A Short History of Gambling

by Francis Underwood

With the help of handheld technology, gambling has evolved significantly in recent years. However, the original concept of gambling has largely remained unchanged over millennia.

Gambling existed before man invented minted currency. Before betting on money, people would wager on their possessions, such as food, land, or livestock. With the advent of technology, online gambling sites like Bet88 made gambling more accessible.

Early Existence

According to historical records, gambling has existed throughout human history. The first-ever form of gaming came from Ancient China and mentioned the earliest time when and how people began gambling. Based on a reference in the Chinese book “Book of Songs” to a wood drawing, the tiles could have become a component of a lottery game.

In 200 B.C., the Chinese used items as funds to finance government projects, according to historical records. The item was known as Keno Slips. Numerous researchers have also agreed that the first card game appeared in China in the nineteenth century. But unfortunately, the rules of the gambling game, along with all of the guidelines, were lost to history.

Dicing in Rome

Sophocles, the Greek poet, claimed that a mythological hero invented dice during the siege of Troy. While this may have a questionable basis, his writings around 500 BC were the first mention of dice in Greek history.

We know that dice existed much earlier than this, thanks to the discovery of a pair in an Egyptian tomb from 3000 BC, but what is certain is that the Ancient Greeks and Romans loved to gamble on all sorts of things, seemingly at any given opportunity. As a result, all forms of gambling, including dice games, were prohibited in Rome, with a penalty of four times the stake bet imposed on those caught.

Playing Cards in China

Playing cards made their first appearance in China, as many scholars would agree. However, the rules of the first card games have long been lost to history. Some argue that the cards were both the game and the stake, similar to trading card games popular among children today, while others believe the first packs of cards were paper versions of Chinese domino. The cards used at the time bore little resemblance to the standard 52-card decks we know today.

The First Casino

The first gambling houses that could be compared to casinos appeared in Italy in the early 17th century. During the nineteenth century, casinos began to spring up all over continental Europe, while in the United States, much more informal gambling houses were popular.

Indeed, steamboats transporting prosperous farmers and traders up and down the Mississippi provided a venue for a great deal of informal gambling on the American side.

Gambling Frontier

Since the arrival of the first European settlers, the United States has had an up-and-down relationship with gambling. However, the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression that followed in the early 1930s resulted in gambling being legalized again, as for many, it was the only way out of the grinding poverty they were experiencing.

Although gambling is legal in several states today, most notably in Las Vegas, Nevada, online gambling remains illegal in the United States. As a result, many international internet casinos cannot accept American customers, though this appears to be changing shortly.

Mobile Gambling

Technological advancements have drawn a new generation of participants. Evidence suggests that internet users are less likely to use desktop computers and are more likely to use handheld devices. The same applies to those who like to gamble online and play their favorite games while on the go. Because the top gambling sites recognized this shift in usage, there are now many more opportunities for mobile online gambling.

Players prefer mobile devices because they are more convenient, and they have instant access to betting options. Online betting and social networks are on the same mobile platforms, as operators recognize the growing interaction between social networks and gambling.

Wrapping Up

There is a Chinese saying that goes, “Falling leaves return to their roots.” For the next hundred years, however, predicting the future of gambling will be harder and harder. Only time perhaps, will tell.