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Summarize – So who did what first and when?
You needed two essential things: an online gambling system and a friendly jurisdiction to house it in. We’re looking at the early 1990’s, and as outlined above, the idea that you could carry out a gambling business had just occurred to a few entrepreneurs. Here’s a rough timeline.
1993
Law on Lotteries and Commercial Gaming was enacted. Came into force July 1, 1994
1994
Antigua & Barbuda have the foresight to create a Free Trade Zone. It enabled online gambling business to operate for an annual fixed fee.
1994
Martin Moshal, along with Roger Raatgever, created Microgaming with the intention of creating online casino software. After setting up their first site in South Africa casino.co.za, they then discovered a perfect home for their licensing company in the Isle of Man, as well as and an operator haven in Antigua and Barbuda.
1994
David Vanrenen secures a Liechtenstein license to operate an online charity lottery
1995
The Gaming Club / Gambling Club Casino using Microgaming’s software and running under the Antigua and Barbuda jurisdiction appears opens for business but – crucially – did not initially offer online payments. This was remedied only in 1997
1995
The Rivkin brothers founded CryptoLogic. Initially developing a secure payments system before branching into casino games.
1995
October 4th. Interlotto.li opens its doors with online payments and holds the first draw a few days later.
1996
January 17th. Intertops.co.at in Austria, launches the first online sportsbook with online payments, and takes the first sportsbet.
1996
Intercasino.com launches in Antigua and Barbuda, using CryptoLogic’s gaming platform with online payments built-in.
And then the dam broke! Online gambling friendly jurisdictions started to pop up in other parts of the world, software suppliers were developing at breakneck speed, payments companies blossomed and myriads of casinos and sportsbooks would rapidly follow in the steps of the pioneers.
Conclusion – Martin did it
So yes, the father of online gambling is Martin Moshal. Basically,he achieved the goal of creating the first Internet Casino in 1994 and – by extension – he accepted the first online wager.
Although a was a bit rickety, the first Microgaming casino was the first to provide a casino experience over the internet.
In 1995, Intertlotto.li takes the honor of providing not only the first online lottery but also the first online payments system integrated into a customer account system.
In 1996, Intertops was the first online sportsbook
Followed rapidly by Intercasino.com – the first complete online casino
Aside
I recall meeting Martin and his father John, around 1997, when Intertops was integrating Microgaming software into their sports betting platform (yes, Intertops was the first to do that too 😊). Both men exuded quiet confidence and had a purposeful sense of humor.
John Moshal was a skilled engineer and businessman. He built a highly successful engineering company in South Africa and instilled the core values of entrepreneurship and philanthropy in many people, including his son Martin.
Although Martin came up with the idea of an Internet casino, I believe it was John who truly inspired it. So, he was the grandfather of online gaming.
Sadly, John passed away in 2021 at the age of 81.
Martin developed Microgaming’s gaming products to be not only entertaining for players but also easy to integrate into other gaming platforms. This strategy paid off, as Microgaming successfully signed up over 200 operators.
Intertops was one of the first Microgaming operators and was live in 1997. It was a great success and later on, with a lot of help from some clever people, Intertops produced a casino on a CD Rom that incorporated Microgaming’s games – with one exclusive slot: The Intertops Express.
Memorable titles like Cash Splash, Major Millions, and later on Lara Croft: Tomb Raider as well as a complex but sizable poker network proved popular with players and profitable for operators.
Roger Raatgever was for many years a steady hand as CEO of Microgaming which freed up Martin to move into new tech ventures and philanthropic causes. Since Roger’s departure in 2017, Microgaming has gone through relatively troubled period which has seen significant product changes and four CEOs.
To combat fraud, and to improve industry reputation, in 2003 Microgaming teamed up with other industry stakeholders to form the e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation Assurance; aimed at promoting fair gaming practices, ensuring player protection, and enhancing regulatory compliance. eCOGRA has since contributed significantly to the growth and development of the online gambling industry.
Martin continues his career as a serial tech investor and started his investment company Entrée Capital in 2009. Entrée manages various funds valued around $1.25 billion from offices in Tel Aviv, London and New York.
Also in 2009, Martin created the Moshal Scholarship Program which has since supported over 1,400 students from Israel and South Africa.
