The word casino is formed by the merger of the Italian "casino" (house) and the Latin "casa" (hut). It came to our language from Italian through French. The literal translation means a gambling house, a place where gambling is played.

Virtually every culture has references to gambling establishments. Gambling was played in ancient Greece and Rome, in the English Republic, and in Napoleonic France. Long before our era, gambling establishments existed in China, where first gambling games.

The emergence of the first official casinos

The first casino in the United States appeared in the 19th century. The opening of the gambling establishment was facilitated by the desire of workers to spend their free evenings gambling in local establishments over a glass of whiskey. And then special houses for playing card games and roulette began to appear, and special tables were invented for such games.

The first gambling games appeared in Italy during the Roman Empire thanks to an entertainment called Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum. The first official casino in Europe is considered to be Ridotto, opened in 1638 in Venice. By order of the government, a gambling house was opened on the territory of the Church of Moses so that the authorities could control such an event.

The development of the gambling business in different countries was very attractive to wealthy Europeans. The first French casino was founded in 1765. The institution worked thanks to Cardinal Mazarin, who brought such entertainment to the official level in order to receive a high tax on such activities.

1638 – Ridotto in Venice: the first licensed casino

It Venice casino Ridotto opened in a luxurious Venetian palace. This institution became the first official, and most importantly, legal, in the entire western part of Europe. The root of the name lies in the Italian word "ridurre", which means to make honest or cover up a lie. In honor of the annual spring carnival, this casino was opened in 1638.

Access to the gambling house was initially only available to wealthy people, due to very high stakes, initial deposits and a strict dress code, and ordinary middle-class people could not get in. Now we know about the first casino in the world, which operated on a legal status.

What games were popular?

The first games at the establishment were Biribi (similar to a lottery, players placed bets and chose a number, when the banker drew a chip, the winning number took the entire pot) and Bassetta (it was similar to blackjack, poker and gin rummy and was something of a cross between and offered winning players payouts of 60 times their stakes). Therefore, the latter game was in great demand.

Why did Venice become a pioneer in the gambling business?

It is believed that the Roman Empire was the main center of the development of gambling. They adopted many examples and ideas from the Greeks, but introduced many of their own traditions. In Italy, many festivals and carnivals were always held for entertainment purposes. Local residents were very fond of gladiatorial fights, it was then that the first bets appeared, which were filled with crazy excitement, a person could either win a big jackpot or spend everything, despite the fact that the participants in the battles were constantly dying.

Reasons for closing Ridotto

Despite the fact that Ridotto left a huge contribution to history and was visited by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the legendary Casanova, it was closed in 1774. This was due to moral aspects and conclusions. Many Venetians lost significant amounts, even houses and livestock, which is why the gambling house ceased to exist. It became an example for the opening of casinos in other countries at that time, but none of them worked for as long.

18th-19th centuries – the spread of casinos in Europe

Of course, in the 18th and 19th centuries, this field of activity became incredibly popular throughout Europe, with the main boom occurring in Germany and France. Even before Las Vegas transformed from a desert into a city and is now considered the world center for gambling, the development of gambling was already in full swing in these countries.

The authorities controlled official institutions and gave legal work permits, but still not everyone could get there and not everyone wanted to pay taxes to the state, which led to the opening of illegal private houses and tents near Aramean settlements, which were illegal.

France and the development of roulette

The classic roulette mechanism is a hybrid of a gambling wheel invented in 1720 and a table for the Italian gambling game of biribi, the appearance of such a wheel in its modern form dates back to 1716, and it was France that modernized it and gave an impetus to its development. And after that, French ones began to appear in America and other European countries.

It is believed that the prominent philosopher Pascal invented such a horizontal spinning wheel, but history cannot clearly determine who made it a source of profit and commercial.

But then, due to many losses and a small share of winnings, and a manic passion for games, it began to be banned. In 1745, it was banned in Britain, and in France it was 1756. Although it did return to casinos and became an official game only in 1796 in Paris.

The influence of Monaco is the legendary Monte Carlo casino  

In a small area of Monte Carlo in Monaco, a famous casino was built and now bears the same name. The luxurious establishment was built in 1863. The founder was Prince Charles III, who wanted to solve the economic difficulties and crisis that Monaco was experiencing at the time, develop tourist services and general infrastructure.

The construction project was carried out by Frans Blanc, a famous French entrepreneur who had already opened casinos in Germany. His main goal was to attract very wealthy customers and world-famous people. Also, this building was of extremely beautiful architecture, and housed 56 gaming tables in the middle.

After its opening, it brought in huge profits, which contributed to the significant development of the region. Already in 1869, the casino welcomed more than 200 thousand customers and brought simply extremely large profits. And after Germany banned all gambling in 1871, Monte Carlo simply became the main gambling palace in all of Europe.

