The human race is intricately linked with the history and evolution of gambling. If we follow ancient history, we are bound to find traces of games in every human civilization in one way or the other. The history of the human race is inseparable from the history of gambling.
We will scrutinize the traces of gambling and how it all started. This post will help you to learn about the development of gambling over the years and how it has reached electronic gadgets from being played in stones and caves. So, be with us to count the milestones of the exciting journey that gambling has had since the Paleolithic ages.
History of Gambling: Earliest Evidence
Gambling has been an integral part of humanity’s existence. The earliest evidence of gambling originated in Ancient China as wood drawings suggesting a few components of a lottery game were found.
Few researchers have also concluded that the first card games appeared in China, in the 19th century.
Who Invented Gambling?
Although the credit for modern gambling goes to Europe, there is no definitive evidence of who invented gambling. Gambling has been a part of the human race for thousands of years, ranging back to 3,000 B.C and beyond. In ancient Greek and Hindu mythology texts, there are several gambling instances. However, some studies claim that gambling, in its true sense, was probably invented during the Ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
Rolling the Dice for a Game of Chance
Greek poet Sophocles claimed that a mythical hero invented the dice during the war of Troy. However, an Egyptian Tomb from 3,000 BCE was later discovered with an inscription of a pair of dice. Games played with dice were also mentioned in ancient Hindu texts.
Blackjack Throughout History
Known initially as Ventiuna, Blackjack originated in Spain. Ventiuna was famous all over Spain in the 17th century. Americans made new modifications and innovations in the game, and the modern-day Blackjack was first introduced in the 1930s to many Nevada-based casinos.
Two-Player Card Game, Baccarat
Baccarat was one of the most ancient games in the history and evolution of gambling. This great game passed the test of time and is still played in almost every casino. Baccarat has been played since the 1400s.
Paris Little Wheel
Originating in Paris, this obsolete gambling game developed to become the modern-day Roulette. As an exciting gambling game, Roulette was developed in the 19th century. The famous casino, Monte Carlo, adopted the most updated version of the game and gained massive acceptance worldwide. In recent times, there have been several versions of this game available.
How the Poker Face Originated?
The pinpoint time of Poker’s origin can not be marked as many evidence shows that this game has been developed and played for decades and centuries. Some say that it was developed in seventeenth-century Persia, while others say it was created from a French game named Poque.
The Slot Machines
Slot machines fall under the category of modern gambling. The first machines for gambling that kept on developing to become the current slot machines we know today were invented by Pitt and Messrs Sittman in New York City. This machine used a pack of 52 cards placed on drum reels that makes a kind of poker game. During this time, another gambling machine, Liberty Bell, was developed by Charles Fay in the city of San Francisco. This machine was more updated as winnings can be perfectly regulated. This machine marked the onset of the slot machine revolution. Later in 1976, the first video-based slot machines were developed.
Mobile Gambling
As people become more dependent on technology, gambling has also made its way into mobiles and laptops. Online gambling was first legalized in New Jersey in 2011.
Conclusion
The first evidence of gambling can never be precisely marked in an era or an epoch as it has been a part of the human race throughout its existence. However, some roots of gambling can be traced if you go through the history of ancient times.
Currently, technological advancements have completely changed the forms and definition of gambling with all kinds of innovation and modernity. But we know that gambling has been a common trait in humans for thousands of years.
F.A.Q.s
How old are the origins of gambling?
Gambling and its forms date back to the ancient Paleolithic period. The first evidence of a six-faced dice was marked back in 3,000 BCE during the Mesopotamian civilization.
What was the earliest form of gambling?
We have found different forms of gambling during ancient times. Gambling was practised in distinct forms in ancient India, China, Greece, Japan, Mesopotamia, etc. Therefore, a particular form of gambling can not be mentioned as the earliest.
Who invented casinos in America?
Golden Gate Casino was the first official casino in the United States, founded by John F. Miller in Las Vegas in 1906. The casino was established even before gambling was legalized in the United States. In 1931, Nevada became the first American state to legalize gambling.