It's hard to believe, but it has only been about ten years since internet gambling really got underway. Around the tail end of 1996, sports books had taken their place on the internet, and other forms of gambling were quickly following.

A big step forward was taken when the slow and often cumbersome procedure of wiring money and sending cashiers checks gave way to credit card processing online. Then came still another innovation to spur on the rapid growth of online gaming. Cryptologic Inc. and Handa Lopez Inc., software developers located in Toronto and San Francisco, respectively, debuted software that enabled gamblers to play casino games on the internet for real money.

Over the next two years, betting agencies in Australia and New Zealand, as well as betting shops in Europe were joining the rush to cash in on the burgeoning internet gambling boom. Interlotto, a site based in Liechtenstein, established the worlds first online lottery. Then came Piggs Park Casino, a land-based establishment which became the first brick and mortar casino to establish an online presence. Online Bingo was already a booming enterprise since its 1997 beginnings as an online gambling game.

In the U.S. lawmakers were taking note of now significant gambling site presence on the internet and a number of lawmakers began the drafting of bills to either ban or control these entities. Any number of bills were drafted and discarded, or never made it to a vote in the house, mainly because of the daunting task of enforcement.

In Canada, the Government has made little effort to interfere with Canadian citizens gambling online, but there are no gaming websites controlled from Canadian soil. The vast majority of gambling websites have their operations based in Caribbean or Central American countries where a friendly tax-free environment has been created to welcome businesses of all types to the industry-hungry area. However, all prospective online gambling operatives are subject to rigorous background checks and software certification before any licenses are granted.

European websites do not at present feature online casinos, but do feature sports books, race books and lotteries. These online sites are carefully regulated and taxed by their respective governments. However, the tiny island of Malta is poised to roll out the red carpet for internet-based gambling sites, and if persistent rumors ring true, England may well become the destination of choice for many prominent off-shore gambling operatives in the near future. Additionally, online gambling sites could be negotiating arrangements with Indian casinos in Canada for join ventures.

Sweden allows online betting on all types of sports, but these sites can only be played within the country. Australia once provided a huge customer base for online casinos, but Australia preceded U.S. lawmakers in the passage of restrictive legislation regarding online gambling by its citizens. In 2001, the Australian Interactive Gambling Act prohibited the advertising of online gambling services 'where it is likely that the majority of the sites users are physically present in Australia.'

Internet gambling in Asia is gaining strides rapidly but is still a daunting place to do business for the newcomer. Asia's overall improvements in infrastructure and ready internet access for the individual are beginning to overcome a slow start and will gradually be opening the gigantic Asian market to online gambling.