Gambling has been around since the dawn of civilization, with evidence of its existence found in ancient manuscripts, paintings and even artifacts. From the Chinese game of mahjong to betting on gladiatorial contests in Rome, gambling has a long and storied history that stretches back thousands of years. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular forms of gambling throughout the centuries, from Ancient times right up to the present day.
The earliest form of gambling dates back to Ancient China, where keno was played as early as 205 BC. The game was first documented in fan-tan (a card game) manuals during the Tang Dynasty. Mahjong is another ancient Chinese game which first appeared sometime between 500 and 1000 AD and is still hugely popular today.
The Romans also had their own version of gambling: they would bet on chariot races and gladiator fights held in arenas all over Europe. This type of betting became so popular that Julius Caesar passed laws making it illegal for Roman citizens to gamble away more than one-third of their fortune or estate. However, it didn’t take long for people to find ways around these laws, resulting in underground gambling dens springing up across Rome.
Gambling then moved across the Atlantic Ocean with European settlers arriving in America in 1620s when they brought their love for games such as dice and cards with them. By 1739, lotteries were being held on a regular basis to help fund public works projects such as bridges and roads while saloons began offering poker games by 1829.
By the mid 19th century, roulette wheels were introduced into saloons across America while casinos started popping up along the Mississippi river bank around 1840s. It wasn’t until 1931 that Nevada legalized casino gaming and Las Vegas emerged as an entertainment capital for gamblers worldwide. Casinos have come a long way since then, with online gaming now available at sites like Unibet Casino which offer hundreds of different slots games, table games such as blackjack and roulette plus live dealer options for those who prefer face-to-face interaction with dealers at virtual tables.
Gambling has certainly evolved over time but one thing remains constant – its popularity! With land-based casinos continually growing in number each year plus more people turning to online gambling than ever before; it looks like this activity is here to stay!
