Casino gaming is arguably the most popular form of gambling, with a notorious reputation all over the world. Interestingly, sports betting is an even bigger market compared to casino gaming, despite being a little less famous. According to a Statista survey, the revenue generated in the online gambling market is expected to reach US$107.30bn in 2024. Of this, sports betting will be the biggest contributor, with a projected input of about US$49.96bn.
The ever-growing market size and revenue of sports betting are partly fueled by the growing popularity of various sports as well as the integration of bookmarking features into online casinos, making sports betting even more accessible to players.
In this article, we’ll explore the link between online casinos and sports betting, providing a historical context and exploring the benefits of the merger between online casinos and sports betting.
Casinos And Sports Betting – Historical Context
Gambling and sports betting have intertwined roots that stretch back several centuries into the past. Today, both forms of gambling are still very much connected. Many of the best online casinos by Betpack now offer sports betting options in addition to regular casino games.
Historically, sports betting was a more popular form of gambling that predated modern-day casinos. Evidence suggests that the people of ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans placed bets on the outcome of games as far back as the fifth century BC.
Even before the first Olympic Games took place in 776 BC, people would bet on the outcome of gladiatorial battles, races, and chariot races, which were a famous form of entertainment back then. During these ancient times, there were no bookmarkers. Instead, people placed their bets directly, and the agreements were verbal. Winnings included various kinds of valuable goods, including money, real estate, and slaves.
It’s hard to determine when sports betting in its current form emerged, but odds were used for the first time in calculating winnings either in the 16th or 17th century. The first person to create a bookmaker was Harry Ogden, who operated at Newmarket Heath in the UK during the mid-1790s. Before this, people betting on horse racing simply made bets directly against one another.
The first official bookmaker’s office didn’t appear until the mid-1800s. It was set up in France by Leviathan Davis and Fred Swindell. Joseph Oller is also reputed to have opened a central cashier’s office to accept mortgages in 1965. He is considered the owner of the first betting pool in France, and he opened several other offices like this across various countries in Europe.
The Emergence of Online Casinos
For most of its early years, sports betting revolved around horse racing because it was the most popular form of entertainment at the time. Casino gaming has emerged more recently compared to sports betting. Conventional casinos, as we know them today, evolved from gambling houses and salons that became prevalent in the 19th century. These gambling houses offered classic games like poker, roulette, and blackjack.
In the early to mid-20th century, sports betting was primarily conducted through bookmakers, or “bookies,” often operating legally in most cases. Casino gaming, on the other hand, faced significant legal pressures in Europe and North America.
The art of gambling was eventually legalized in Nevada in 1931, paving the way for the development of modern casinos in the United States, with Las Vegas becoming a hub for gambling tourism as it is known today.
In the early years, there was a clear separation between casinos and sports betting. Traditional brick-and-mortar casinos focus more on slot machines and table games. Sports betting, on the other hand, has remained associated with bookmarking and horse racing.
The next major advancement in the gambling world came in the late 1990s with the emergence of online casinos with different gambling options. The first online bet was made in 1996, and by the early 2000s, hundreds of traditional casinos had gone online, making slots and table games more accessible to players worldwide.
Benefits Of Playing in Online Casinos with Sports Betting Options
In the early days of online gaming, casinos and sports betting platforms remained largely separate entities. Only a few platforms offered integrated gaming options. However, things have changed in more recent years. There has been a notable trend towards integrating online casinos and sports betting platforms.
The merger of these two gambling options is driven by various factors, including regulatory changes allowing for legal sports betting in many jurisdictions, technological advancements, and the desire of online casinos to attract new categories of users with a preference for sports betting.
Today, most of the best online casinos have incorporated sports betting sections into their platforms, becoming a one-stop destination for the casino gaming and sports wagering needs of players. The following are some of the benefits of this integration for players.
Greater Choice and Convenience
The biggest benefit of playing on integrated platforms is the convenience it offers players. With just one registration, players (especially those interested in both forms of gambling) can access all the betting options they want without the need to play on multiple websites. This diversity allows casinos with sports betting options to cater to players with different interests and preferences.
Single-Wallet System
Integrated platforms typically use a single-wallet system. This means players don’t have to maintain a separate wallet for the casino games or sports betting section of the website. This simplifies the deposit and withdrawal process for players.
Cross-Platform bonuses and offers
Online casinos with sports betting options often offer cross-promotional bonuses and special promotions to players. These benefits are aimed at encouraging players to try out both gaming options.
For instance, the welcome bonus at the casino may include free spins to be used in the online casino or wagering money that can be used in the bookmark. These casinos and iGaming brands can get the word out about the promotions and services they offer using digital services like Revpanda to attract users.
Enjoyable Gaming Experience
Integrated platforms are typically powered by advanced gambling technologies, which allow them to host casino games and sports betting options on the same platform. The goal is to offer a cohesive experience to users while ensuring easy navigation between both options. Casinos that get this right are often able to deliver a seamless gaming experience to players, whether they’re playing online casino games or trying to bet on a sports event.
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