Gambling Through the Ages: From Medieval Europe Games to Vegas, Baby!

We all know it – the thrill in your gut that comes with the roll of the die, the goosebumps you get from spinning the wheel. We humans are obsessed with the chase, and it’s not a new phenomenon. Our ancestors have been chasing luck, chance and a quick buck (or a few goats, back in the day) for thousands of years.

It may have evolved from sacred rituals to shady backroom deals, royal pastimes to billion-dollar industries. But, at the core, we’re all here for the same thing – we humans love to take a risk.

So if you want to mix your love of gambling with a little history, you’re in the right place. We’re tracing the journey of gambling through the ages – from the bone dice of Mesopotamia to the rise of Medieval Europe games like Hazard, all the way to neon-lit pokie machines and the crypto casinos cropping up online.

Ready to go all in on a time-travelling tour of chance? Let’s roll.

Boney M(esopotamia) and the Great Bankroll of China: Gambling in Ancient Times

Long before the velvet ropes and mega buffets of Vegas, gambling was already a cornerstone of human entertainment. The earliest evidence of games of chance dates back to 3000BCE, when the Mesopotamian people would card six-sided dice from animal bones. These were called astragali, named after the ankle bone that was typically used (astragalus).

More than just a game, they might have been used for divination, speaking to the gods and getting guidance from above. Pretty high stakes to put on some ankle bones, if you ask us. And it wasn’t just the Mesopotamians – the Ancient Egyptians were doing their own thing with mixing recreation and religion. A game called Senet has been found buried alongside pharaohs, which is believed to have been a chance-based ‘game’ that helped guide souls through the afterlife. Talk about trying your luck!

Meanwhile in China, ancient civilisations were developing early lottery games to fund major infrastructure projects – even the Great Wall of China was partially funded by these lotteries! And for the Greeks and Romans, gambling was taken to new social heights. Romans were so obsessed with dice games that the first gambling laws had to be introduced. Soldiers would pass the time with early versions of backgammon, and citizens would place bets on everything from gladiator fights to chariot races.

By the time we’d made it to the early medieval period, the dice had already been cast – both literally and figuratively. Our love affair with gambling had well and truly begun.

Medieval Europe Games: A Gamble with the Devil?

If you think medieval Europe was all plagues, piety and pungent smells (the Romans had sewers, guys, why didn’t you use them?!), you’d better think again. Turns out, the nobility and peasant-folk alike loved a gamble.

At first, dice games were the go-to for most, no matter their rank. Dice were portable, cheap and easy to rig – one thing you can count on is that, for as long as humans have loved to gamble, we’ve also loved to cheat.

One of the most popular games of the time was Hazard, a chaotic dice game with more rules than your in-laws at Christmas. Complicated, risky and full of flair, Hazard had all the danger to live up to its name. It was played by the rich and the poor, and ended up standing the test of time – you’ll recognise much of the gameplay in the modern game of craps.

But those medieval minxes weren’t stopping with dice games. Around the 14th century, playing cards arrived in Europe via either Islamic or Chinese trade routes. And when we say these changed the game, we really mean it. Early decks were hand-painted, intricately designed and reserved for the wealthy, but they soon trickled down to the masses.

But, what a surprise, the Church had opinions. Gambling was quickly condemned as sinful, distracting, and downright devilish. Penalties ensued, including bans, fines and the occasional public shaming – but people wouldn’t quit. You might even find the odd monk slipping dice into his robes, as the temptation of the thrill got too much.

As gambling games grew, so did strategy-based games – and you can bet that people found a way to raise the stakes. Betting was commonplace on games of Nine Men’s Morris, Alquerque, and even Hnefatafl – a Viking favourite. Let us know if you’re interested in a deep dive on how to play that one, it’ll really impress your friends!

By the end of the Medieval period, Europe was rolling deep in games of chance. From peasants with a pocketful of pebbles to knights dealing gilded decks, the lure of Lady Luck was alive and well.

Style and Salons: Gambling and the Renaissance

Much like the dice, the years kept rolling onwards, and we stepped into the Renaissance. Everything got a little more stylish – art, science, fashion and, of course, gambling. The public was increasingly becoming more literate and leisure time was less of a rarity (although still pretty hard to come by if you weren’t loaded), so gambling began shifting from taverns to drawing rooms, battlefields to private salons. Now, noblemen could lose their fortunes in style, from the comfort of a velvet chair.

Like most pastimes of the Renaissance, card games were all about the fashion statement. Games went in and out of style, and titles like Primero, Basset and Faro were regulars at the salons. Generally, the ones that stayed the course were the dramatic games that could make or break fortunes with the blink of an eye.

There were two big changes that came along during the Renaissance. The first was the widespread introduction of rules. Not just house rules, but proper structures that governed the games – and meant your losses were much more likely to be enforced.

The second, well, that’s a really big one. In 1638, those fun-loving, more-money-than-sense Venetians opened Il Ridotto – the world’s first government-sanctioned gambling house. Translated as ‘The Private Room’, this early casino was elegant, exclusive and – in true Venetian style – required masks to be worn. If you’re gonna lose your rent money, you might as well do it in style. And anonymously, in case your landlord happens to be at the next table.

More than a casino, Il Ridotto was also a social experiment. For the first time, gambling was taxed and regulated – forming the start of state involvement in what had long been a complete free-for-all. And, of course, the state getting involved meant that there started to be a house – and consequently, a house edge.

