| Industry | Casino |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Products | Online casino |
| Website | www.intercasino.com |
InterCasino established the first online casino in 1996[1] and is part of the InterCasino Group, which is owned and operated by Online Interactive Gaming Entertainment. Registered in Malta, it is regulated by the Lotteries & Gaming Authority of Malta.[2]
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In 1996, InterCasino accepted the first genuine money wager online[3][4][5][6] after the business was initially launched in Antigua by William "Billy" Scott, a former Ohio bookmaker. In 1998, he was charged by prosecutors in the US for illegally taking sports bets online[7][8] and the business is now in the hands of new owners.
InterCasino's online platforms are powered by WagerLogic software, a division of Cryptologic. Established in 1996, WagerLogic's software has processed $54.7 billion in bets for 2.8 million players from over 150 countries.[9]
Some of WagerLogic's other clients include William Hill, BetSafe, Lottery.co.uk and CasinoJoy.com[10] . Cryptologic was the winner of the 'Best Casino Software' accolade at the Gambling Online magazine awards in 2008.[11]
In 2002, InterCasino launched InterCasinoPoker, a poker room. The name was later shortened to InterPoker.[12] The following year, Gambling Online magazine voted InterCasino as 'Top Online Casino', an accolade it also won in 2004 (jointly with Omnicasino), 2005 and 2006. In 2007 it came in second place after 888.com took the top spot.[13][14][15][16][17]
The then world's biggest online jackpot was won in December 2005 after a player scooped $1,768,518.49 playing InterCasino's Millionaires Club progressive slots. Known as Jon R, from Essex, England, the winner commented at the time: "I know it sounds unbelievable but I really felt I was going to win the jackpot, winning it is definitely going to change my life. At the recommendation of my wife, I may buy myself an Aston Martin for Christmas, and then take the entire family out shopping."[18][19]
The record was then broken in May 2007 when a blacksmith with the player name of Obaesso won $8,000,000. He was also playing InterCasino's Millionaires Club progressive slots. At the time the blacksmith said: "I don't know what I will do with the money, but I am looking forward to treating my family to a really great summer holiday, it will be the first time many of them have flown. I enjoy being a blacksmith but I need never work again."[20][21]
In September 2011, this record was once again beaten when a 20-year-old Norwegian student from Hordaland secured €11.7 million after playing the Mega Fortune progressive slots at Betsson.com. "This is unbelievable, I didn't believe it and had to call my brother and a few friends," he told the gaming website after his win.[22]
InterCasino's average payout rates stood at 97.26 per cent as of September 2011.[23]
Wagers from US players for InterCasino games stopped being accepted in the October of 2006 due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006. This made transactions from banks and similar financial institutions to online gambling websites a crime.[24] As of November 9th 2011, InterCasino's services were not available to residents from the US Virgin Islands and minor outlying areas, the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau and Turkey.
In September 2007, casinos were allowed to advertise on UK TV for the first time under the Gambling Act 2005. The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) announced in response that it would put strict rules in place to protect customers, especially those deemed as vulnerable and under the legal gambling age.[25]
The following year, a series of online casino and poker TV adverts from InterCasino were banned by the ASA because they were deemed as using juvenile and slapstick humour that could appeal to young people and children.[26]
InterCasino's parent Online Interactive Gaming Entertainment defended the adverts, describing them as using "gentle slapstick humour reminiscent of old-fashioned routines by Charlie Chaplin or Benny Hill" and, as such, not designed to appeal to children or young persons.[27]