An adrenaline-pumping pastime that brings joy and excitement across many cultures across the world, gambling has always been an activity that humans have enjoyed the thrill of, weaving into the routine of their daily lives. Holding a strong physical presence today across glamorous and brightly lit casinos across almost every city globally – notably Las Vegas, Monte Carlo and Macao, the industry is also supported by its prolific growth online in recent years adapting quickly in line with modern, digital lifestyles.
The earliest trace of gambling was recorded by the Chinese in about 2300 B.C, along with ancient Egyptian dice dating back to around 1500 B.C. It was, however, in Venice, one of the world’s most beautiful and cultured cities that opened the world’s very first casino: Casino di Venezia. Opening its doors for the first time back in 1638 to ensure organised and trouble-free gambling among the people during the famous annual carnival season, still to this day it stands beside one of the famous and historic canals. From then on, these gaming spaces cropped up and became popular across Europe. Later on, many other corners of the world opened similar spaces, with the term ‘casino’ coined throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Fast forward, and since first launching the late 1990s, the online casino realm has grown at a rapid pace. This has been true no more so this year, with the spikes in numbers throughout 2020 due to strict lockdown regulations. As both technology and security surrounding online gaming develop and become more sophisticated, gambling online at home from either your desktop or mobile device has never been more of a safe and appealing prospect.
Ensuring anonymity with safe and fast payments, the introduction of blockchain and cryptocurrency has revolutionised the industry along with the futuristic concept of virtual reality casinos which launched a few years back in 2017. Offering players today incredible special effects with physical and visual interactions, virtual reality gaming offers players multi-sensory experiences that may not have been previously available to them. This in tandem challenges the future of the traditional casino as many this year have had to close their doors either temporarily or permanently due to the global pandemic.
‘The Online Gambling Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change’ detailed how the online gambling market is expected to grow at an exponential rate. In 2019 the industry was marked at $58.9 billion, compared to $66.7 billion in 2020 at a growth rate of 13.2%. Unsurprisingly this increase is closely linked and attributed to the global pandemic. With people around the world forced to stay home for weeks at a time during times of lockdown, many have much more time to try their hand at the prospect of online gambling. Should the industry continue to develop at this rate, the market is expected to reach a whopping $92.9 billion in 2023.
Sporting remains the number one category that the online gaming industry comprises of. Spanning across events such as FIFA World Cup and European Championships, horse and greyhound racing, as many restrictions mean people are unable to attend and spectate these live events, and as stadiums kickstart once again without the crowds – many choose to get involved in the action alternatively online at home via online gambling sites.
With so much to choose from, it can be daunting to know where to begin, regardless if you are a seasoned player or dipping your toe in for the very first time whilst in search of some at home entertainment. Offering users across the UK the very best, and most importantly, trusted online casinos are Spinsify.com (for a list of the most exciting new casino sites in the UK, click here). Recently launching a dedicated online casino section to their site, they offer valuable guidance to ensure every person has the very best gaming experience. Having tested a wide variety of online casinos themselves, Spinsify.com look at payment methods, licensing, providers used, game selection and the types of bonuses and offers available along with customer service, withdrawal options, casino safety and security features.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
