When it comes to gambling – one of the favorite activities in the world, it’s safe to say that it has probably been around as long as the mankind itself. So, it’s safe to say that humanity’s history is closely intertwined with the history of gambling.
Now, even though we understand that gambling has been around for a really long time, it’s not really possible to determine precisely when gambling came to be.
However, it appears that no matter how far back in time we travel, we will most definitely come across some forms of gambling.
That being said, do know that we won’t go on to attempt to explore exact dates and historical periods when certain games supposedly came to be. Instead, we will present you with just a brief historical overlook of some of the most popular gambling games.
The earliest evidence of gambling
If you’ve ever explored history books, you surely came across mentions of at least some form of gambling. Needless to say, as one of the oldest cultures in the world, it is strongly believed that gambling originated from Ancient China. In a Chinese book called “Book Of Songs” we have the opportunity to see the mentions of a game that is believed to be the origins of modern lottery games.
Moreover, Keno Slips are believed to trace all the way back to 200 B.C. as well as the very origin of card games that appeared in China in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the rules of these games got lost in time, so we can’t really present them with absolute accuracy.
Rolling the dice: A game of chance
According to the Greek poet Sophocles, dices were invented by a mythical hero during the siege of Troy. This early mention of dice, dating back to 500 B.C. is the first ever mention of such a game in the Greek history. However, historians have also discovered evidence that suggest that dice-based games were even played in the Ancient Egypt. In fact, a pair of dice were discovered in an Ancient Egyptian tomb dating back to 3000 B.C.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used to play dice games using personal belongings to make wagers. It’s important to note, however, that the city of Rome actually prohibited any form of gambling – including dice games, so people eventually resorted to indulging in this activity in secrecy.
Baccarat: Two-player card game
Baccarat is one of the oldest gambling games in gambling history that stood the test of time and is still being played in modern casinos. The earliest mentions of Baccarat date back to the 1400s. These rules state that each player must have 2 or 3 cards in their hands, and the winner was the player who had the highest number when their total cards were divided by 10.
Blackjack throughout history
Blackjack is another popular casino game that people still enjoy very much. Blackjack is believed to draw its origins from Spain. This early version of the game that we know as Blackjack today was previously called Ventiuna, which translates to twenty-one.
Blackjack is simply the American version of Ventiuna, that was first introduced in Nevada casinos in 1930s. According to the updated rules, a player will win the game only if they have and Ace of Spades and a Jack of Clubs in their hands, hence the new name Blackjack.
Roulette: Paris’ little wheel
To no one’s surprise, this game draws its origin from Paris. The other name for this popular game, and the one that’s being used today, is Roulette. However, the rules of the original Roulette game were somewhat different from the ones we know today.
Roulette became popular in the 19th century. One of the first casinos that featured this game was the famous Monte Carlo. Even though modern Roulette games can somewhat vary depending on the part of the world they’re being played, the rules remain fairly uniform across the globe.
The origins of the poker face
Whether you can or can’t read someone’s poker face doesn’t change the fact that it’s nearly impossible to determine when this game first came to be. While some historians believe that poker originated in the 17th century in Persia, others believe that a French game called Poque is what actually inspired poker as we know it today.
Regardless, poker didn’t actually become so popular until the World Poker Tournament in Las Vegas, back in 1970s. However, ever since then, poker is being greatly played and enjoyed in all corners of the world. Nowadays, there numerous poker variations, ranging from online, video and live poker, all the way to its most popular form called Texas Hold ‘em.
Slot machines
The slot games we know today were quite different when they first made the scene. Back in 1894 Charles August Fey invented the first-ever slot machine. The earliest version of a slot machine featured 52 cards that were fastened to a drum. This ever-so-popular game of chance went through numerous transformations until it reached the design we know and love today.
Even though slots undergone numerous transformations over the course of history, people still greatly enjoy this type of games.
Mobile gambling
Last but not least, we have mobile gaming. Needless to say, with the birth of modern technology, mobile gambling became not only possible, but more popular than ever.
Nowadays, the number of mobile gamblers is steadily rising with each passing day, and this phenomenon is only expected to continue to grow. Realistically speaking, this comes as no surprise, as modern-day mobile gamblers can enjoy their favorite activity literally whenever and wherever they choose to.
As you can see, gambling has always played a huge role in the history of mankind, so it’s safe to assume that the trend will only continue in the future. If we take a look at the origin of some of our favorite games, the only thing we can expect to see moving forward is more and more innovations being introduced in the world of gambling.
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