A journey through the rich history of gambling

Type 'online gambling' or 'online casinos' into a search bar of your chosen website browser, and thousands of options will fill the screen. If there’s one thing we’ve been in no short supply of lately, it’s game variety and gambling platforms.

If you want to brush up on the story of betting, dive deeper into the history of casino games, or just add to your collection of interesting facts to use in the future, keep reading.

Rome and races

It is believed that during ancient Roman times, there was a lot of betting on races and games. While gambling has been outlawed periodically, many holidays made exceptions, allowing citizens to enjoy gambling. During the era of the early Olympic Games, the Romans were also known to bet on chariot races and gladiator battles.

Despite the ban on gambling, there were plenty of betting options popular among the Romans. Roman gaming tables appear quite often in archaeological records. They were found in various areas, from private buildings to public spaces and urban areas. It has to be said that gambling-related items were more likely to be found in public spaces than in residential spaces.

It’s not just table games that quickly caught on. There is also a clear history of sports betting, which dates back all the way to the ancient Greeks. These Greeks were known for enjoying their wagers on a variety of sports, including the Olympic games, chariot racing, and even boxing. No matter the sport, the spectators were always game for something that sparks excitement.

Don’t forget ancient China

Don’t think for a second that gaming was only found in certain parts of the world centuries ago. Oh no, you will find evidence of gaming in various areas, including ancient China. Here, tikes were most likely used for a range of rudimentary games of risks, as per the collection of folk poems collected over the years. According to these legends and tales, there may have been some sort of lottery going on.

What about Italy?

The Italians are not far behind. According to Sophocles, an Ancient Greek tragedian, dice used for casino games were invented during the siege of Troy by a mythical hero. While this claim may seem oddly out of place, it’s interesting that the first mention of dice and dice play was in this part of the world around 500 BC.

The Italians weren’t exactly pro-gambling either; the activity was forbidden, and anybody caught gambling faced severe penalties. These strict rules are believed to be the inspiration for the chips we find in casinos today, as players who got arrested for illicit gambling used the chips to show the guards that there was no real money involved in the activity.

Oh, Don Quixote!

Rumours about Blackjack and where the game originated are endless. According to Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, the game had its origins in the late 1500s along with Quinze or 15. However, in the tale, the game is called Trente-Un, 31 instead of 21.

Did you know? There’s no straightforward answer as to when and where 21 came from. However, it is firmly believed that the game is directly related to VIngt-et-Un, 20 and 1, which started in France around the 1600s.

Aristocrats only

We’re not quite done with Italy. It seems that Casino di Venzia opened in 1638. It is one of the oldest brick-and-mortar casinos on Venice’s Grand Canal. It was an opulent space that catered to the aristocrats.

At the casino, players could enjoy a range of popular games like Biribi and Basetta. The latter is a cross between Blackjack, Poker, and Gin/Rummy, whereas Biribi is more of a lottery-style game.

Whoops! Roulette

How crazy to think that what started as an accident is responsible for the popular game of chance, Roulette. Monsieur Blaise Pascall is essentially the father of roulette. According to the legends, he stumbled upon the little wheel while trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. What appeared to be a failed invention was the start of something that would only grow in popularity over the years. Sources show that Roulette goes as far back as 1796.

Slots in NYC

Did you know that Charles Fey, an auto mechanic and inventor from Bavaria, created the very first slots? He built the Liberty Bell in 1894. It quickly became popular with patrons as they played to win small prizes, leading to the creation of slot machines and the rise of online casino slots we have today!

From online to mobile

Over the last three decades, the industry has experienced many technological advancements and growth. Microgaming became the first to explore the realm of online gambling with the emergence of online casinos back in 1994. It was a big hit and laid the foundation for the industry we know and love today.

The very first live dealer games from Playtech appeared in 2003, and while they’re still active and beloved, Evolution has definitely taken the crown as the leader of this side of the industry.

The iGaming market evolved quite rapidly, jumping from desktop-only to mobile-friendly games to casino apps and eventually casino sites featuring Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology.

And now there’s an even bigger choice of payment methods and types of casinos with fiat and crypto payment options, also leading to the rise of crypto casinos. As technology advances, the industry continues to grow, and bigger, better options are made available to players.

Take the plunge with Those About to Die

It aired on 18 July 2024 and has a total of 10 episodes focused on the dirty business of entertainment and satisfying the urges and desires of the Romans in terms of blood and sport.

Got inspired to play for fun? If so, check out the top online casinos we recommend, but remember to play responsibly and have a good time instead of chasing wealth.