Non UK casino sites have been around in the United Kingdom since a few decades ago. Online gambling started around 1994 after the Free Trade and Processing Act was passed in Barbuda and Antigua. Following this act, Antigua granted some remote casinos a license to offer their products and services online. This development paved the way for launching the first online casino software, Microgaming. Apart from that, Cryptologic, a safe payment system, was also introduced.
The first non UK gambling site launched online is Intertops. It is the first recognized betting site on the internet, and it is still in operation today. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission regulated the gambling site. It is worth mentioning that it cannot legally accept players from the UK because it does not hold a UKGC license.
In 1998, about 100 gambling sites were launched globally. Some of the top sportsbooks in the UK at that time include Coral, Ladbrokes, and William Hill. A few years later, there has been a ton of non UK casinos sites and sportsbooks in the United Kingdom. Players’ attention has shifted from land-based gambling venues to online casinos and betting sites.
Due to the proliferation of online gambling, the UK government had to protect vulnerable groups, especially those battling addiction. The UK Gambling Commission introduced the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme to enable problem gamblers to block themselves from UK casino sites. Furthermore, non UK gambling sites are covered by this scheme. Hence, they accept players seeking casinos not on Gamstop. They also attract players with more significant rewards, including enticing promotional offers and tournaments.
History of Online Gambling
As mentioned earlier, Microgaming is the first fully functional software; it was developed by a company based in the Isle of Man. In 1996, Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established. The commission regulates and issues gaming licenses to several of the world’s first online casinos and poker sites, including those accessible to UK punters. The essence of the license is to make online gambling transparent and fair.
The popularity of online gambling continued to gain popularity in the 1990s as the number of gambling websites has increased by leaps and bounds with this period. The first-ever online poker room was launched in 1998. The online gambling revenue rose to $830 million in the same year. The following year, 1999, multiplayer online gambling was launched.
It is worth mentioning that many countries have their regulations guiding online gambling. Some countries restrict or ban gambling activities in their jurisdictions. In countries with legal gambling markets, betting operators are required to obtain a license from the regulator based in the country.
Conclusion
Non UK casino sites have been in operation in the United Kingdom for a long time. Some of these gambling sites date back to several decades ago and are accessible to players worldwide, including UK customers. Online casinos without UK licenses are regulated by top gambling commissions from Malta, Curacao, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, etc.