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A Brief History of the Casino

The Dawn of Organized Betting

While the modern casino (visit the next page) is a relatively recent invention, casino the act of gambling is as old as civilization itself. From ancient China to the Roman Empire, people have always been drawn to the thrill of risking something for a greater prize.

The Birthplace of the Casino

It’s no surprise that the word casino comes from Italy, as this is where the first public gambling house was established. In 1638, the government of Venice opened the Ridotto to control and supervise gambling during the carnival season. It was initially restricted to the aristocracy and served to formalize what had previously been a chaotic and unregulated activity.

From Italy to France and Monaco

The 19th century saw the spread of elegant casinos to resort towns throughout Europe. However, the most famous of all is the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. The casino was an economic project that quickly became a symbol of luxury, glamour, and high-stakes gambling for the world’s elite.

Gambling in the New World

During America’s westward expansion, gambling was a common pastime in the rough-and-tumble saloons of the era. By the early 1900s, anti-gambling movements had succeeded in making it illegal in most states. Everything changed in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized gambling to combat the Great Depression. This act set the stage for Las Vegas’s meteoric rise, from a dusty railroad stop to a global icon of entertainment and gaming.

The Digital Revolution: The Online Casino Era

The internet’s arrival in the 1990s marked the beginning of the most profound transformation for the casino industry. In the mid-1990s, the first pioneering online casinos went live, casino laying the groundwork for a new industry. From its humble beginnings, the online casino sector has grown into a major economic force, completely changing how people gamble.