Intertops has celebrated 25 years since it became the first company to accept an online bet by launching its new, redesigned in-play sportsbook.
On January 17 1996, Jukka Honkavaara – now a SBC Hall of Fame inductee – placed a $50 wager with Intertops on Tottenham Hotspur to beat Hereford United in an FA Cup fourth round tie. With odds of 1.04, Honkavaara is said to have only pocketed a profit of $2 after the Premier League side beat their lower-league opponents 5-1.
“We remain proud of our unique place in gambling history,” an Intertops spokesperson commented. “Gambling in one form or another had been around for millennia, yet Intertops brought it into the digital world in January 1996 thanks to our foresight and pioneering spirit, which remains the same today.
“In the years since that historic day, we have striven to stay at the head of the gambling sector, offering entertainment to millions of players each year through our comprehensive Sportsbook, Poker and Casino platforms.
“We will always be the first, but the introduction of our new Sportsbook will also ensure that we remain the best.”
Since accepting the first online bet, Intertops has praised its progress as a betting company, having launched ‘the first-ever mobile betting site, and two years later introduced live betting’.
“After all the years of success in the past, we remain committed to the future and providing players with the games they love to play,” the spokesperson added. “Here’s to 25 more years of fun in a safe gaming environment.”