Casinos are a place of fun and excitement. Here is some history as to why casino themed parties are the best.
Why Casino Themed Parties are a Part of History
A red carpet, dice, poker chips, roulette wheels, tuxedos, glamour, and money! This is casino life, this is entertainment, and although casinos are a more modern concept, gambling and the entertainment value that comes with it, have been a part of history as far back as one can imagine. People love to have fun, take risks, and have a good party. Yet gamblers are still making common casino mistakes in the 21st century, as much as Greek soldiers were when gambling in the bronze age. To understand why casino themed parties are such a part of history, one needs to understand the history of gambling and the attraction it has always held for humankind.
How it Began
The origins of gambling are deeply rooted in prehistoric times. Since the beginning of time people have gathered in groups to exchange goods, news, or even just to pass the time. For as long as people have been gathering, some sort of gambling activity would inevitably have been happening. People have been placing bets using sticks, stones, bones, dice, and cards for tens of thousands of years. Somehow, people are drawn to the idea of random chance and luck and have always put immense power in the ability of the supernatural to influence their fortune and predict the future. People’s belief in the supernatural, a desire to take risks, and a love for entertainment is what has kept gambling alive.
Where it all Started
Research has revealed that gambling dates to the palaeolithic period, with old gambling games dating as far back as 40,000BC. Gambling as entertainment, however, would appear to date back to Ancient China and East Asia, rapidly gaining popularity as it spread across the world into Europe and Egypt. The Chinese love gambling, and games such as blackjack, poker, and the lottery, find their origins in Ancient China. There is a belief that due to China discovering paper, the origin and invention of card playing can also be attributed to the Chinese.
The first 6-sided dice made of elephant tusk, were found in a tomb in Egypt and dated back to 3000 BC. The belief was that throwing the dice was a way to communicate with the gods allowing you to ask them questions about your future. Evidence of games involving dice made of various materials was also found in the Middle East, India, and Mesopotamia. Also interesting is the influence that the Egyptian iconography has had on slot machines, as well as the popularity of the Chinese dragons and Indian jewels as themes for modern casino games. Gambling then spread to Greece and Rome where it was frequently played by soldiers, starting with dice games, and moving to card games which although they began in Asia and Europe, rapidly gained popularity in Egypt during the Medieval era. Moving into the Renaissance period, gambling became a popular way to raise money for public works, with aristocrats and noblemen hosting private parties at social clubs to do so. As the 19th and 20th centuries approached, these private clubs became increasingly popular, and led the way for the establishment of the more formal, and controlled, gambling houses, and so the casino concept was born. To this day casino themed parties are used by charities around the world to raise funds for their cause.
What is the Attraction
What is it that attracts people to casinos and gambling? What is it in the human psyche which draws us to these events and makes us want to host casino themed parties? Taking risks gives us a positive feeling, and the same applies when we gamble. The sense of anticipation gives us an adrenaline rush which leads to a natural high, a feeling which some can’t live without, and is exactly what we look for when seeking fun and entertainment.
Being in a casino is an escape from everyday life. There is an exciting party-like atmosphere about an environment where you are surrounded by different people, and the sights and sounds arouse and stimulate your senses, leaving you feeling energised. Casinos are portrayed as places of style and fashion by advertising agencies and social media influencers draw you into a life of glamour. Casino parties are the place to be seen.
Socialising Culture
Gambling is historically a part of human culture and has always been widely practiced. We introduce our children to the concept by playing cards at home from a young age, and even going to school fêtes and playing games at the tombola kiosk. Unconsciously we socialise our children into a culture of gambling through board games like Bingo, Lotto, and Dominos to mention but a few. Whether for children or adults, gambling is a part of our socialising history.
Even though there have been many periods where gambling has been illegal, this only made it more appealing to people, who secretly gathered to test their luck and socialise. The idea of taking a risk in exchange for something of bigger value has immense entertainment merit. People love to watch the excitement and delight of a win as much as they love to see the angst, disappointment, and even the tears of a loss. Humans are strange that way! Where there is drama and entertainment, people are drawn. Add food, drink, money, and a vibrant atmosphere into this equation, and you have the birth of the casino themed party.
Casinos seem to have the wow factor for anyone who steps into one. The card tables and slot machines, the people, and the atmosphere, not to mention feeling like you might be a cast member in Casino Royale expecting James Bond to step out of his Aston Martin and walk through the door with a delightful co-star on his arm. You feel like you are part of high society rubbing shoulders with the elite, even if just for a night at the casino themed party for your best friend’s birthday. Life is all about imagination and fun after all!