InterCasino
 | |
| 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 CryptoLogic Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc. Registered in Malta, it is regulated by the Lotteries & Gaming Authority of Malta.
History
Intercasino was created on November 17, 1996.[1] In 1996, InterCasino accepted the first genuine money wager online[2] 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[3] and the business is now in the hands of new owners.
InterCasino's online platforms are powered by WagerLogic software, a division of CryptoLogic.[4]
In 2002, InterCasino launched InterCasinoPoker, a poker room. InterCasino is regulated by Malta[5] The name was later shortened to InterPoker. 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.[6]
In April 2012, InterCasino's parent company, CryptoLogic, was acquired by the Amaya Gaming Group in a $35.8 million cash for shares takeover.[7] Amaya subsequently sold Cryptologic's business-to-consumer facing subsidiary, WagerLogic, to Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc in a transaction valued at $70 million in February 2014.[8] This sale included all of Cryptologic's consumer facing online gambling sites including InterCasino, InterPoker, and InterBingo.
Payouts
The then world's biggest online jackpot was won in December 2005 winning $1,768,518.49 playing InterCasino's Millionaires Club progressive slots.[9]
The record was then broken in May 2007 when a blacksmith with the player name of Obaesso won $8,000,000.[10]
Regulation
Wagers from US players for InterCasino games stopped being accepted in October 2006 due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. This made transactions from banks and similar financial institutions to online gambling websites a crime.[11][12] As of November 9, 2011, InterCasino's services were not available to residents from the United States, the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau and Turkey.
In 2008, 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.[13]
InterCasino's parent company at the time, 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.[14]
References
- 1 2 "About us". InterCasino. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ↑ Somach, Tom (2 July 2007). "Gambling... Gold rush? A congressional push last year stopped many Americans from playing the games online, but the law may be changed". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ↑ King, Ralph (1 April 2003). "Online Gambling's Mr. Big John Anderson's Web casino is a profit machine. If only he could convince the U.S. government that online gambling ought to be legal.". CNN Money.
- ↑ "Reader Poll Awards 2008". Gambling Online Magazine. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ↑ http://www.intercasino.com
- ↑ "Gambling Online Magazine Reader Poll Awards 2003". Gambling Online Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ↑ Casino Listings: Cryptologic Loses Ground In First Quarter
- ↑ Amaya Gaming: Amaya Gaming Group announces its 2014 first quarter financial results
- ↑ "Englishman Hits the Jackpot at InterCasino.com". Gambling.co.uk. 15 December 2005.
- ↑ "Millionaires Club Jackpot Winners". Millionaires Club Progressive Slot. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ↑ Humphey, Chuck (13 October 2006). "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006". Gambling-Law-US.com.
- ↑ Schwartz, Ronald (27 May 2011). "Slot Joint Online Casino". slotjoint.com.
- ↑ "Effective self-regulation: Keeping advertising standards high". ASA Annual Report 2008. Advertising Standards Agency.
- ↑ Sweney, Mark (23 April 2008). "Gambling ads banned by watchdog". The Guardian.