As technology has evolved and games of chance have risen in popularity, the venues in which we play have continued to change. From simple card games in bars and saloons, to playing whenever you have internet access on your device, from the comfort of your own home thanks to the Sky Vegas casino online, for example.
Join us as we travel through time, exploring just how some of the beloved casino games found their homes throughout the decades…
The earliest days
Games of chance have been around long before the first venue housed them. In fact, the first dice date back to ancient Egypt, and evidence of primitive versions of games similar to Roulette can be found dating to the ancient Greek and Roman times.
The first casino
It was in Venice, Italy, in 1638 that the world’s first casino opened its doors. The Casino Di Venezia was originally a theatre, hosting a wing for gambling games during the intermission of plays.
Eventually, the venue opened as a fully-fledged casino, starting the casino craze in Italy, so much so, that by the time we entered 1744, there were already 120 venues.
Casinos in America
Eventually, after gaining popularity throughout Europe, the late 1820’s saw French colonists sail many casino games over to American shores, where the likes of Blackjack and Poker could be found in the earliest legalised gambling houses in New Orleans.
Soon, gambling boats were travelling up and down the Mississippi River, helping the games to spread further.
Fast forward to the 1930’s
Gambling laws and regulations throughout the world made it hard for casinos to open, but thanks to the building of the Hoover Dam in 1931-1935 – the world of casinos was about to change.
The workers needed somewhere to rest after such tiring work, and sought out bars and saloons, where they could gamble and relax.
This led to the opening of some of the first casinos on Fremont Street, Nevada.
1940-1950’s
With an eye for the booming business in Fremont Steet, and deep roots in the world of the Las Vegas mob – Bugsy Siegel opened the first super-casino on what would later become known as the Las Vegas Strip.
The Flamingo still stands today, and whilst it no longer has any ties to the mob, is shrouded in rich history. The bold colours and luxurious complex paved the way for the glitz and glamour of The Strip which we know today – a far cry from the Western-themed complexes that dominated the streets beforehand. By mid 1950’s tourists flocked to the celebrity-backed resorts in their millions.
1960-1970’s
It was in 1966 that the era of the mobsters truly came to an end. Howard Hughes checked into the penthouse of the Desert Inn and decided he would rather buy it than leave.
Hughes bought other hotels too, creating a business-fuelled Vegas, rather than one run by the mob.
1980-1990’s
In 1989, developed by Steve Wynn, came the opening of the Mirage – the city’s first mega-resort. This transformed The Strip yet again, demolishing old casinos to make way for new, more glamorous ventures. Casinos took their cues from ancient Rome, Egypt and Paris, helping the city to grow further and make history as one of the casino capitals of the world.
It didn’t take long after this for technology to take to the stage. In 1996, the first online casino to allow automated payouts opened its virtual doors and changed the course of the casino industry forever.
2000’s and beyond
You could say the rest is history, but with technology advancing at the speed of light, the 2000’s bought much more to the casino world.
Thanks to the rise of smartphones and the demand for greater bandwidth, live dealer gaming took online gameplay to a whole other level.
In the modern-day, you can see how much the industry has evolved for yourself, with access to the greatest graphics and state-of-the-art, seamless gameplay available from anywhere you have internet access, on any device, giving you a glimpse of that Las Vegas glamour any time you fancy!
