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Casinos and betting on games have a long history. Often associated with glamor, riches, and high rollers, the casino has a centuries-long history that has shaped the industry of today. In the early days, casinos were rather simple with a limited number of games. Many were not even public, but underground affairs, dodging law enforcement in order to operate. As gambling became more widely accepted and laws were relaxed, it became easier to access a casino.
These days, players demand fast-paced, quick access to games where convenience and speed is key. As such, it’s no surprise that the modern casino is primarily found in the online space. Let’s take a look at how the casino world has changed so dramatically and which games have made the transition to online, that´s why it is nowadays easy to find an online casino Canada.
The early days of casinos
As touched upon, gambling in various forms has actually been around for hundreds of years. Records show that the Chinese were playing a simple betting game as early as 2300 BC. In a similar vein, the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians were playing games and placing bets on outcomes during their eras, too. Of course, a lot of this was much more casual in nature, but it’s the clear beginnings of the idea that would evolve into the casinos of today.
The first recognized casino appeared in 1638. Located in Venice, Italy, the casino, Ridotto, was the first casino legalized by a government in the world. It was a controlled environment that allowed players to test their luck on specific games. Following this venue’s success, casinos gradually spread across Europe, with more casino venues appearing in the following years. However, it would still take some time before casinos made their way to the Americas.
In fact, it really wasn’t until the 20th century that casinos really made an impact in North America. The USA had casinos, but due to strict gambling laws, most of these were underground venues. In 1931, gambling in Nevada was legalized, and this paved the way for Las Vegas to become one of the biggest gambling cities in the world. Since then, more states have followed suit, with casinos gradually becoming legalized in a myriad of different states.
Gambling in Canada followed a similar trajectory. In the early days, First Nation peoples would gamble on stick and dice games. By the 19th century, such games were widespread throughout Canada, with gambling commonly taking place. But as this pastime was associated with illegal gambling, there were strict laws put in place in 1892. Over the years, this has changed, and casinos and gambling in Canada were legalized in 1994. Despite only being around for a few decades, casino gaming has become very popular and continues to grow. Nowadays, millions of Canadians can head to any online casino Canada has legalized to enjoy gambling on the casino games on offer.
The digital time
Now, if we take a closer look at online casinos, there’s no question as to why they are so popular. Due to impressive advancements in technology, online casinos have become a very common method to access gambling. Casino games have gradually become more sophisticated since the first mechanical slot machine, which landed in 1895. Over the years, slot machines improved, becoming ever more complex, with the first video slot machine appearing in the mid-1970s. At the same time, video poker became available, giving a solid sign that casinos could be adaptable with whatever games they had, moving with the changing times. These electronic games turned out to be just the beginning in the move toward online casinos.
By the 1990s, the internet was arriving. And, as such, online capabilities were in place, including the ability to make digital transactions. In 1994, Microgaming released the first online casino, offering up a variety of games in online form. Most of these were slots, and the site proved successful. Following on the back of this, various countries and jurisdictions started implementing licenses, which meant that online operators were able to become regulated, offering safe online gambling spaces.
The world of online casinos changed quickly. From simple sites with minimal games, they are now fully-fledged gambling platforms with almost every game you can think of. Thanks to technology, video poker, live dealer games and more are now available. Better still, casinos are now available on mobile phones too, allowing players access to games at any time.
Top games at Canadian online casinos
Online casinos have a huge number of games available. Often, there are more games and choices than at a traditional land-based venue. But, just like their land-based counterparts, some games stand out both in terms of popularity and excitement. Let’s take a look at some of the top game categories at online casinos.
Slots
When looking at any online casino Canada is right there are the top, with sites making thousands of slots available. These come in many different forms, from classic three-reel games, to complex Megaways reels, or jackpot slots with huge potential wins.
Virtual table games
Many Canadian online casinos also have numerous different virtual table games. Typically, these include very popular games such as roulette, blackjack, poker and baccarat. Many of these games come in multiple variants, which helps online casinos stand out from their land-based counterparts.
Live dealer
With better technology, casinos have been able to bring the casino experience to the home. Live games offer players the chance to interact with a real dealer, and watch the action unfold in real-time, all thanks to live recording and video streaming. It makes the betting experience more realistic, and even allows players to interact with one another as they would in a traditional casino.
The future of casinos
There are already some new advancements in place, taking online casinos to the next level. The addition of virtual reality means that some casinos are already incorporating this into their platforms. It builds on the live dealer aspect, adding even more realism to the gaming interface, and giving players the feel of really being in a casino. Following this, advancements in artificial intelligence mean that gaming is becoming more tailored with regard to the games and bonuses promoted. And, it also means safer gaming for all involved. It’s likely online casinos will continue adding new features to keep players engaged.