Gambling has been a part of American culture since its inception, with many colonists playing dice and card games to pass the time. While some forms of gambling were outlawed in the early 1800s, it continued to be popular throughout the country’s history. From riverboat casinos to state lotteries, gambling has experienced both a rise and fall in popularity over the years. This article will explore the history of gambling in America, from its earliest days up until today.
The first recorded instance of gambling in North America occurred during colonial times when English settlers brought dice and card games like poker and blackjack with them on their voyages. These games quickly spread across the continent, becoming popular among all classes of citizens. By the mid-1800s, various forms of gambling were commonplace throughout much of the United States, including horse racing and cockfighting. During this time period, several states had legalized or regulated certain forms of betting on horse races.
In 1844, however, Congress passed a law banning all forms of interstate gambling. This effectively put an end to most forms of legal gaming throughout the country for nearly a century. Despite this legal setback, gambling still existed throughout America – albeit unofficially – as illegal establishments popped up everywhere from saloons to riverboats along rivers such as the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
By 1931, public sentiment toward gambling had shifted once again and Nevada became the first state to legalize casino-style gaming with Las Vegas quickly becoming known as “Sin City” due to its abundance of illicit activities. Over the next few decades, other states began to follow suit by legalizing various forms of gaming such as bingo halls and lottery tickets while also setting up regulations regarding age limits and payouts for slot machines and other games found in casinos.
Today, there are more than 1,000 commercial casinos operating across 24 states plus Washington D.C., with more than $37 billion being generated annually in revenue from these establishments alone according to figures from 2017 (American Gaming Association). At present there is a range of opinions about whether or not gambling should continue to be legalized or regulated within certain areas; however one thing is certain – Americans have had a long history with wagering that continues into modern times!
