Casinos line the streets of Las Vegas, can be found in several entertainment resorts, and even now can be accessed virtually on your device, wherever and whenever you like.
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The classic card games and entertaining video Slots, and now even Live Casino games can easily be found online, including at the casino site Karamba. But, before the advances in technology brought the casino to the small screen in our pockets, how did the land-based gaming establishment come about? Read on as we reveal all about the evolution of casino.
The Meaning Of The Word
Whether you’re a fan of the games or not, we have all used the word casino, and know what it refers to. But what does the actual word mean?
The word casino originates from the Italian language, with the root lexis casa translating to house. Traditionally the term casino was used in reference to a small country villa or summer house, but sometimes for a social club, which is where the modern meaning of the word is thought to have stemmed from.
In the 19th century, the term casino then encompassed other forms of social buildings that including both socialising and entertainment. These buildings also tended to host gambling, and over time this word would be used to describe all forms of gaming establishments.
The History Of The Gambling House
The exact beginnings of casino and its subsequent games is unknown. Forms of gaming involving money or prizes can be dated back to ancient societies. Ancient Greeks and Romans were keen gamblers, and used to play dice, board games and other games of chance as a form of entertainment.
The first known establishment that was classed as a gambling house was created in 1638, in Venice, Italy. It wasn’t referred to as a casino at the time, but certainly meets the modern definition of the word. Called Il Ridotto, it was formed by the Great Council of Venice to establish a controlled environment for gambling during carnival season. It went on to close in 1744, but its concept sparked the creation of the casinos we are more familiar with today.
Travelling from Europe to America, archaic gambling establishments were commonly known as saloons. The influx of these types of western bars was pioneered by major cities such as New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco. Saloons were a hub for travellers to drink and gamble, although it became illegal to play such games in America in the 20th century.
However, in 1931, gambling was legalised in the whole state of Nevada, which arguably led to the popularity and boom of the famous city Las Vegas. Later on in 1976, New Jersey also legalised gambling in Atlantic City, which is now classed as America’s second largest casino city.
New And Exciting Games
As well as the establishment themselves, the casino games that can be found within them have also evolved over time. Classic table games like Blackjack, Poker and Roulette harken back to the first forms of casino, and have withstood the test of time, featuring in both online and land-based casinos of today.
The real impact on the casino industry came in 1894, when the ground-breaking slot machine was invented. The sheer ease and speed of playing Slots made them a firm favourite of casino businesses, and they soon filled the floors of gambling houses.
The Virtual Casino
The wonderful world of casino was brought into the modern era with the creation of online gaming. No longer did players need to venture to a physical building to play their favourite games, nor did they need to put their glad-rags on or fork out on expensive travel. All you need to do is sign into your account on a casino site, make a deposit and start playing.
Video Slots became a popular game amongst online casino players, and virtual versions of Poker, Blackjack and Roulette also become readily available to play. But avid casino fans were still looking for the atmosphere and excitement that they could find at a land-based casino.
The invention of Live Casino was the solution, where the best elements of a virtual casino was mixed with the live action of the game and a real-life dealer. Nowadays, you can experience a range of variations of your favourite games, and can even play gameshow style games through an online casino.
Disclaimer: Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Click HERE for more information.
