A Look Back at the History of Casinos

The history of the casino is a captivating story of transformation, spanning hundreds of years. What began as a small, private house for pleasure has transformed into a global industry encompassing lavish resorts and sophisticated digital platforms.

The First Gambling Houses

We owe the name "casino" to the Italians, where it originally meant a summerhouse or villa. The Ridotto, which opened its doors in Venice in 1638, is recognized as the world's first government-approved casino. Its purpose was to regulate the rampant gambling that occurred during the city's carnival.

The Rise of European and American Casinos

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, casino gambling houses became popular among the European aristocracy. The opening of the Casino de Monte-Carlo solidified the association between casinos, luxury, and high-rolling excitement.

In the United States, gambling was initially widespread in saloons in the West. The pivotal moment came in 1931 when Nevada legalized gambling, leading to the birth of Las Vegas.

From Brick-and-Mortar to Clicks-and-Mortar

The biggest transformation in casino history occurred in the 1990s with the advent of the World Wide Web. The first online casinos began to appear in the mid-90s, offering a small selection of games to a global audience.

Today, the online casino industry is a behemoth, featuring thousands of sites, live dealer games, mobile apps, and even explorations into virtual reality (VR) and casino augmented reality (AR). The casino's path from a 17th-century Italian room to a fully immersive VR world showcases its lasting allure and innovative spirit.