The first online casino (1996), now Malta-licensed, with a documented Safety Index that varies notably by jurisdiction version
Not available lawfully hereIs InterCasino legal in Japan?
No. Real-money gambling is banned in Japan. Under the Penal Code gambling offences and the revised Basic Law on Measures against Addiction, in force since the revised law took effect in September 2025, InterCasino cannot lawfully offer you a welcome bonus here, and you cannot lawfully claim one.
Only public pari-mutuel sports and lotteries are legal in Japan; offshore online casinos are not. Online casino-related arrests hit a record 196 in 2025, up more than 38% on 2024. The revised law also criminalises intermediary 'reach' sites and social media promotion that funnel players to offshore casinos, and the first arrests over an affiliate site followed in September 2025. source
Any InterCasino bonus you see advertised for Japan is offered from an offshore site operating against local law. Your payments can be blocked, your account can vanish with a mirror domain, and no Japan regulator can help you recover funds. We therefore show no offer and no sign-up link on this page. See every licensed betting site in Japan →
Pros
- Historically significant - widely credited as the first online casino (1996)
- Genuine Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority licence
- A real standout welcome bonus: up to $500 with NO wagering requirement
- Decades-long operating history
Cons
- casino.guru Safety Index varies notably by jurisdiction version (7.2 general vs. 8.9 UK/Denmark) - a real inconsistency
- Documented complaint: a Japan-based player's duplicate-account issue left a $3,689 balance effectively stuck
- Documented complaint: casino refused to disable a withdrawal-reversal feature at a player's request
- Voided-winnings complaints reported on other review platforms
- Illegal/unregulated for Japan-based players
Our verdict
InterCasino is widely credited as the first online casino to accept a genuine-money wager, launched in November 1996 in Antigua. After changing hands through CryptoLogic, Amaya Gaming Group (2012) and finally Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc (2014), it is now registered in Malta and regulated by the Lotteries & Gaming Authority of Malta. casino.guru gives it an Above Average 7.2 Safety Index generally, though we want to flag directly that its UK and Denmark-specific versions score notably higher (8.9, High) - a real inconsistency across jurisdictional versions rather than a single, consistent safety picture. casino.guru documents 4 direct complaints, including a specific case involving a Japan-based player whose duplicate-account issue (not flagged at registration) left a $3,689 balance effectively stuck, with the casino instructing her to use her previous account instead. Other documented complaints describe the casino refusing to disable a withdrawal-reversal feature for a player who wanted their withdrawal locked in, and voided-winnings reports on other review platforms. New players do get a genuine standout welcome offer - Welcome Cash up to $500 with no wagering requirement, valid 180 days. A historically significant, long-running casino with a real no-wagering bonus, but the jurisdiction-dependent Safety Index gap and documented complaints are worth weighing before depositing.
How we rated it
Bonuses & value (18%)7.5
A real standout: Welcome Cash up to $500 with NO wagering requirement, earned via redeemable 'Credit' points, valid 180 days.
Casino (36%)7
The historically significant first online casino (1996), now Malta-licensed under Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc, with a well-documented, decades-long operating history.
Customer support (18%)5.5
Documented complaints describe a duplicate-account issue affecting a Japan-based player's balance access, a refusal to disable a withdrawal-reversal feature, and voided-winnings reports on other review platforms.
Trust & licensing (27%)5
A genuine Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority licence with a long operating history, but casino.guru gives it only an Above Average 7.2 Safety Index generally (its UK/Denmark-specific versions score notably higher at 8.9), and documents 4 direct complaints including a Japan-specific duplicate-account issue and a withdrawal-reversal refusal. We score trust conservatively given this jurisdiction-dependent inconsistency and the documented complaints.
Quick facts
| Founded | 17 November 1996, Antigua - widely credited as the first online casino |
| Owner | Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc (bought CryptoLogic consumer brands from Amaya, 2014, ~$70m) |
| Licence | Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority |
| casino.guru Safety Index | 7.2 (Above Average) generally; UK/Denmark versions score 8.9 (High) - a notable jurisdictional inconsistency |
| Documented complaints | Japan duplicate-account issue ($3,689 balance stuck); withdrawal-reversal refusal; voided-winnings reports |
| Welcome bonus | Welcome Cash up to $500, NO wagering requirement, 180-day validity |
How we verified this
InterCasino's 1996 founding, its CryptoLogic/Amaya/Goldstar ownership history, and its Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority registration are corroborated across Wikipedia and independent industry-history sources. The Above Average 7.2 general Safety Index versus the High 8.9 UK/Denmark-specific scores are both drawn from casino.guru's own published reviews, and we report the inconsistency directly rather than cite only the higher figure. The documented complaints (Japan duplicate-account case, withdrawal-reversal refusal, voided-winnings reports) are drawn from casino.guru's and AskGamblers' own published complaint records. Japan's illegal/unregulated legal status matches our own bonuses.json entry for this brand.
Where InterCasino is licensed
InterCasino appears on the official register in 1 countries. Highlighted countries have a full local review — pick yours for its welcome bonus and licence details.
Asia (1)
About InterCasino
InterCasino, launched in 1996, is widely credited as the first online casino. Now Malta-licensed under Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc, it offers a genuine no-wagering welcome bonus, but we report a notable casino.guru Safety Index gap between its general version (7.2) and UK/Denmark versions (8.9), plus documented complaints including a Japan-specific duplicate-account issue.
InterCasino FAQ
Is InterCasino really the first online casino?
It's widely credited as such - launched 17 November 1996 in Antigua by former Ohio bookmaker William 'Billy' Scott, using CryptoLogic's technology.
Is InterCasino licensed?
Yes - it's registered in Malta and regulated by the Lotteries & Gaming Authority of Malta, currently owned by Goldstar Acquisitionco Inc.
Is InterCasino safe?
casino.guru gives it an Above Average 7.2 Safety Index generally, though its UK and Denmark-specific versions score notably higher (8.9) - a real inconsistency across jurisdictional versions worth knowing about.
Does InterCasino have complaints?
Yes - casino.guru documents 4 direct complaints, including a Japan-based player's duplicate-account issue that left a $3,689 balance stuck, and a case where the casino refused to disable a withdrawal-reversal feature at a player's request.
What is the InterCasino welcome bonus?
Welcome Cash up to $500 with NO wagering requirement, earned via redeemable 'Credit' points, valid 180 days from registration.