🕰️ Early Beginnings of Online Gambling (1990s)
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Year Event 1994 First Online Casino Launched – The first online casino, Microgaming, begins operations, setting the stage for online gambling. 1996 Regulatory Framework Established – Antigua and Barbuda grants the first licenses for online gambling, creating a legal framework.
💻 Emergence of Online Sweepstakes Casinos (2000s)
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Year Event 2003 Introduction of Online Sweepstakes Casinos – The concept of sweepstakes casinos becomes popular, allowing players to enter games through purchased entries. 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) – The UIGEA is enacted in the U.S., impacting various forms of online gambling but also giving rise to sweepstakes as an alternative.
📈 Growth and Regulation (2010s)
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Year Event 2011 Black Friday in Online Gambling – Major online poker sites shut down in the U.S., pushing players towards sweepstakes casinos. 2013 New Jersey Legalizes Online Gambling – New Jersey’s regulation of online gambling sets a precedent for other states to follow.
🚀 Present Day and Future Directions (2020s)
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Year Event 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Boosts Online Gaming – As land-based casinos shut down, online sweepstakes casinos see a surge in players. 2023 Increased States Legalizing Online Gambling – More states in the U.S. are considering legalizing online lottery and sweepstakes options.
