The History of Gambling: From the First Casinos to Online Casinos

Check out the history of casinos and online gambling in the US | How the industry continues to change

October 1994 was the auspicious month when the online casino first entered the gambling market, changing the future of betting forever. One of the earliest online casinos in the US was called ‘The Gaming Club’. The casino was powered by Microgaming, a provider that played a significant role in online gambling’s history due to its massive impact on the industry. The earlier days of the industry were turbulent because a lack of adequate regulation led to corruption and money laundering; however, iGaming has come a long way since then. 

The first online betting games were your standard poker and blackjack options, but the industry has expanded exponentially in the past decade. The introduction of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence has opened up new avenues for players and providers alike. As a technological revolution takes form to overturn the market once again, let’s take a deep dive into the history we’ve witnessed so far. 

Developments – The Era of the 90s

When The Gaming Club first opened, it didn’t have the diverse roster that online casinos can boast of today. Even though there was only a limited selection of games available, the casino was responsible for laying a foundation that would become essential to the history of online gambling. The developments in online banking and e-wallets were among the first factors that generated the public’s trust in online gambling because they could rely on secure banking methods for their transactions. 

As Random Number Generators became popular in the industry, faith in the unbiasedness of the online gambling industry grew, attracting more players to the betting tables. Poker was one of the first games to go through a massive popularity rise due to the online medium. As dedicated poker rooms started opening up, gamblers were charmed by the idea of gambling against opponents from all over the world. The history of online casinos might be short, but it has developed rapidly since the first iGaming space opened. 

History of Gambling in the World – How Far Back Does it Actually Go?

Online gambling began only three decades ago, but the practice of betting can be traced back thousands of years. Some of the earliest evidence of gambling can be found from 2000 B.C. Even those in Ancient Greece and Rome engaged in these activities, so the history of gambling was never confined to a singular place in the world.

Even though gambling has been a part of almost every culture, historically speaking, the acceptance levels for the activity have varied from place to place. In some ancient cultures, it was even used to resolve conflicts and settle arguments, as can be seen even today. The means and methods have changed throughout gambling history, but people have continued betting on various elements. 

The First Casino Appears 

People had been betting in gatherings for centuries, but when did the first authorized casino open in history? 1638. Ridotto in Venice, Italian for ‘The Private Room’, was converted into a gambling house owned by the government. The Ridotto combined the interests of gamblers and state authorities. In doing so, it became the first model of how gambling could be used to benefit the wider state apparatus. 

Biribi and basetta, two popular betting game variants of the time, were offered at the casino. In theory, the establishment was open to everyone, but the enforced dress codes made it accessible only to the noble class. This is in stark contrast to the gambling arenas of today, where anyone can walk in and start placing bets. 

American Casino History 

Before the gambling scene took over Nevada, John Davis opened the first American casino in 1827, called the Crescent City House. This New Orleans casino used to stay open 24 hours a day and had its tables imported from Europe. The indigenous communities in America also started building their own casinos in 1979. By 2005, Native American casinos were processing 25% of the legal gambling receipts in the US. 

In the history of casinos in America, another crucial chapter is that of Harrah’s Entertainment. A leading casino company that operated over 50 gambling properties but eventually filed for bankruptcy after a 30-year-long run. The history of Harrah’s Casinos is proof that the trends within the American gambling industry are ever-changing, and it’s up to companies to ground themselves in the midst of all that. 

The Three Musketeers

As casinos continue to add hundreds of new games to their roster every day, the original trio remains undefeated: poker, slots, and roulette. These are three of the original classics that the gambling industry has always relied on as a driver of money. The history of roulette is a bit shaky. The earliest versions of the game emerged in the 17th century, and it was officially formalized in the next. This happened in France, and from there, the game travelled to the US.

The first slot machine was created toward the end of the 19th century. The fruit reels were first used in 1909 and have become a staple of the slot industry since then. These games grew in popularity quickly because they offered easier gameplay that kept players engaged for long periods of time without getting bored. 

Then comes the history of the poker chips. While the ancient roots of the game date centuries back, the current version was developed in the 19th century. Much of its rules drew inspiration from other similar European games. In a way, many modern casino games had their roots in other European gaming concepts. 

From Ancient Wagering to Modern Gambling – In a Nutshell

To summarize, gambling is not a new concept, either in the West or in the East. Earlier versions of these betting games go back thousands of years, when they were played in a much simpler format. The only thing that has stayed constant throughout the years is that the gaming industry has continuously evolved, adapting to the changing conditions of the era. 

As we enter another era of technological advancement in gambling, it’s interesting to look back on the earliest roots of the games we play today. Gambling might have changed drastically over the years, but the thrill has continued through the generations.