Sports betting arose alongside the Olympics in ancient Greece, where it spread to Rome and then the rest of the world. Picture men in togas, screaming from the outskirts of a gladiator pit, filling their pockets on death; flick to men and women in thick glasses scribbling on pieces of paper, watching TVs and occasionally heaving a sigh, or – depending – a laugh. The rise of sports betting.

And we’ve already entered the next phase in this long human tradition: the online gaming community. Thanks to the internet, more and more people around the world are joining the ranks, and any serious sports bettors should at least consider taking advantage of it.

A History

The first online gaming began in the nineties. It was an immediate success, for many reasons: the obvious convenience of being able to satisfy your betting needs from your own home; the wonder of such a revolutionary step in what was already a huge industry; the bonuses online betting offered over physical casinos and bookies.

In the couple of years following the first official licenses in Antigua and Barbuda, many agencies appeared. Traditional bookmakers and casinos were branching out into the online sector; because people by nature love tradition, it wasn’t exactly evolve or die, but the direction in which the industry was going had become clear.

A new millennium saw the expansion of gaming software, and intense competition between operators which led to rapid acceleration. The complexity of the games available grew at an unprecedented rate, with companies such as Microgaming diving head-first into the expansion of the industry.

2002 saw the introduction of live betting. This meant that sports bettors – whose chosen niche had risen steadily alongside online casinos – could place bets on events as they were happening, which offered a unique advantage that they didn’t have before. It also turned online sports betting into more of a well-rounded activity; people could log on, make a prediction while watching their chosen event and enjoy the show.

In 2019, the global online gaming market size was over 40 billion USD, and it continues to grow; in countries such as Japan where legal physical resorts are yet to be built, online gambling offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the casino experience. People are waking up from the dream of resorts and bookmakers, to the reality that the online option is far more beneficial.

The Benefits of Online Betting

Bonuses and Offers

Online casinos and betting agencies were built through competition; the contenders had a wide-open market to reap, and numbers were everything. In order to obtain more of a share than their counterparts, they had to offer better bonuses. The consequences of this are still well in-effect today; with most sites, you’ll get discounts on a certain number of bets, or even free money into your account to get you started. These are benefits that physical establishments simply can’t facilitate, and offer a very real advantage in terms of turning a profit. Since you’re a bettor there’s a good chance you’ve already taken advantage of the betting ones but online casinos offer a different set of bonuses you an take advantage of. For example if you’re a bettor you will of likely taken advantage of the latest Uni Bet offer but there’s a good chance you won’t have taken advantage of Casino X’s which you can find here on Japan 101’s website.

The Control

If you’re a hardcore sports bettor, you’re probably aware that there will always be a surer way to make money. The difference between sports betting and online casinos is that in the latter, you can change the outcome. You are the player; you don’t depend on a future that you can’t make happen.

Online casinos offer hundreds of games; there’s usually a how-to on the rules, and an option to play without betting. Taking advantage of these, you can essentially train to win before you even make a bet. Due to the factor of skill and the ability to familiarize yourself with the games, online casinos can increase your odds the likes of which sports betting simply doesn’t facilitate.

Privacy

Many first-time betters are intimidated by the solidity of a resort; these establishments tend to have their regulars, and entering for the first time – as with any such community – can feel like intruding. This feeling often strips people of the unique experience of placing their first bet, and can be avoided by engaging from the privacy of their own home.

The culture and industry surrounding betting is evolving. The bookies will likely be there for a long time, but one cannot deny the unmatched benefits that online casinos offer. From the generous bonuses one receives to being able to actually practice for the games, they are an option which all sports bettors who want to make money should very seriously consider.