players around the world, you also have the multi-billion dollar industry of fantasy sports. With huge names like FanDuel and DraftKings fueling this space, it’s only a matter of time before it is completely regulated, shut down or commercialized and controlled for even further scale and success.

Now, to bring it all together, let’s take a look at the history of online gaming and what it’s progressed into over the last 20+ years. For the full infographic and chart, head over to CasinosOnline.com, as they are the original creator of the infographic above.

As we look at the world of online gaming and the massive amount of money being generated on an annual basis, it’s also important to think about where and how you can start making money from this volume as an affiliate marketer as well. Nearly all online casinos have affiliate programs and many affiliate networks have free gaming mobile applications that pay for a quick download. Be sure to cash in on this opportunity today, as this market is only going to keep growing.