In the age of the Internet, online casinos are ubiquitous. Hundreds and even thousands of sites are reserved just for the ever-popular gambling and have numerous visitors every day. Slots, live poker, table games and much more are more widespread than ever before. Bonuses in online casino Australia that assist players in their journey into the casino world.
A world without gambling is almost unimaginable for modern mankind. However, this was not always the case. The history of gambling stretches centuries into the past. But how did this history begin? How did we get to today’s golden age of casino fun? We want to answer these questions and much more.
How it all began
According to historical sources, everything indicates that gambling first appeared in Europe in the 5th century BC. At that time Roman soldiers invented various dice games to pass the time. However, it was quite unpopular for the legionaries to bet their sesterces, thus a general gambling ban was declared. Thus, the soldiers had to be creative in order to continue playing their dice games. Thus, the first gambling money was created, mostly in the form of small wooden tokens. Dice games and the ban on real money wagering continued for hundreds of years.
The next great gambling revolution came in the form of card games. Traders from Asia brought the first playing cards to Europe in the 14th century. These quickly became popular with almost all levels of society. In the process, new types of card games frequently sprang up over time. While in some variants only the rules of the game differed, in others even the card hands were changed. This is how games like Tarock and Bassette came into being. What all these card games had in common, however, were the many prohibitions and legislations against playing with real money, which in many cases were simply ignored.
The first casinos
From the 16th century onwards, the card game gained enormous popularity among the upper classes and was played among aristocrats and at court. In the early 17th century, the time finally came – in 1638, the world’s first casino opened its doors. The Ridotto was a converted palace wing in Venice and became the first legal gambling house. But if you think of a conventional, small gambling hell, you get a completely wrong picture. Admission was reserved for the rich and noble, and the interior reflected that – richly decorated ballrooms and banquet tables as far as the eye could see. In fact, not only were cards played here, but music was offered as well. Otherwise, plays were performed and balls and banquets were held.
The success of the Ridotto eventually inspired the construction of dozens and hundreds of other gambling houses throughout Europe. In addition, gambling houses for ordinary citizens finally appeared. Although there were still strict prohibitions or restrictions on gambling, depending on the locality, the first step towards today’s gambling culture had been taken.
Further expansion
The next major casino revolution took place at the very end of the 18th century. It was at this time that the first roulette wheel was invented in France. After some design changes, a roulette game was finally put together that resembled today’s casino game. This promptly met with great popularity and within just a few years found itself in virtually all corners of Europe.
In the middle of the 19th century, the Monte Carlo Casino was opened in Monaco. Under the direction of François Blanc, the inventor of the aforementioned roulette wheel, the gambling hall flourished into what was probably the largest gambling house in Europe. Nobility and royal families from many European countries visited Monte Carlo and even used the location to forge historical alliances and to intrigue. Even today, Monte Carlo is still considered one of the most prestigious casinos in the world.
In the years that followed, gambling laws changed repeatedly, especially in Germany. In the end, the constant expansion of gambling halls could not be stopped. Especially in the middle of the 20th century, the increasingly popular slot machines fueled the gambling enthusiasm of the population of Europe.
Modern gambling halls
Finally, the history of gambling leads us to the modern age. Gambling halls are highly popular around the world and are still frequently visited. Slot machines, the card games of poker, baccarat and blackjack, and roulette are by far the most popular and are offered in pretty much every casino.
However, the biggest innovation in gambling for hundreds of years is most certainly the Internet. Instead of having to visit an arcade, a quick web search can reveal hundreds of online casinos where all kinds of players can try their luck. Here, digital versions of the old familiar casino classics are brought to the fore. In addition, there are also so-called live casinos that work on a similar principle. But instead of playing a pre-programmed table game, the gambler sits in front of a video feed of a real live dealer, who deals the cards or spins the roulette wheel just like in a real casino.
Thus, the time travel through the history of gambling finally leads us to the present day. We hope you learned something new and see gambling in the bright light it deserves after this history.