Gambling has been a basic form of entertainment since the earliest human civilizations. Since Ancient Greece and Egypt, men have staked their earnings and funds on games of chance or skill. We have records of early examples of people placing bets on sporting competitions. And though the games, the rules, and maybe even the laws change, one thing has remained a constant throughout history: people love to gamble.
In the earliest stages, gambling happened in inns or taverns. Gambling dens would soon open their doors thanks to these games’ success. Eventually, the gambling den culminated in the glorious casino, the first of which opened its door in the 1600s. To this day, casinos are top-rated. However, in the digital era of the 21st century, a new form of gambling has come about.
Stats About Online Casinos: The Online Casino
Online casinos are exactly what they seem: websites where you can play all your favorite games, place bets on all your favorite sports, and spin a few rounds at an online slot. The first online gambling websites opened their proverbial doors in the late 90s. However, it was in the 2000s that the industry truly hit its stride. During the early 2000s, online poker games made a huge impact. And people began taking online casinos a lot more seriously, making these websites safer and more popular.
However, despite the massive success of online gambling, there are still some issues that a user of these sites has to deal with. Namely, issues regarding licenses and safety.
Much like land-based casinos, online casinos must have a permit. Unlike brick-and-mortar establishments, however, some online casinos manage to get by without a license and still operate. You absolutely must avoid these websites. You will have much more fun and be much safer playing at any of the hundreds of reputable online casinos in the USA than if you play with an unlicensed, unregulated, and unsafe casino.
So, now that you know what online casinos are, how they work, and what to look for, let us get into the impressive statistics regarding the so-called iGaming industry.
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The Industry is Growing Rapidly
The iGaming industry is growing at an incredible pace. As we said, the first online poker rooms opened in the late 90s. By the early 2000s, poker champions already came out of some of these sites. By 2005, online slots were a thing. The success of online gambling, in large part, can be attributed to online slots, as they remain the most popular casino game on gambling websites today.
As of 2020, the number of online casinos has exceeded 2800. There are nearly 3000 unique online casino websites where gamblers can register and put down a wager. Of course, that number has likely gone up in the past three years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it has already exceeded 3000.
Of course, as we said, you must pay special attention to the websites you use. Not all of the 2800+ online casinos are licensed and regulated by reputable sources. When looking for the best of the best, you will want to look for licenses issued by EU-based countries like Malta or Great Britain and Caribbean countries like Curacao, which are particularly stern regarding licensing. Of course, you will also need to pay attention to the laws in your country.
Close to 20% of the Global Population Gambles Online
It might surprise many of you to learn just how popular online gambling is. According to recent surveys, over 50% of people have said that they’ve visited a casino at some point in their lives.
Regarding online gambling, the number was closer to 20% of the global population. To be precise, 17% of all people in the world enjoy gambling online. Even more impressive, this number keeps growing and has likely exceeded 20% already.
Women Use Mobile Apps More Than Men
Historically, gambling and sports betting have been mainly considered male-dominated activities. While gender-based roles and interests certainly have much to do with that, many people still view gambling as a boy’s club. However, the facts don’t seem to bear this out.
Just last year, a survey revealed that women are much more likely to sign up for sports betting apps than men, and are doing so much faster. But it doesn’t end there. It is a well-known fact among researchers that women tend to gamble more than men. According to a study, the average man spends 14 months of his lifetime gambling, whereas the average woman spends 21.
And it doesn’t stop there. When gambling, women are much more likely to place riskier bets and wager higher sums than men. So, it seems that the casino is a woman’s world.
