A Brief History of Gambling
Gambling is without a doubt one of the oldest and most popular games ever devised by mankind.
There is evidence that people have been playing games for money or other stakes since at least 2600 BCE, according to the history of gambling.
Asia’s Early Gambling
Asia is home to several of the first examples of gaming. The earliest set of game dice ever discovered, for example, was uncovered in what was once the city of Ur in Mesopotamia. They were thought to have been used in a backgammon-style game called the Royal Game of Ur, which was played around 2600 BCE.
There are records in China of Emperor Yao inventing a game that spectators could wager on. It was around 2300 B.C.E. at the time. Many traditional Chinese games, such as Go and Xiangqi, are still popular today, and China is also credited with the invention of playing cards. Fast forward to around 1500 BCE, and we can see that India was a popular place to gamble on dice games and horse races.
Europe’s Early Gambling
Justinian, the Roman Emperor, outlawed gaming in 539 CE. The Greeks were known to enjoy gambling long before this, and modern-day poker is thought to have begun with the Minoan culture in the Mediterranean.
In Europe, there are also stories of monarchs and emperors who enjoy gambling and make significant choices based on a throw of the dice. For example, it is reported that in 100 CE, King Olaf of Sweden and his Norwegian namesake tossed dice to settle a territorial dispute.
History of the Modern Era
Casinos as we know them now originated in the United States in the nineteenth century, while various forms of gambling houses had existed in Europe prior to that. Saloons were the original American casinos, and they first arose in Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, and St Louis. They were created as gathering spots for travellers to meet new people, have a drink, and gamble.
Who was Joseph Jagger and where did he come from? Check in our last blog post.
Countries all across the world have recently altered their gambling rules, making betting permissible only in specific towns or regions. In the United States, for example, Nevada and New Jersey have reaped significant benefits from gambling being prohibited in the majority of other states. Macau is the gambling capital of China, but other cities such as Monte Carlo, San José, Costa Rica, Singapore, and Paris all boast fantastic casinos.
Australia’s Gambling History
Gambling for money has always been a popular pastime among Australians. In 1881, the country’s first official lottery was held. Sports betting has long been a popular pastime in this city, with the first legal horse race taking place in 1810.
The first casino opened in the early 1970s, and it was a huge success, while the first legal poker machines were placed in 1956.
Looking for tips to improve your game? Check out our latest article on how to win at slot machines.
Playing on the Internet
The recent introduction of online gambling has been one of the most significant advances in the history of gaming. The first online casinos were created under licence from Antigua and Barbuda in the mid-1990s, and this way of playing for money or just for fun only began in the mid-1990s.
Since then, it has become a hugely popular form of entertainment all around the world. With the rise of online casinos in Australia, it has become one of the most popular pastimes for a large percentage of the population.
It’s difficult to believe that the trend for online gambling will wane very soon, especially now that online casinos are offering mobile casinos and live dealer games. Instead, it appears that this will likely continue to expand. Here you can learn how online casinos work.
As we have seen, people have enjoyed gambling throughout history, and it is now easier and more accessible than ever before.
