📚 Historical Overview of Online Pokies in Australia

🕒 Early Development (1990s)

• Introduction of Online Gambling – The first online casinos emerged in the mid-1990s, allowing players to experience gambling from home.

  Year	Event
  1994	The Free Trade & Processing Act is passed in Antigua, allowing online gambling sites to operate.
  1996	The first online poker room is launched, paving the way for other online gambling avenues.

🌐 Growth and Regulation (2000s)

• Boom of Online Casino Platforms – By the early 2000s, numerous websites provided access to pokies and other casino games.

  Year	Event
  2001	Online gambling starts gaining popularity in Australia, with players accessing international sites.
  2003	The Australian Federal Government releases the Interactive Gambling Act aimed at regulating the industry.

🔍 Legal Changes and Innovations (2010s)

• Shift Towards Mobile and Instant Play – The rise of smartphones transforms the online pokies experience.

  Year	Event
  2012	Mobile gaming becomes mainstream, with a significant increase in mobile-friendly pokies.
  2016	New technologies such as HTML5 allow seamless access to online pokies across all devices.

📈 Present Day Developments (2020s)

• Focus on Responsible Gambling – Initiatives to promote safe gambling practices are launched across online platforms.

  Year	Event
  2020	COVID-19 pandemic increases online gambling as physical casino venues close, leading to a surge in new players.
  2023	The gaming and wagering industry continues to evolve, with enhanced regulations and new game offerings.