betting gambling

Below is a brief yet instructive chronology of Internet gambling's evolution. Over the past three years, the industry has experience a HUGE upsurge in popularity and been the subject of several major legal battles, so events during this time are a bit harder to identify and comment on. Still, as always, we've delivered as much of the goods as humanly possible - and, hopefully, without sounding too much like some octogenarian history prof:The Australian federal government passes its Interactive Gambling Moratorium Act, making it illegal for any Australia-based online casino or sports-book firms not already licensed and operating prior to May 2000, from operating. Lasseters Online is the only Australia-based Internet casino able to operate under the new legislation.
- Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) introduces a new Internet Gambling Prohibition Act to the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill fails to attract the required two-thirds majority vote to pass.
- CryptoLogic's annual report claims that the number of customers who have used its electronic payment system for online betting has climbed to 680,000 since operations began in 1996.
- U.K. sovereign territories Gibraltar and the Isle of Man offer online sports betting licenses.
- Cryptologic lists on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CRYP.In March, the results of a survey published in PRNewswire claim that around 8 million people have already gambled with real money online.
- The Nevada legislature passes a bill opening the way for licensed online casinos to operate out of Nevada. It is estimated that it will still be a year or two before the U.S. Department of Justice will issue the first licenses.
- An online casino player wins $414,119 playing a slot game at a Caribbean online casino's version of The Sands. This is the largest internet progressive jackpot win to date.
- Alderney (British Channel Islands) passes legislation for Interactive Gambling, and the Alderney Commission is now in a position to accept license applications.
- "The Gambling Review Report" is released in the U.K. Subject to rounds of negotiations before its recommendations become law, the review encourages legalizing all forms of online gambling, which would make Britain one of the few OECD countries to allow it.U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) sponsors a bill that updates the Wire Act of 1961 to cover Internet betting - and online casinos in particular - is passed unanimously by the U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee on crime. The bill now moves to the full Judiciary Committee for consideration. If passed there, it will head to the House and then the Senate for final approval.
- Online gambling expenditures reach $4.5 billion, more than quadrupling the total from only three years earlier ($845 million).
- In May, the first ever multimillion-dollar online casino jackpot is won. A lucky player playing the Microgaming progressive slot game Major Millions at Captain Cook's Casino wins a massive $1.59 million.

2003
- eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) is established to set standards and make online gambling safer. Arguably, this point marks one of the first moves towards regulation as member sites must follow strict safety and security guidelines.

- Yet another anti-gambling bill is passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill makes it illegal for payment-processing companies (credit card, bank wire, etc.) to facilitate online gambling transactions.
- Chris Moneymaker shocks the poker world and takes home $2.5 million as winner of the 2003 World Series of Poker after having practiced and prepared exclusively online.

- Playtech launches "Live Gaming" a realtime video-streamed gaming concept featuring live dealers with whom players can play and chat one-on-one.