Why is history so important? Well, let’s see. If we understand the background of events, we have the opportunity to learn from them. And let’s not forget the aspect that following the development of certain objects and actions in the course of history can be really entertaining. So, the history class starts here.
This won’t sound so nice, but according to game theory, gambling is a zero-sum game, since the participants can only gain value from each other, i.e. they can succeed at each other’s expense.
Nowadays, gambling is controlled by the state in almost every country of the world. So, as state monopolies, these games generate huge revenues from the taxes levied.
It is an interesting fact that gambling has generally been tolerated by Christian, Jewish and Muslim states, but in some cases it has been banned for longer or shorter periods.
Cultural Aspects of Gambling that Could Surprise You
Even if you are a new player, interested in the historical background of gambling, or you could be an experienced gambler, you may find some new information in the lines below. I bet you couldn’t guess where the idea of roulette came from, or where the blackjack game was born. Maybe you know which one is the oldest game of chance. Maybe not. Let’s just take a look at what we know, shall we? The games detailed in the following:
- Roulette,
- Card games,
Roulette – it started in Roman times
A rudimentary form of roulette, still popular today, was already present in Roman times. The device was a chariot wheel, which, when spun, would display an arrow mounted on it to show the winner.
By 1655, the game had reached the point where the first permanent roulette wheel appeared: at Luis Blanc‘s casino in Hamburg, the house edge was reduced significantly by changing the fields (except for the double zero).
Card Games – no counting in online casinos
Blackjack may be the least unknown to those interested in card games, yet few people know that it started its global conquest not in the United States, but in Europe. It really took off in the US when Blackjack fell victim to a ban on gambling games that were considered dangerous to humans.
The advent of Blackjack online virtually eliminated the possibility of card counting, as the online game was too fast compared to the traditional form.
Dice – the oldest one
Dice is perhaps the oldest form of gambling, dice games can also be found at Lemon Casino these days. The dice itself has had many functions, but its most famous use is in the medieval gambling game known as “Hazard”: the crusaders defending the castle of Hazarth often passed the time by throwing dice.
The popularity of the game is shown by the fact that in America today some 30 million people play it regularly.
Online casinos – often safer than the offline ones
With the emergence of online gambling, gaming has grown into a huge international economic activity: in 2009, an estimated $335 billion was spent by online gamblers. There are thousands of these sites, which fortunately are mostly safer than physical casinos.
Important! Whichever gambling game you choose, you can only avoid serious financial losses by playing within pre-established, controlled limits.