Online gambling became available in the mid-1990s when the internet entered the public domain. It was at this time that the government of Antigua and Barbuda issued licenses to interested businesses after the Free Trade and Processing Act was passed. As soon as the law was passed, dozens of gambling sites were available, and new ones were being established. Before 1998, there were over 200 online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting venues across the globe. It was from here that the industry picked up, and the fruits of the first online casinos can be seen today.