The history of humanity is intricately interwoven with the history of gambling, since it appears that no matter how far back in time you go, there are indicators that gambling was undoubtedly taking place wherever groups of people met.
The Earliest Record of Gambling
While certain types of betting have almost certainly existed since the start of human history, the first definite evidence comes from Ancient China, when tiles were discovered that looked to have been used for a basic game of chance. The Chinese ‘Book of Songs’ mentions “the drawing of wood,” implying that the tiles were part of a lottery-style game. There is proof as keno slips, which were used as a lottery in around 200bc to pay governmental works, probably including the construction of the Great Wall of China. Lotteries have been utilised for civic purposes throughout history – Harvard and Yale were founded using lottery monies – and continue to do so today.
Dicing with the Law in Rome’s Streets
Sophocles, the Greek playwright, claimed that a legendary hero devised dice during the assault of Troy. While this may have a questionable foundation in truth, his works about 500bc were the first mention of dice in Greek history. Of course, we know that dice existed far earlier than this because a pair was discovered in an Egyptian tomb dating back to 3000bc, but what is known is that the Ancient Greeks and Romans liked to bet on all kinds of things seemingly at any available chance.
In reality, all types of gambling, including dice games, were prohibited within the ancient city of Rome, with a penalty of four times the amount gambled imposed on those found. As a result, astute Roman people devised the first gambling chips, claiming that they were playing for chips and not real money if the authorities apprehended them.
Playing The Right Cards in China
According to most experts, the earliest playing cards arose in China in the 9th century. However, the particular rules of the games they were employed for have been lost to history. For example, some argue that the cards were both the game and the stake, similar to trading card games popular among youngsters today, while others claim the first packs of cards were paper versions of Chinese domino. Certainly, the cards used at the period bore little resemblance to the normal 52-card decks we are familiar with today.
Baccarat in Italy and France
The first game still played in casinos today is Baccarat, a two-player card game first documented in the 1400s when it travelled from Italy to France. Despite its early origins, the game we know today evolved over hundreds of years and through several iterations. Although other versions of the game have existed, the standard version found in casinos worldwide originated in Cuba and travelled to the United States via Britain, with a few rule changes along the way. Although Baccarat is more of a spectator sport than a game, it is available in almost every casino because of its appeal among high-rolling players.
Blackjack through the Ages
Some believe that the oldest blackjack variants evolved from a Spanish game known as ventiuna, which was mentioned in a book authored by the author of Don Quixote in 1601. There are, however, various alternative origin myths. The creators of games of chance, like all of these genesis legends, were hardly mentioned in historical chronicles. Nevertheless, the seventeenth-century French game of vingt-et-un is unquestionably a direct forefather of the present game.
This game came to the United States with early French settlers. The term “blackjack” was coined in the United States and is associated with special promotions in Nevada casinos in the 1930s. To entice more clients, 10 to 1 odds were offered if the player won with a black Jack of Clubs or Spades and an Ace of Spades. The unusual odds didn’t last long, but the name lives on.
First Casinos in Italy
The first gaming halls comparable to casinos appeared in Italy in the early 17th century. For example, the Ridotto was founded in Venice in 1638 to provide a regulated gambling atmosphere among the commotion of the annual carnival season. During the nineteenth century, casinos began to crop up all across continental Europe, whereas in the United States, far more casual gambling halls were popular. Indeed, steamboats transporting rich farmers and business people up and down the Mississippi offered a platform for a great deal of informal gambling stateside. When we think of casinos, we usually think of the Las Vegas Strip, which sprang from the ashes of America’s Great Depression.
The Little Wheel in Paris
The wheel we now identify as the American Roulette wheel originated in the gambling rooms of Paris, where players would have been familiar with it. It took another 50 years for the ‘European’ version with only one green zero to appear, and generations of roulette players can be thankful for it. Throughout the nineteenth century, roulette gained in popularity. When the famed Monte Carlo casino adopted the single zero version of the game, it spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Still, Americans continued to use the original double-zero wheels.
Poker: Bust to Boom
Poker appears to have evolved organically from various card games over decades, if not centuries. Some claim that Poker’s origins may be traced back to seventeenth-century Persia, while others claim that the game we know today was influenced by a French game called Poque. We know for certain that in 1829, an English actor named Joseph Crowell stated that a recognised variation of the game was being played in New Orleans. Thus it is as good a date as any for the creation of Poker.
The game’s popularity grew slowly until international poker tournaments began to be held in Las Vegas in the 1970s. On the other hand, Poker truly took off with the introduction of internet poker and broadcast events that allowed viewers to see the players’ hands. When amateur player Chris Moneymaker qualified for and won the 2003 World Poker Championship through online play, everyone saw themselves as online poker billionaires.
Gaming Machine
The first gaming machine that resembled the slots we know today was created in New York by Messrs Sittman and Pitt, who utilised 52 cards on drum reels to create a type of poker game. A Charles Fey in San Francisco created the Liberty Bell mechanism around the same time. This machine was far more practical in that winnings could be accurately managed, and it heralded the start of the true slot game revolution. The fact that bell symbols are still used in current video slot games may be traced back to this early idea. While early machines dispensed cigars and gum rather than money, money-dispensing versions quickly became a fixture in pubs and casinos throughout the world. When the first video slot was produced in 1976, it paved the way for the online video slots that followed.
