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A Brief History of the Casino

The Dawn of Organized Betting

While the modern casino, experienced, is a relatively recent invention, the act of gambling is as old as civilization itself. Evidence of gambling, casino – goldfish.it – such as ancient dice, casino exists from thousands of years ago, with many classical texts referencing wagers and games of chance.

The Birthplace of the Casino

The term ”casino” derives from Italian and originally referred to a small country villa or summerhouse. The Ridotto in Venice is widely considered the world’s first government-approved casino, created to provide a controlled environment for casino gambling. Its purpose was to regulate the city’s rampant gambling, though its high stakes meant only the wealthy could afford to play.

The Rise of European Spa Towns and Monte Carlo

The 19th century saw the spread of elegant casinos to resort towns throughout Europe. But none became more legendary than the Monte Carlo Casino. Opened in 1863, it was designed to save Monaco’s ruling family from bankruptcy.

How Vegas Became the Casino Capital

In the United States, gambling was prevalent in saloons across the ”Wild West” during the 19th century. However, a nationwide moral crusade led to its prohibition in the early 20th century. In a bid to generate income during the Great Depression, Nevada made the pivotal decision to legalize gambling in 1931. From this single legislative act, Las Vegas began its journey to becoming the world-famous ”Sin City.”

The Digital Revolution: The Online Casino Era

The most recent chapter began with the rise of the World Wide Web. 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.