Who said Italians are only famous for pizza, pasta, and mandolins? To the surprise of many, Italians are among the people who most enjoy playing online casinos, thanks to their extreme convenience and comfort, but especially because of the number of games accessible nowadays. Without having to think about schedules, without having to comply with strict dress codes (even though Italians love fashion!), it is possible to experience the real fun of the gaming rooms right at home, from your smartphone, perhaps enjoying a good plate of al dente pasta. And it is no coincidence that in this beautiful boot-shaped country, the remote gaming sector has exploded in recent years, with an increasing number of online casinos. After all, Italians are world-famous for their passion for gambling!
Once upon a time, there was a casino…
Until 2011, aside from eating great food, Italians loved to experience the fun of betting and gambling in land-based casinos, but in the last decade, something has changed! In that very year, the first online casinos were showing up.
Operators then began working hard to make their online platforms famous (it was a struggle, but well worth it!). The goal was to create partnerships with the best (and historical) industry leaders in game production to launch entertainment versions on the web. But how did it get to this point?
It has been a long road, and we’ve got to look at the global picture to fully understand it. In 1995, it was Microgaming, the current leader among providers, that launched its first online casino, and 3 years later, introduced the first progressive jackpot slot. Also worth mentioning is 2001, when Playtech launched its first online casino – how could we forget that! And last but not least, the most recent data (recorded in 2017, so not even too long ago!) tells us that the Italian market is the second largest online gambling market in Europe, with many online poker, blackjack, and slots games, and also baccarat crypto games to play! Did you expect that? Probably not, but life is full of surprises!
What makes the difference? Convenience, security, and accessibility
Take a pen and paper and mark down the 3 main factors that have made the difference between a physical casino and an online casino: convenience, security, and accessibility. As mentioned earlier, playing online means being able to bet from anywhere: from home, but also on the train, in the office, or at the beach (how wonderful!). Virtual casinos have the ability to adapt to “movement,” to the continuous evolution of our lives. And this eliminates the loss of time associated with travel, which we used to have to deal with any time we went to a physical casino.
Remaining comfortably seated at home, it is possible to open a vast catalog of games, portfolios full of interesting titles and tables, and live modes to make the experience even more captivating and realistic (a little technology never hurts!). All the while, you can count on maximum security, with casinos working hard to protect player details and finances – because obviously, their reputations are on the line. Who would have thought, even only 20 years ago, that one day, human beings would be able to create all this?
What’s the future of online casinos in Italy?
Although gambling in Italy was appreciated very late compared to other European countries, to date, it is one of the most successful markets ever. Indeed, it has been able to catch up rapidly, even against much longer-lived markets such as video games. The question that arises is, what kind of response will we have in the near future? Will online casinos continue to develop and gain success, or will there be a decline?
What we do know is that the level of quality and innovation can only improve, thanks to the careful work of the providers, who are always ready to introduce new technologies. And all this means not only that it will be possible to improve the range of games offered, but also the payment methods to choose from (let’s not forget the fact that you can now play online casinos even with Bitcoins!), and the excellent customer service offered.
Conclusion
It’s hard to know exactly where we’re going next with casinos in Italy – will we see crypto ones breaking new ground? Better mobile options to tantalize players? Something else entirely? Who knows!
But what we do know is that there’s great excitement to be had and the casinos right now are doing well, whether they’re land-based or digital only. We’ve come quite some way since 1995, and it doesn’t look like this market is going away anytime soon; it’s got a foundation of loyal players who come back again and again for everything that it has to offer – and that’s great news!
Contributing author to Weird Italy, , a site focused on exploring the distinctive and unconventional facets of Italian culture, history, and modern life.