Gambling in the United States: Two Faces of the Same Coin
Since the arrival of the first European immigrants, the United States has had an up and down relationship with gambling. Whereas Puritan bands of settlers expressly prohibited gambling in their new communities, those moving from England had a more liberal attitude toward gambling and were more than willing to accept it. This schizophrenic connection has persisted until the present day, with public pressure leading to a statewide ban on gambling in 1910.
Like the alcohol ban of the same century, it proved impossible to implement, and gambling persisted unobtrusively. The Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression that followed in the early 1930s resulted in gambling being legalised again since, for many, it was the only way out of the grinding poverty they were experiencing. Although gambling is permitted in several states today, most notably in Las Vegas, Nevada, internet gambling remains illegal in the United States. Many overseas internet casinos are now unable to accept American customers. However, this appears to be changing shortly.
The New Frontier for Gambling
Microgaming is one of the world’s leading casino and slot game providers and one of the pioneers of online gambling. The first steps into the realm of virtual casinos were taken in 1994, which is around 2300 years ago in internet terms! Within five years, internet gambling had grown to be worth over a billion dollars, and it is now a multibillion-dollar business with over a thousand online casinos and counting. Playtech launched the first live dealer casinos in 2003, bringing us closer to a mix between brick and mortar casinos and the virtual world.
Gambling on Mobile
Since New Jersey authorised internet gambling in 2011, there has been a surge in the public interest. America has experienced a gradual shift toward legalisation, as well as a tremendous increase in mobile gaming. Globally, internet users are shifting away from desktop computers and portable devices. It is also true for online gamblers who wish to play their favourite games while on the move. The largest gaming sites have seen a need and have moved forward to meet it. With a slew of outstanding mobile-focused online gambling sites hitting the world by storm, it’s safe to assume that PCs are falling far behind in favour of more mobile options.
Top Real Money Online Casino Games
Online casino games have become the latest method since to make money from the comfort of your own home. With millions of players trying their luck on different online casino games every day, identifying the greatest online casino games is difficult, but here is a list of the top online casino games that you can play for real money:
Rummy
It is a popular card game that is played all over the world. Rummy is played with two decks of cards and two Jokers. While playing Rummy, your primary purpose should be to construct a sequence of the cards. You may achieve this by selecting up cards from one deck. It should be face down and then discarding them to another deck, which is open. The highest cards in Rummy are the Ace, King, Queen, and Jack, which are all worth 10 points. The remainder of the cards has the same value as their number. The Jokers serve as wild cards but have no points.
Poker
Poker is the most well-known and widely played online casino game. It is a card game with an ability-based structure, deception, and enjoyment. The poker game has several varieties, the most popular of which appears to be Texas Hold ’em Poker. The rules of the many varieties of Poker varies somewhat, so you should familiarise yourself with them before playing.
Roullete
It is perhaps the most well-known and popular online casino game. It is a basic game where you put bets on numbers. You win if the ball lands on your chosen number. You may put several types of wagers and side bets in the Roullete game to win real money.
BlackJack
It is the most popular game at any casino table or online casino website. In Blackjack, players compete against the dealer rather than against one another. You can put a variety of bets and side bets in the game. When playing Blackjack, your main goal is to beat the dealer’s hand. To accomplish so, you must score 21 or as near to 21 as you can without going overboard. Whoever has the closest hand to 21 wins the round of Blackjack.
Baccarat
It is a fast-paced, enjoyable online casino game with a large reward due to the minimal house edge. You must place a wager on either the player or the banker to see who comes closest to 9 points. There are also side bets such as Perfect Pair and Doubling the Bet.
The Game of Fortune
Because it is entertaining, Wheel of Fortune is a popular online casino game. It is a live chat-based online casino game where the dealer replies to the audience. However, the house edge in this casino game is extremely substantial. So you should select your bets wisely while playing the game. As a player on Wheel of Fortune, you will have three choices. You can continue spinning the wheel while saying a consonant, spending $250 to buy a vowel, or completing the riddle. Although the odds of winning the Wheel of Fortune game are slim, it is a fun casino game.
Keno
It is a lottery-style casino game second only to Bingo in popularity. When playing Keno at online casino websites, the house edge might be as high as 30%. However, remember that Keno is a game that ultimately rests on your luck because the outcomes are completely unpredictable. As a result, if you enjoy taking risks in lottery-style games, you should try Keno.
Conclusion
To summarize in the history of gambling, we can say that gambling and online casino games in particular are here to stay and may perhaps become the most promising approach to make some additional money. Of course, these are only the top casino games available on various internet platforms. Still, there are many other games you may attempt to satisfy the pleasure of online gaming for real money.
Very interesting and I’d like to read this article. Good job!
Thanks for sharing your article. I really enjoyed it.
This is my first time here, and I discovered a lot of fascinating information in your site. Thank you for the information you have provided. It’s very helpful.