December 16, 2005 (London, UK) – Intertops.com will proudly celebrate their 10th anniversary of the first ever online sports bet – which was placed on Intertops.com website – on January 17, 1996.
In 1996, the Internet was very much in its infancy and the notion of an ‘online gaming industry’ was merely a pipe dream. However, against all odds, Intertops.com made the brave leap into the online world and accepted the first ever interactive bet on January 17 from Finnish gambling enthusiast Jukka Honkavaara.
Mr Honkavaara placed a US$50 bet on the outcome of a football match between UK teams Tottenham and Hereford United, which won him US$52 – a profit of $2. The first ever bet was a winner – though small it was!
The early success of Intertops.com saw the company create one of the world’s first Microgaming powered casinos and became a leading player in the burgeoning online gaming world.
In 2000, Intertops.com again proved itself as a true innovator with their in-house development team’s building of a WAP portal, giving Intertops.com the ability to accept the first mobile bet in the world. Three years later, the company further cemented its inimitable presence in the online gaming world through its online poker operations as part of the PartyPoker Network.
Today, Intertops.com, is a multi-million dollar business offering more than 1,000 online betting options each day to sports fans just like Jukka Honkavaara.
Michl Posch, Head of Marketing at Intertops.com said of this landmark celebration, “2006 may be our tenth anniversary, but it is as well the 10th anniversary of the whole online betting industry. It is also the beginning of a truly exciting future for the company – and for the Online Gaming industry as a whole.”
“These true pioneers are inviting all its customers and clients – past and present – to celebrate their marvellous achievement. Congratulations Intertops.com!”