Speaking about life in the USSR, it is difficult to imagine that there were casinos there. Given the closedness and constant bans, it is unlikely that people knew about poker or preference. Did they still know? It turns out that there was no gambling at all in Soviet times? Let's consider in more detail so that certain conclusions can be drawn regarding the gambling sphere of that period. Information about gambling during the times of the USSR will allow us to draw conclusions about what people played at that time.
It is worth starting with the fact that gambling did not quite fit into the Soviet ideology. However, this does not mean that there were no supporters of this kind of entertainment. There were always those who sought to test the favor of Fortune.
The first legal casinos appeared as early as the end of the 1980s, that is, when the rule of the Union was already coming to an end. But even before that, all the same, gambling games with varying degrees of legality were available to the country's residents. Let's take a short excursion into history to know what exactly people played in different years while living in the USSR.
1917-1960s
Starting from the very beginning of the creation of the empire, it is worth paying attention to the following features of this period:
- Soviet ideology is merciless to gambling. Because this is considered the consequences of bourgeois society. So, in the world of the Soviet man, this should not happen;
- Formally, all gambling establishments closed and were banned. But in fact, they turned into underground, working in a secret mode;
- After some time, the authorities managed to change their anger to mercy, but only partially. The relaxation affected only card games, lotto and roulette;
- Betting on money was prohibited and punished. A Soviet person should not play for money, doing it only for interest.
In 1922, the Union approved the holding of a lottery. Raffles were organized at the republican level. Part of the profit went to a good cause, that is, to feed those in need, most often, it concerned the Volga region.
Already in 1928, roulette and cards again succumbed to disgrace. During the war and in the following years, no relaxations were made in this regard. Only in the 1950s, the first racecourses began to open, that is, after the Second World War.
1960-1970s
Starting from the second half of the twentieth century, the gambling underground got a second life. Sochi is the unofficial capital of the gambling world. There they played wherever you can imagine and wherever you want. On the beaches, in the rooms, cafes. By the way, some tourists started gambling while on the way and spent the entire budget allocated for recreation. Especially if they were unlucky enough to fall into the trap of a professional swindler. The following games were the most popular:
- Bullet game (this game was also called preference);
- Points (21);
- Deberts
In the capital, i.e. in Moscow, underground casinos operated near hotels and restaurants. Which were also called "catrans". It was in such institutions that the local elite had the opportunity to meet, namely: foreign tourists, Soviet celebrities, party leaders. Gambling was quite expensive, so the entrance to such establishments was closed to ordinary workers and peasants. It was possible to go to such an institution only if you have a recommendation from one of the regular customers.
1970-1980s
People who wore epaulettes knew that in the Soviet environment they played a lot, with enthusiasm, but illegally, of course. And in order for part of the money from gambling to go to the budget, they decided to draw attention to the lottery. That is why, already in 1970, the first circulation of the famous "Sportloto" took place, after which everything revolved around it. You could find tickets for various lotteries in the kiosks. Moreover, the rotation was simply incredibly large, since the demand for it did not fall. If we speak in numbers, it reached 500 billion rubles a year. At the same time, the first gaming machines appeared. At first, they could only be found on cruise ships, then in Estonia. Then they appeared in resorts. But, again, slot machines were considered illegal and under protection.
The end of the 1989s
Already in 1989, an official order was issued in the Union: the casino becomes legal in the country. The first gambling establishment opened in the progressive, at that time, Tallinn. The institution was called Astoria Palace and worked at the Intourist hotel. In principle, foreign tourists were the main audience. Bets were accepted only in foreign currency.
In the same year, following the example of the Estonian capital, Moscow did the same. The Savoy Hotel opened its own casino.
That is, the first legal casinos in the USSR were opened in the late eighties. Until this time, gambling was prohibited, sometimes there was an exception, but not for long. Only when the empire was confidently moving towards its collapse, people could appreciate gambling and understand for themselves how much they needed it.
After that, casinos started popping up in hotels like mushrooms after the rain. Slot machines became more and more affordable. Everything ended in 1991 with the collapse of the "eternal" empire.
All this can confirm a simple truth: people played and will play. No prohibitions will be able to block the path of those who want to spend time with excitement.