Casinos have been around for hundreds of years. During this time, they’ve undergone lots of changes to become the modern force that they are today. If you head down to Las Vegas for the weekend, you’ll see the Vegas Strip is stacked with some of the world’s finest casinos. The same applies to New York, London, Paris, and plenty of other cities – they are all host to tons of amazing casinos. But what about online casinos?
Online casinos have only recently become popular. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic (back in 2020) when online casinos took off, as millions of people turned to them as a source of entertainment and fun at home. You yourself might have done this, too!
Since then, millions more people have joined online casinos and stuck with them. Essentially, they’ve become a full-time hobby for many people, especially during evenings and weekends.
So, whether you’re an online casino newbie or someone who has been a member of online casinos before, here are five interesting facts to know about them:
1. You Get to Play with Real Money
There’s a common misconception out there that online casinos don’t allow people to gamble with real money, with many people assuming that it’s all “fake” virtual money. This is false: almost all online casinos – such as www.gambleonline.co/en-ca/casino/real-money/ – allow people to gamble with real money. After all, that’s what makes them appealing!
Because real money is involved, online casinos continuously encourage their account holders to gamble responsibly. Also, most online casinos will offer ‘practice’ versions of their games which people can play for as long as they like without the involvement of any real money. If you’re a beginner, this is something to bear in mind.
2. The First Online Casino Launched in 1996
The first online casino was released 25 years ago, back in 1996 – can you believe it’s been that long?
However, it took a while for online casinos to become popular. This is because most gamblers were content with land-based casinos and also didn’t have high-performance computers or laptops in their homes. Remember, smartphones weren’t around back then either!
Online casinos have come a long way since 1996. Now, they’re available to play across all major devices, and the graphics look like they’ve come straight from a games console. Plus, online casinos are popular pretty much everywhere around the world; from Europe and America to Africa and Asia. This is despite the fact that online gambling was initially resisted by many different governments!
When another 25 years fly by, who knows how advanced they will have become – only time will tell.
3. Slots are the Most Popular Online Casino Game
Yep, that’s right: online slot machines are the most popular type of online casino game.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a shock. After all, slots are a crowd-pleaser in land-based casinos, too. Just head down to the Las Vegas Strip if you ever get the chance to: that place is jam-packed with slot machines. No matter which Vegas casino you head inside, it’s guaranteed you’re going to see hundreds of different slot machines.
Online slots are known for having a high return-to-player percentage (RTP), which is another reason why they’re so appealing. In other words, this means that there’s a good chance of you getting a nice return on your investment (the money you wager) compared to other games, such as baccarat.
Plus, due to the simple nature of online slots, it makes them very easy to play on smartphones – no matter where you are or what you’re doing. In fact, if you head out into public these days, it’s hard not to see at least one person spinning the slots on their smartphone!
4. There Are Over 2,800 Active Casino Sites (American gambling association)
The internet is a big place. It’s so big, in fact, that it’s home to over 2,800 active online casinos (according to the American Gambling Association). This is a huge number and perfectly highlights the demand for online casinos within the industry. If there was no demand, then there wouldn’t even be half the number of these casinos! However, people are always wanting more, which is why lots of new online casinos launch every year.
When searching for an online casino to join, make sure you join one that:
- Offers your preferred currency
- Has a wide selection of games
- Provides 24/7 customer service
- Has low minimum deposits
- Gives out lots of bonuses and promotional offers to account holders
Remember, the last thing you want is to join an online casino that doesn’t tick all the right boxes. Instead, save yourself the hassle and join one that’s high-quality with a proven track record. As a general rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to read the reviews of an online casino to get a feel for what it’s truly like. Typically, gambling fans aren’t afraid to voice their opinions online, which is why reviews are generally reliable.
5. The Biggest Online Slots Win was €19.4 million euros
Here’s the answer to the question everybody wants to know: the biggest online slots win was €19.4 million euros, which works out at around $19.8 million US dollars. That’s life-changing money – but it’s important to remember that these types of wins are incredibly rare. However, they do happen from time to time, which is nice to know!
How Old Do You Have to Be to Play in an Online Casino?
Now that you’ve learned some interesting facts, you likely want to know the laws surrounding online casinos.
It’s as simple as this: to play in an online casino, you must be above the legal gambling age in your country or state.
For example, in California, it’s 18. However, if you play in a land-based casino that serves alcohol, then you must be aged 21 or over to enter!
Summary
Hopefully, you enjoyed this article about online casinos. If you decide to start playing in one, make sure to gamble responsibly and always play with a budget.
Have fun.
