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 The origin of gambling is lost in time. Is clear that the Chinese people use to roll dice while Romans made bets on the gladiators and lions fights and later English men often betted in card games.
In many cultures, along history, gamblers made bets on almost everything: individuals, fights, races, sport and now can even bet on events in stars or politicians life. Legal gambling houses first appeared in 1626 in Italy. High society members gathered for making business, politics or just for pleasure in smalls villas, summerhouses named “casino” (casino is the Italian for “little house”).
The first legal casino opened in 1765 in Baden, southwest Germany, and few decades later, in 1806 Napoleon legalized casinos in France. French casinos started to promote luxury and comfort, in the same time selecting clients to limit access. Around 1850 Monaco’s reigning family had serious financial problems and decided to follow the example of German towns like Baden-Baden and Homburg that face increasing prosperity based on gambling establishments. From this point on Monte Carlo started its history as a European gambling Mecca. Today Monte Carlo Casino is one most important tourist attraction of Monaco while the citizens of Monaco are prohibited to enter gambling rooms. Every year Monte Carlo Casino is the host of European Poker Tour Grand Final as a confirmation of its importance in gambling world. The first American casino was Brown’s Saloon opened in 1822 and located at the border of Utah Colorado and Wyoming states. The first American state that legalized gambling was Nevada. The legalization of gambling in 1931 resulting in the appearance of the famous casino-hotels. The first casino build in Las Vegas is El Rancho Vegas Hotel & Casino opened in 1941. El Rancho was a symbol for Americans casino up to 1960 when a fire burned it down. The property is deserted except a 10 acre parcel owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation sice 2000. In 2006 Las Vegas lost the title of the largest gambling center in the world in favor of Macau. Between 1962 and 2002 the gambling industry in Macau operated under government monopoly. After the monopoly ended several large casinos entered the market and the gambling revenues of Macau surpassed Las Vegas revenues. The Venetian Macao is the largest casino in the world with 51,000 m2 housing over 3400 slot machines and 800 gambling tables. Although the land casino industry is still developing the number of online casinos is growing exponentialy and each day more players enjoy the excitement of gambling from the comfort of your own house. Online gambling seems to be the future star of the gambling industry. |
