Teresa Hoy 
Gambling is an iconic form of entertainment. It has a rich and lustrous history. From its earliest origins in China and Rome to modern-day gambling in Nevada and beyond, gambling has come a long way. It has evolved from the rudimentary forms where bones and perpetual wheels were used to gamble to modern casinos such as 7Slots and crash gambling that can be played online. In this article, we take a quick look at the history of gambling in detail. How far has it come over the years? How has it transitioned from the physical brick-and-mortar casino to the online platform? Continue reading this article to get all the answers!
Where Did Gambling Originate From?
Gambling is deep-rooted in human history. Records indicate the first forms of gambling existed in China as early as 2300 BC. During this era, the Chinese would play rudimentary betting games using tiles. From China, games spread to Ancient Rome, France, and the Americas. It is from the Americas that it spread to other parts of the world rapidly.
The World’s First Casino
The first documented brick-and-mortar casino, Ridotto, opened its doors in 1638. Ridotto was a hall of grandeur and opulence where the nobles and affluent could meet for different reasons. Besides the massive halls and luxury, Ridotto stood out because it was the first establishment to introduce regulations and rules guiding gambling. For the first time in history, gambling wasn’t a chaotic, free-for-all venture. Instead, rules introduced some sense of order. These rules paved the way for the regulated gambling that we have today.
The Invention of the Liberty Bell
After the introduction of gambling rules in a casino setup, the next major milestone was the invention of the slot machine. Known as the Liberty Bell, this mechanical machine was invented in the late 19th century by a San Francisco mechanic, Charles Fey. Not much has changed since the design of this machine, as it used a single payline and different symbols. These included a diamond, heart, spade, horseshoe, star, and a cracked Liberty Bell. The highest payout of 10 nickels was offered by landing Three Liberty Bells.
From Las Vegas to The World
Commonly referred to as “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” Las Vegas emerged in 1905 and quickly established itself as America’s gambling hub. With the spread of Hollywood films globally, Las Vegas was portrayed as the place to be if you are looking to gamble 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This is thanks to the abundance of land-based casinos. What you see in the films happens in real life as tens of 5-star hotels also double up as gambling establishments. There are also plenty more underground gambling dens.
Breaking the Walls: Move to Online Platforms
Despite their popularity, land-based casinos didn’t offer everything players wanted. In fact, rules such as dress codes, high minimum bets, and their locations made them difficult to access. So, when the first online casino was launched in 1996, people quickly shifted their attention to gambling online. Online gambling not only made it fun to play games but also made it very convenient to access them. With a simple touch of a phone screen or a click of a mouse button, players could access tens of online casinos. At the advent of the online gambling niche, the services were quite limited and rudimentary. However, as technology evolved and became more streamlined, the services improved. This allowed for thousands of online casinos to be launched to meet the ever-growing demand. Today, more than 1500 online casinos and sports betting platforms exist worldwide.
Live Dealer Games
Thanks to the continuous technological improvements, online casinos could launch actual gameplay online. Faster internet speeds allowed online casinos to stream real action from multiple land-based casinos and gaming studios worldwide.
Unlike their software-based counterparts, these games allow you to stream games in real-time. They are limited to blackjack, baccarat, craps, and game shows. A dealer is usually at the center of the action, and you’ll be wagering by placing your bets via betting interfaces on the screen.
The Future of Online Gambling
Today, the online gambling space finds itself at an interesting phase. You no longer have to place bets through interfaces in live dealer games. On the contrary, virtual and augmented reality technologies take you to the heart of the action. This way, you can play at any casino around the world from the comfort of your home. You can physically walk into these establishments, place your bets, win, and cash out at the cages like it used to be in the past. There were concerns regarding the fairness of online casino games. Blockchain technology has taken care of this, allowing you to verify the authenticity of a game’s outcome using provably fair technology.
