Gambling is one of the most popular forms of entertainment nowadays, as more than 25% of the world’s population regularly plays luck-based games. It is also one of the oldest forms of entertainment dating back to ancient times. Today we have a pretty standard selection of casino games available on online gambling sites, and people from all over the world have access to this online entertainment. The sites are often reviewed and rated based on the number of games, bonuses, or other features that they offer. Here we will go over some fun facts related to the history of gambling and make some predictions about how it will evolve.
Gambling During Ancient Times
There is evidence that the first civilizations all had some sort of games or rituals that resemble gambling. It is speculated that its origin has to do with divination and tossing objects into the air to determine future outcomes. Strange objects that resemble dice were found in ruins of ancient Egypt and ancient Rome, and according to Sophocles dice were played during the invasion of Troy. This could have been the earliest origins of craps, but other games that we see in new Canadian casinos came much later. People do enjoy all sorts of casino games online, and modern technology has made them more interesting, but it took centuries to really standardize those games we love today.
Card Games
Most of the games in the casino use cards, and depending on where you live you will see different card games in land-based gambling joints. It’s hard to tell when playing cards appeared exactly, but according to a lot of scholars, they seem to date back to the 9th century. The land of origin, in this case, is China and it seems that both playing cards and trading card games originate here. However, the standard 52 card deck came later, and all of the casino games are using these standard decks.
Baccarat
One of the oldest card games in casinos that is played today is called Baccarat and the first version of Baccarat is mentioned during the 15th century. According to historians, Baccarat came to France from Italy, but it’s hard to tell if this is the land of origin. Furthermore, Baccarat evolved over the years, and as you know there are multiple versions that can be played in both online and offline casinos. In fact, the version that is standard in casinos actually came from Cuba.
Blackjack
Another popular casino game is Blackjack, and once again it’s difficult to pinpoint its true origins. It is believed that it came from another Spanish card game called Ventiuana (21) and it was mentioned in the book Don Quixote in 1601. However, there is also a French game called trente-un (31), which means 31 that was invented several decades earlier. Whatever the case its name comes from the US, and it is linked to the first casino promotions in Nevada that were a thing back in the 1930s. Since the winning combination was ace of spades and jack that is either clubs or spades, the name blackjack seems pretty self-explanatory. The promotion at that time was that whoever got blackjack as a winning combination could get a 10 to 1 payout.
Poker
Finally, we have Poker, which is another iconic form of entertainment that is available in both online and offline casinos. Much like with the other two card games its origins are still debated. It is possible that it emerged as a combination of different card games, but some claim that the first version was played in 17th century Persia. Others say that it was inspired by another French card game called Poque. A version that can be recognized as modern poker was also played in New Orleans during the early 19th century. So, many consider the year 1829 as the year when poker was born.
During the 1970s we saw the first poker tournaments and in the early 2000s, the game really exploded. At that time there was more media coverage and championship winners started becoming celebrities.
First Casinos
Although Las Vegas is the city most associated with casino entertainment, the oldest casino in the world dates back to 1638. It was called the Casino di Venezia and it was located on the Grand Canal. In reality, this was a theater called Theatre Saint Moses and it had a space that was used for gambling and entertainment so that guests could have funds during intermissions. In the 19th century, more casinos started to pop up in Europe, while informal gambling joints were very popular in the US. That being said, it wasn’t really legal to gamble at that time, so people used boats to reach remote gambling institutions and play card games.
In the late 18th-century, French gaming houses added roulette as a gambling option. This is actually the original version of roulette that we refer to as American roulette. It took several decades for Europeans to remove one of the zeros from the wheel and to create what we know as European roulette.
First Slot Machine
Right now slot machines are the most profitable entertainment for casinos, and this is why big gambling parlors allocate most of their space to slot rooms. There are lots of different games both offline and online, and they are really different from the original design. In fact, the original slot machine also used a deck of cards. It was created by Sittman and Pitt Messer in New York, and at approximately a similar time the Liberty Bell machine was created in San Francisco. These early slot machines were available in multiple bars and it was only later that they became a staple in casinos. They also had fruit symbols which is why a lot of the slots are called fruit machines.
Modern Online Casinos
The first online casino was created by Microgaming in 1994, and this is one of the biggest software development companies today. At that time it wasn’t considered that big of a deal, but today online gambling is the preferred choice. The games are available on mobile, and we can even play live versions. This type of entertainment will continue to evolve, and it will likely focus on a better VR experience. Furthermore, more online casinos will adopt cryptocurrencies and we might see some digital exclusive games.
Moreover, our technology will become faster and more advanced, as we continue to adopt 5G, so even more graphically demanding casino games will work smoother on phones. Sports betting is also a big part of the gambling industry and we are also seeing innovations in this area, as well as new things to bet on like eSports.
Conclusion
We can see that casino games go way back, and that they are a product of different cultures and human imagination. As more countries are making online gambling legal, this entertainment is becoming more available, and more software developers are working on different content. Each country has its own history, and probably some version of luck-based games that they had access to. With more different backgrounds we can come up with all sorts of new casino games and have different experiences. In other words, it will be fun to watch this industry grow and innovate.