A Brief History of Casino Games and Gambling

19.08.2019, 19:26

The term ‘gaming’ will quickly take your thinking to lotteries and the modern-day casinos. However, the genesis of casino games dates back to ancient periods when even religions engaged in gambling. The interests of Greeks in Mathematics led to the emergence of dices, which was the initial tool for casino games.

According to Greek Mythologies, such gods as Zeus and Hades used dices to settle on the partition of the universe. Pieces of evidence show that the Romans and Greeks enjoyed table games like ‘tail and head,’ where coins and shells were used. Ancient paintings and other artifacts further prove that Romans and Greeks undertook gamble as a pastime activity. The period witnessed massive betting on fighting animals and gladiators.

Egypt and China cannot be left out in the civilization stories. The two old nations have texts from religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism ‘casting lots’ to determine events.

The genesis of modern casinos

It is a futile task trying to establish the exact time gambling began, but Mathematics played a key role just like today. The Italians invented ‘mercantile gambling,’ where potential buyers risked some wagers to realize profits.

Gambling became so predominant among the citizens of Venice to the point that a building ’11 Ridotto’ was assigned to the activity. It’s true to say that Ridotto became the first casino in 1638 during the Old Age period.

Between 1650 and 1800, the Italians had influenced the French to join the gambling industry. Gaming in France began from the royal courts and later spread to the commoners in Paris. Moreover, such all-time classics as Roulette, Craps and possibly even Blackjack have originated there.

The famous Monte Carlo in Monaco had legalized gambling by 1796, but it didn’t take long before gambling was outlawed in France. With France shutting the betting doors, the entrepreneurs shifted their base to resort spas in Germany.

History of gambling in the USA

Later on, European settlers were responsible for the introduction of gambling in America and the New World. Evidence indicates that the American authorities tried to regulate gambling during the twentieth century. The majority of US states remained gambling-free for the longest time, with the activity was allowed in New Jersey, Nevada and numerous Indian reservations.

Today, we are living in a time when Las Vegas in Nevada has become the synonym for the casino. Furthermore, more and more US states are legalizing gambling. The rich gambling market made history with the rise of the modern Poker, as well as many variations of classic casino games.

The development of computer technology has further modified gambling leaving us with the now commonly used online casinos.

Origin of popular gambling games

Nearly every casino game was invented during a significant historical period. The industry has just added a few modifications, but this is how the story began:

Playing Cards. It is believed that it started in China in the 9^thCentury before the Indians and Persian adopted the game later.
Blackjack. Even though it’s considered to be an American version of the popular ‘twenty-one,’ its origin can be traced to 1820s in France. Hence, the difference between European and American Blackjack. Read more about the Rules of Blackjack.
Poker. It was developed in the US at the beginning of the 19^th century but later spread in western Canada, especially in bars and salons.
Craps. The game dates back to the medieval French crusaders. The name is not as nasty as it sounds, as it comes from the word crapaud (fr. toad), referring to the players squatting to play dice. However, the table layout was conceived only in the 20th century.
Roulette. The earlier version of the game was spotted in Italy in 1721. However, the most recognized version was reinvented in Paris around 1798. Read more about the Essential Roulette Rules.
Slot games. Modern casino slot games are a modified version of card-based symbols which were invented in 1800. Casino market today features the modern online casino platform, which was developed in the mid-2000s. Read more about Slots Rules.