The practice of gambling has been around for thousands of years and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. What is more, there are more options than ever before, from traditional gambling to online casino alternatives. While some people step into this world without really understanding it, some like to learn all they can before they decide if gambling is the right hobby for them. Regardless of whether you plan on playing to win big and spend your money in an unusual way or are just looking for a fun time and perhaps some extra pocket money, you can take a look at our short guide when it comes to gambling and all the shapes and forms that it has gone through over the years.

A Brief History of Traditional Gambling

Even though online ways of gambling are getting more and more popular in this digital age, traditional gambling has taken place for over several thousands of years. In fact, it is estimated that the earliest forms of gambling were dice-like objects dating back to 40,000 BC. Then, a Chinese game “Baige Piao” or “White Pigeon Ticket” appeared around 2,300 BC and it is the base for the current-day lottery-like gambling game Keno. It took a lot of time for gambling to appear in Europe (circa 300 BC) but it was widely enjoyed in Ancient Greece. Moreover, seeing as how the Romans were known for their superstitions, they used games of chance to try and predict outcomes of certain battles. In addition to betting on the Olympic Games and other competitions, there is a lot of evidence that shows that the fate of certain territories was decided by rolling dice as well.

Around 500 AD, Koreans started making cards of paper and silk which later inspired the creation of playing cards in China. Card games reached Europe in the 15th century and the first casinos were opened in Italy in the 17th century and from there, the practice of gambling spread all over the world. From blackjack, roulette and poker to the one-armed bandits (slot machines) that appeared in New York in 1891, a lot of new games were appearing thus forcing the governments to start introducing certain rules as well as bans. For instance, gambling was prohibited in the U.S. for a long time and even nowadays, it is only legal in several states while in the U.K., betting shops were legalized in 1961 and the industry boomed.

The Rise of Online Gambling

As is the case with everything, technology started playing a bigger role in gambling after a while. The one-armed bandit machines were followed up by electromechanical slots in the ‘60s and the first electronic video slot appeared in 1976. These handy inventions helped expand the appeal of gambling and the Las Vegas casinos were the place to be. Plus, betting shops being able to show games on TV and provide their visitors with drinks certainly upped the experience.

Once the internet became more available in the mid-90s, companies such as Microgaming started working on software that would allow people to access casinos online. After Antigua and Barbuda passed the Free Trade & Processing Act in 1994, other companies realized the potential online casinos have and started investing in their own platforms that would let people play bingo and poker online. However, not long after, governments starting working on bans or restrictions for online gambling, which are still in effect in many places.

On the other hand, there are many legal markets and companies operating there that decided to make the most of this opportunity. This field experienced many new developments and innovations, and in 2003, the first live dealer casinos appeared. Since then, a wide variety of free casino games has been introduced as companies realized how important keeping their clients satisfied is.

Moving to Mobile

Seeing as how we started doing everything on our mobile devices instead of our PCs, from buying clothes to looking up where we are going to eat, it is no wonder that developers are moving onto apps that allow us to gamble while on the go. The leaders among online casinos are always paying attention to current trends so it’s only normal that they have already created apps for all the popular games out there. With the technological developments and the practicality of playing on our handheld devices, the desktop environment is slowly being left behind and businesses that want to stay relevant must keep up.

The Future of Gambling

Now that gambling has gone mobile, it will not be long until new trends start reshaping the industry . Artificial intelligence is being implemented more and more in all spheres of life and it should not come as a surprise that it will soon find its place in the gambling industry as well. Moreover, augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D technology will surely continue to make the games even more immersive.

When it comes to payment methods, we can also expect blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies to become even more popular in this sphere. In addition to providing transaction transparency and lowered transaction costs, blockchain technology lets users gamble anonymously and withdraw money instantly. All of these perks will surely not go unnoticed.

As you can see, gambling has a long history and has gone through countless iterations over the centuries before it became what it is today. With ever-evolving technology assisting the progress of current games of chance, change is expected and inevitable, and you’ll need to keep up with all the latest news and developments if you decide to take up this particular hobby.