Online casino is a derivation of the land-based traditional casino, also referred to as virtual casinos or gambling sites and providing diverse games or perhaps a single one determined by the site operation, franchise, etc. The online casino offers generally better odds than land-based casinos for games for example slot machines where the prospects of winning are regulated by the house, the so-called house advantage.

On August 18, 1995 the world's first online casino debuted, Internet Casinos, Inc. (ICI) operating with 18 different casino games as well as for the first time offering also online access to the national Indian Lottery. However, since the early days ICI operates out of the Turks and Caicos Islands, outside the country in order to avoid government prosecution.