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In today’s time, when everything is happening online, how can one keep up with gambling? Online betting, slots, and betting on sports have become very common now. The modern name of this trend is iGaming. This word is simple, but the meaning behind it is quite broad.
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Let’s understand what iGaming is, how it started, and what its future looks like today.
Simple meaning of iGaming
iGaming means online games or betting activities where people invest money through the internet. In this you can include casino games, sports betting, lottery, bingo, and card games like poker.
If we talk in simple terms –
When you bet money on an online game or match, it comes under iGaming.
iGaming can be understood in two ways:
- Narrow sense: Limited only to those games where chance or luck plays a role – like slots or roulette.
- Broad sense: All games where money is invested, whether they are skill-based (poker, chess) or chance-based (lottery, bingo).
How did iGaming start?
The journey of iGaming began in 1994 when Antigua and Barbuda passed a law that gave license to companies to run online casinos.
Important events:
- 1996: Kahnawake Gaming Commission was formed which started licensing online casinos worldwide.
- 2005: UK passed Gambling Act and formed Gambling Commission.
- 2013: SOFTSWISS launched its online casino platform.
Today many countries around the world consider iGaming legal and also regulate it.
Who are the people in the iGaming Industry?
There are many roles in the iGaming world. Let’s break it down:
- Operator: The one who runs the entire casino or betting site. Their job is to manage the system on a daily basis.
- Supplier: These people make the software that operators use like games, betting odds, platforms.
- Game Provider: This company makes actual games like slots, card games, crash games, etc.
- Player: The one who plays games or bets on them.
- Affiliate: The one who attracts players through websites or blogs and earns commission.
iGaming’s Legal Situation Worldwide
iGaming is not the same in every country. In some places it is completely legal and regulated as well like UK, Sweden, Czech Republic. But in some places like Israel it is banned.
In some countries there is no clear law like Netherlands had not made any proper law till 2021. Then they introduced regulation.
If you want to start an iGaming business in a country, you have to take a local license.
How is the iGaming industry today?
During the time of COVID, when everything was closed, online gambling grew a lot. People started betting on casino games and sports from their mobile phones while sitting at home.
In 2021, the size of the global iGaming market was more than $70 billion and experts are saying that this number will increase further.
Some new trends that are making the industry more exciting:
- Blockchain: Very helpful for secure and transparent transactions.
- Social media + streaming: Players are sharing their experiences, influencers are promoting.
- Gamification: Reward system, levels, missions are being added to the games.
- VR/AR: VR casino games are coming for real feel.
- 5G & Graphics: High-speed internet and better visuals are making the games more engaging.
Also Read: Macau Gambling Crime Jumps 61.5% In Early 2025
