History of Casinos and Gambling – A Brief Overview
3 minutes
Last Updated: October 7, 2022
People have always loved entertainment in the form of games that challenge their skills. The oldest table game, for example, is over 5,000 years old.
But how did the first casinos come about and why are they still so popular?
In this article, we’ll look at a brief history of casinos from ancient times to the modern era to determine how casino gambling came to be such a popular activity.
It All Started in Antiquity
The oldest gambling games lead archaeologists back to deep antiquity. In fact, the first prototypes of dice made a few thousand years BC have been found. It is believed they were first used for divination and magic rituals.
It was in the 6th century BC when the first circus was founded in Ancient Rome, a public place where visitors were encouraged to place monetary bets and play “craps.”
Of course, you don't need to go to the circus or to Monaco to enjoy one of the world's oldest forms of entertainment these days.
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That's because thanks to the internet there are realistic virtual online casinos like Vulkanbet online that you can visit from anywhere.
The First Casino
The history of the first casino as we know it today began with the first casino in Europe, which opened in Venice in 1638. The casino was called Il Ridotto.
Incidentally, the term “casino” comes from the Italian language and means “little house.” The origin of the word goes back to the fact that before the first legal casinos opened, gambling was only allowed in private houses.
However, the first official casinos could offer more than just gambling. Visitors were also entertained with dancing and music. Not least of all, this also helped to attract a wider audience.
For this reason, delicious food and drinks were also served. If you look at the most famous casinos in Las Vegas, it quickly becomes apparent that this principle still works very well.
There is, however, one significant difference. In those days, only privileged people were allowed to enter gambling establishments and they followed certain rules regarding
- dress, and
- behavior
Roulette Appearance
However, the closure of Il Ridotto was not the end of casinos. More and more casinos spread outside of Italy, so a true mass culture quickly emerged. In 1765 the trend reached France as well.
The first casino in Paris, however, had one major feature. The first roulette wheel the ladies especially liked and quickly became a standard game in all casinos.
Slowly but surely, other games were introduced to casino floors, giving players more options to choose from. As the versatility increased, so did the casino audience, as these gambling halls came to offer something for every taste and preference.
Heyday of Casinos
European casinos experienced their heyday in the 19th century. The interiors became increasingly luxurious and the service also reached an unprecedented level of comfort.
For high-ranking people, going to the casino was a must, as current political and economic issues were discussed there.
From the end of the 19th century the small principality of Monaco in particular became a casino stronghold. And a century later the now most famous casino city of Las Vegas was founded.
Today, there are casinos all over the world, but places like Las Vegas and Monaco are the first that come to mind when thinking about gambling. New gambling hubs have emerged recently as well, such as Macau in Asia.
And to this day the gambling capital is a real magnet for fans of Vulkan slot entertainment. So, looking ahead, this ‘trend' will be with us for a long time to come.