Casino in Germany (Baden-Baden)

This is one of the oldest gambling establishments still in operation today. Today it is not just a casino, but a huge resort, entertainment complex and conference facilities in Baden-Baden in Baden-Württemberg. A magnificent building from the early 19th century, a model of French royal residences.

It was built from 1821 to 1824, and the gambling industry was located in part of the Kurhaus - a spa house. During off-hours, when there are no players, you can visit the casino with a guide and take a tour, and you can still win large sums there if you don't take too many risks.

How did casinos appear in the USA?

Of course, on this casino development in the world did not stop and America became a powerful player in this market. In the USA, the first memories begin with the Wild West, where gaming rooms were called saloons. By 1815, New Orleans licensed and taxed gambling houses, and the income from them was transferred to charity. In 1827, John Davis opened the Crescent City House, which was perhaps the first full-fledged American gambling casino. And the start of major development took place in Las Vegas in the 1940s.

Wild West and gambling saloons (19th century)

Gambling parlors thrived here, both legal and illegal. Their popularity peaked in the mid-19th century.

Popular games among cowboys

Gambling games such as poker and blackjack were also popular in the Wild West, and were very popular among cowboys and other residents.

The impact of the Gold Rush

This was a significant turning point in history, which helped to establish the gambling business. And in 1849, the gold rush began in California. It attracted a lot of migrants who were engaged in searching for gold in San Francisco. So most of them were men who really wanted to play and try their luck, especially when big money was at stake. The gold mined then became the main currency of bets.

It's not easy. casino history, but a whole complex of entertainment. They built bars with alcohol, lounges, there was a stage where singers and actors performed. But later such entertainment began to lead to robberies and violations of many laws. Constant fights, shootings, etc. Therefore, in these parts such salons gained a bad reputation and were considered dangerous.

1931 – Legalization of gambling in Las Vegas

And what is the first one, When did casinos appear in Las Vegas?. In 1946, the first gambling establishment opened. The Flamingo Hotel, founded by gangster Bugsy Siegel. It was this historical event that made the city the center of the gambling business around the world.

Why did Nevada become a casino hub?

Gambling was prohibited in the states until 1909, but Nevada legalized casino gambling in 1931 when Governor Fred Balzar signed Assembly Bill 98 into law. The Nevada Legislature voted to legalize gambling to help Nevada recover from the Great Depression.

The first major casinos in Las Vegas

Already in 1941, the first large hotels with casinos opened their doors in Las Vegas - El Rancho, Vegas, and Last Frontier.

Atlantic City is the second gambling center of the United States

Atlantic City is the coastal gambling and resort capital of the East Coast, welcoming over 27 million visitors annually, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

Casino development in the 20th and 21st centuries

Over time, gambling establishments appeared in every city in different countries. The legalization of the gambling business brought very large profits to the budgets. But many casinos were hidden and operated illegally, and it was quite difficult for the states to control everything because of their huge number.

At the end of the 20th century, casinos were banned in almost all states in America, and in 2009, they were banned in Ukraine. But this did not stop gamblers, and with the beginning of the development of computer technologies, games reached a new level.

Macau gambling resorts

Gambling in Macau, a special administrative region of China, is the only place in China where casinos are legal. Gambling establishments have been legal here since 1850. A casino Macau is the backbone of the economy and an important source of revenue for the government and tourism development.

Online casinos – a new era of gambling

In recent years, online casinos have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment, attracting millions of players around the world. The ease of access, wide selection of games, and the thrill of winning from the comfort of your own home have made it a favorite pastime for many.

When did the first online casinos appear?

Online gambling refers to any type of gambling that is conducted over the Internet. This includes virtual poker, casinos, and sports betting. The first attempt was to open the sale of Liechtenstein International Lottery tickets to the general public in October 1994. It was from this year that the online casino history The first were applications that offered to play roulette with the same rules as in establishments that previously operated physically.

How digital technologies have changed the industry

Now it is possible to play anywhere, with apps downloaded onto computers, tablets and smartphones. Virtual reality (VR) is also starting to take its place in the industry, offering players a more immersive and interactive experience.

With such innovations, the gambling business today has no restrictions. The systems are controlled, bring taxes to the budget, and users have protected rights, fair games, and the safety of their own funds.

The variety of games is simply amazing, you can try everything from roulette, all existing card games, slot machines. In an online casino, the result of the game is generated using a built-in program - a random number generator.

Conclusion

Now you know How did casinos appear? and what an interesting path it has taken in just a few centuries. It has been a long journey, starting from the most ancient times before our era and ending with modern technologies.

But the development will not stop there! Such a business continues to evolve, adapting to modern solutions and equipment. And also adjusting to the general needs of society.

Remember that gambling is always a dangerous risk, it is almost impossible to win large sums. And you also need to be a real master to enter into sparring. The first small amounts most often act as a bait for further bets. Someone really learned to earn on such resources, but most lose and get into big debts.