The most recent outburst of gambling can be traced to the 1990s. With the help of the birth of the World Wide Web in 1989, years later, casinos were accessed anywhere with an internet connection. The invention of the smartphone even triggered the spurt further.
Over the last two decades, online casinos have become astoundingly popular and are now one of the most lucrative industries worldwide. It can be played from the comfort of your home, in your pajamas, legs stressed across the sofa, or in the workplace. In essence, you can carry a casino around.
While it is easy to engage in your hobby of gambling on online blackjack real money, or other games at your favourite gaming portal, you may not know there is more to that world than it seems. Enough of the chit-chats, this article will look at ten exciting facts about your pastimes that you probably didn’t know about.
Casinos Originated in Italy
There are great casinos worldwide and in some noteworthy locations like London, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City. It is no news that those in the US think Las Vegas is the hub of gambling. On the contrary, it isn’t. It’s the Chinese city of Macau.
There, casinos make annual returns worth over $28 billion. Other high-ranking casinos are in Paris and London. But that’s not the point. They all claim to offer the best casino experience, but who first offered it? Italy did.
The term ‘casino’ has its roots in the Italian word ‘casa,’ which means ‘house.’ The evolution of that term ranged from social clubs to summerhouses. Sidenote: organized gambling can be dated as far back as 17th century Venice. Although other countries proudly manage casinos, honour should be given to the early Italians.
Blackjack Has a French Origin
Blackjack, one of the most thrilling casino games, has its roots in the French card game “Vingt-et-un,” which roughly translates to ‘21.’ This card game was widely known in French casinos, and even the French warrior and political leader known for his part in the French revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, enjoyed playing the game.
When exiled to Elba Island, the former French Emperor usually played blackjack for hours to pass the time. It was just called Vingt-et-un (21) then in the early 1800s. “Blackjack” was invented based on that epoch.
Players Swallowed Dices
Craps is a gambling game played with two dice. In the 20th century, gambling was still illegal in most of the US states, so crap players played their games lowkey.
In the event of a police raid, some punters would swallow the dice. Although it might seem absurd, here’s the pivotal force behind that act: “no dice, no evidence; no evidence, no conviction;” hence, they can’t be arrested or charged in court.
An Auto Shop was Home to the First Slot Machine
Mechanic Charles Fey wanted his customers to endure the wait time it took for their cars to be fixed, so in 1895 he invented the slot machine, dubbed the “Liberty Bell.” In essence, his customers had something fun to do while they waited.
In one of the initial versions of the slot machine, there was the feature of a gum vending compartment. The players are rewarded gum whenever they fix coins in the slot and pull the lever. The gum came in fruity flavours like orange, cherry, melon, and lemon, amongst others.
Casinos followed the crowd and began purchasing slot machines. At first, these machines were played by punters when the table games were filled up. Along the line, it gained popularity and became a full-blown game. So fruit symbols seen today, such as cherries and melons, originate from the early versions of slot machines.
Card Counting is Legal
When playing blackjack, using the card counting strategy is legitimate if you intend to beat the house. It might seem wizardry, but it should be noted that the card counting strategy is predicated on one concise principle – the casino’s gain reduces only if the pack of cards used to play has more high cards than low ones. What’s more? If the difference is vast, a punter potentially wins an advantage.
Technically, deploying this strategy does not equate to you breaking the law. Still, casinos will try to prevent or outrightly end card counting, especially when the gambler is not discerning. And if push comes to shove, it’s either they probably request that you exit their casino or tell you to engage in a different game. However, savvy players now know this strategy is not illegal.
Keno Raised Money for Arms and Food
No one can or has put their hands on the exact date of origin of Keno. It has not been documented in any written history worldwide, but it originated in China. According to history, it existed during the Han Dynasty (205-187 BC).
This game was not precisely created for recreation or any fun. It was a means to an end. Intending to provide villagers with the money to purchase weapons and food supplies, Cheung Leung invented the game. Interestingly, it is said that the way the game is played now is how it has been since its advent in China.
You Can Ban Yourself From Playing Casino Games
According to studies and research from experts, millions worldwide have problems with gambling addiction. To this effect, great online casinos and regulatory authorities have put measures in place to help people with similar problems.
Some of the best online casinos comprise gaming sections and links to websites that offer help and advice related to gambling. You can set limits and even set an alert for overspending. Some of these sites even let you close your account for a certain period, and you are even allowed to restrict your access to your account.
A few countries deploy the “Voluntary Exclusion” program. This program is meant for punters that desire to quell their gambling habit or even ban themselves from gaming sections. This program also cuts across online casinos.
GamStop in the UK, for instance, has features that enable players to restrict online wagering activities. Players are prevented from engaging on gambling sites or applications for as long as they want, which could be a year or even a lifetime.
The Numbers on a Roulette Wheel Amount to 666
Roulette Was Once Called The Devil’s Wheel. Just like several other facets and topics of life have places in superstitions, so does staking. Roulette was once notoriously referred to as “the devil’s game.” Why? You may ask.
Well, if you totalled all the numbers on a roulette wheel, it amounts to 666 (yes, we both thought the same thing just about now), the mark of the beast. Roulette was invented by French Physicist Blaise Pascal who attempted to create a perpetual motion machine.
Gambling Helped FedEx
FedEx now delivers over a billion packages worldwide yearly. But it would interest you to know that in 1973 they almost went bankrupt. In a desperate and impulsive attempt at saving the business, FedEx founder Frederick Smith flew to Las Vegas with FedEx’s last $5,000 and staked it all on blackjack. Astoundingly, he had a $27000 hit! His gambling attempt paid off, and it paid well.
Although it wasn’t an advisable solution, it kept FedEx in business, helped pay the company’s $24 000 fuel bill, and kept FedEx afloat till it made its first profits three years later. Thanks to CEO Fred and the risk-reward equation of gambling, the American multinational courier is thriving today.
Strategy Helps, Speed Kills
A strategy might reduce the advantages of some games, and when this happens, deploy the best strategy for every hand you play. In blackjack, the house edge is reduced by more than half when the primary strategy is in play. Usually, punters with the higher advantage use card counting to defeat the house edge.
Generally, it isn’t enough to know the best strategies if you don’t know how and when to use them. At the same time, you should know which strategies to avoid.
Punters should note that although strategies are essential, they might not be of valuable help in some games. They should also note that strategy is as critical a factor as speed. Punters should not be in a rush to win; else, they hit potholes instead of jackpots. Slow your roll so you can stretch your bankroll.
Final Notes
The above are some fun facts you probably haven’t heard about casinos and gambling before. It is important to say gambling can be enjoyed moderately as a fun and thrilling activity. It is only a problem if it brings about financial challenges or addiction. Remember not to do it excessively.