Rules, Racing and Roulette: Gambling Through Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason, dominated the late 17th and 18th centuries. While the Church still held considerable power, it was being challenged like never before – and individualism and scepticism were growing. With this backdrop, the glistening salons of the Renaissance turned into intellectual meeting rooms – but don’t think this was no place for the wagers we’ve enjoyed throughout history. Instead, these smart cookies cemented the rules, developed mathematical strategies and really thought about the games they were playing.

The Enlightenment is so called because it was a period of intellect. So, it’s kind of ironic that one man’s physics failure brought about the introduction of one of the world’s most popular casino games – roulette.

Blaise Pascal was an accomplished mathematician, physicist and philosopher. Even his failures had some success, when he attempted to create a perpetual motion machine in 17th century France. It didn’t work, but it sure did look like fun if you added a small ball and some stakes. It wasn’t intended as a gambling game, but the French were experiencing their ‘Great Century’ and had plenty of downtime for indulging in a little gambling. Which was probably good, considering what the next few centuries had in store for the country.

Roulette quickly grew beyond France and became a favourite among Europe’s elite. It was sophisticated, easy to learn and offered an intoxicating mix of strategy and chance – perfect for an age obsessed with reason, without letting go of the risk that draws us back to gambling time and again.

Aside from the inception of roulette, a couple of other mainstays in the gambling world gained popularity during this period. The British were perfecting the sport of horse racing in the 1800s, developing official racecourses and organising legitimate betting practices. This was the start of widespread public odds and bookies, and it turned gambling into a social event, rather than a game.

By the time the Industrial Revolution kicked in, gambling was a regular pastime in post high society parlours and working-class pubs. Games were well-known, standardised and increasingly regulated – marking the turning point from hobby to the billion dollar gambling industry we know today.

Wild Cards in the Wild West: Gambling in the American Frontier

We’ve spent a lot of time in Europe, so let’s head across the pond to the States. As the Industrial Revolution roared on, America was busy laying railroads, expanding into the west, and kicking open saloon doors with a menacing look and a pistol in each hand. In the saloons of frontier towns, gambling was a way of life – and it was growing in ways that would change the way we play globally.

We don’t really know where poker came from but, by the early 1800s, it was the card game of choice along the Mississippi River. Its versatility was its charm, with the game offering the same thrills whether you’re playing for pennies or entire fortunes.

Prefer pokies to poker? This is the era you have to thank, as San Francisco mechanic Charles Fey invented the first real pokie machine in 1894. It was called Liberty Bell, and really doesn’t look a world away from today’s machines – although smaller and certainly with a bit more old-timey flair. It was an absolute game-changer at the time, offering automatic payouts which eliminated the need for attendants. Just a lever and three spinning reels stood between a cowboy and a 50 cent fortune (equivalent to around US$20 today!)

Fast forward to the early 20th century, and you’ll hit the USA’s greatest killjoy – Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, alcohol was outlawed and, since gambling and alcohol often went hand in hand, many were forced to take their cards underground. Speakeasies doubled as illicit gambling dens and, if anything, only served to make the games feel more dangerous – even more alluring when your players are after a thrill.

By the time of the Great Depression, however, governments were at a crossroads in their stance on gambling. Desperate for money, they couldn’t ignore the income potential of this industry – paving the way for one desert town in Nevada to switch up the game forever.

Vegas, Baby: The Rise of the Casino Capital of the World

When Nevada legalised gambling in 1931, it wasn’t because the government decided it fancied a party. It was the quickest fix to bring revenue and jobs which were desperately needed after the Great Depression. One sleepy desert town with a rail line – and not much else – became the focal point for this initiative, and the Las Vegas we know today was born.

At first, casinos were modest roadside affairs. That is, until mobster Bugsy Siegel saw an opportunity in the 40s. His Flamingo Hotel, which opened its doors in 1946, formed the blueprint of the sprawling, glitzy Vegas hotels we know now. Thanks to Bugsy, the town developed its reputation as a global destination for the hedonistic lifestyle it promised. But behind the sequins and champagne, the influence of the mob was never far away. Organised crime held the strings, and casinos were rife for money-laundering and shady deals.

But edging into the 1970s, the mob began distancing itself from Vegas – it’s pretty hard to operate underground when the whole world knows where you are, if you know what we mean. Corporate ownership took over and developed even bigger, more elaborate resorts with broader appeal. Families could stay for the pools and buffets, while high rollers still owned the tables in private rooms.

In less than 50 years, Las Vegas was forever transformed from a stopover in the Nevada desert into the world’s premium gambling destination. And while it still holds that title, emerging technology was about to change the game once more.

The Dice Go Digital: The Age of Online Gambling

In 1994, Gaming Club Online Casino was set up by new kids on the block, Microgaming (yep, the same one!), and the first online casino opened its virtual doors. Suddenly, you didn’t have to go to Vegas to gamble – in fact, you didn’t even have to leave your house. A round of poker, no trousers necessary? No wonder the industry exploded overnight.

As the tech advanced, so did the variety. Online pokies went from static images to full-blown video extravaganzas, full of immersive graphics and engaging bonus rounds. Live dealer games brought the croupiers straight to your living room. And poker? Online tournaments created millionaires in minutes and household names from the comfort of the home.

By the 2010s, the stakes were raised again. Everyone started to carry the internet in their pockets thanks to smartphones, and the gambling apps were soon to follow. And don’t even get us started on the financial changes of the 21st century – from eWallets to cryptocurrencies, gone were the days of taking 50 cents to your local bookies.

The Games May Change, But We Don't

So there you have it – Mesopotamian bone dice through to Medieval Europe games, ending in modern-day crypto casinos. While the way we gamble has changed drastically, as well as the political and social landscapes under which we play, one thing is for sure: at the end of the day, we humans just can’t resist the thrill.