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A Brief History of the Casino

The Ancient Roots of Gambling

While the modern casino is a relatively recent invention, the act of gambling is as old as civilization itself. Dice have been found in archaeological digs dating back to 3000 B.C., and tales of betting are common in Greek and Roman history.

The Birthplace of the Casino

The word ”casino” itself is of Italian origin, meaning ”little house.” The first known state-sanctioned public gambling house was the Ridotto, established in Venice, Italy, in 1638. Its purpose was to regulate the city’s rampant gambling, though its high stakes meant only the wealthy could afford to play.

From Italy to France and Monaco

Throughout the 1800s, casino grand casinos emerged in European spa destinations, attracting the rich and famous. But none became more legendary than the Monte Carlo Casino. Opened in 1863, it was designed to save Monaco’s ruling family from bankruptcy.

The American Frontier and the Las Vegas Boom

In the United States, casino gambling was prevalent in saloons across the ”Wild West” during the 19th century. By the early 1900s, anti-gambling movements had succeeded in making it illegal in most states. Everything changed in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling to combat the Great Depression. This decision paved the way for the development of Las Vegas, which transformed from a small desert town into the undisputed entertainment and casino capital of the world.

Gambling Enters the Information Age

The internet’s arrival in the 1990s marked the beginning of the most profound transformation for the casino industry. The first online casinos emerged in the mid-90s, offering a small selection of games to a niche audience. Today, the online casino industry is a multi-billion dollar global market, bringing the casino experience to millions of players on their computers and mobile devices.