History of Gambling

  When you wage your money or something of value for an event with uncertain result, with the goal to win can be termed as gambling. Gambling is a common term and most people have been involved in this activity in one way or the other. Gambling is legal in most countries and gambling companies are regulated by gaming control boards in those countries. Gambling is becoming popular because of the referrals and hype it is getting from those already participating. Gambling is not a new undertaking. It has been there for long and it has evolved with the changing times. As you read this article, you will understand the steps gambling has made to be where it is today.

When did gambling start

Gambling started way before the written history. You cannot tell the exact time it started because it seems like the beginning of all humanity, in other words, gambling was and has been there since humanity began. In Mesopotamia, it started around 3000bc. The six-sided dices were found in Astragali way before they came to Mesopotamia. In China there were many gambling houses where betting on animal fights and other games was the norm of the day. In the ninth century, China introduced the card games and in the tenth century, they had games like Lotto and Dominoes. Gambling in Japan became evident in the fourteenth century while in the seventeenth century the United States had poker as the most popular card game. Poker is a game that derives its roots from a game called As-Nas, which was from Persia. The first Casino was in Venice Italy. It started operating in 1938 under the name Ridotto. In China, there was evidence of lottery games in 200BC and throughout history, these funds have been used for public purposes. It is in the books of history, that Harvard and Yale universities were established with lottery funds and so was the Great Wall of China. In the nineteenth century, casinos started springing up in Europe. In the United States, Las Vegas strip grew from informal gambling houses in Vogue and steamboats where people used to gamble especially traders and farmers. Still in the nineteenth century, Paris was well known for Roulette and it is in this time that casinos like Monte Carlo gained significance.

With the rise in number of gamblers, there was necessity to create more room for the newbies. Gambling machines were introduced the first one being in New York by Pitt and Messrs Sittman which resembles the slot machines we have today. The first video slot, which paved way for online video slots, was invented in 1976. Gambling has been made easy such that all you need is your phone to be able to game but people have different thoughts.

How was the reception

By look of things, gambling has been widely accepted in many parts of the world. Different religious groups have different opinions about gambling. Religion is part of people’s culture and it determines how their lifestyle progresses. Christians are against gambling saying that it is greed for money, which is discouraged in the bible. The Catholic Church thinks that, there is no moral hindrance to gambling if there is fairness while the Hindus advocate for taxation and control. Most states limit gambling because of different religious, cultural, and social beliefs. Most people belief that where gambling exists, things like corruption, violence, debts, and prostitution are prone to be present. The afros mentioned do not help in the development of the society. Islam also is against gambling because they say it is easy money, which is Haraamand there is punishment for those who gamble which is one-year imprisonment or twelve lashes and the one who offers venue for such practices has to pay fine. Even with much opposition, gambling is still evolving and there are many types of gambling.

Types of gambling

Gambling comes in different forms or games and one is at liberty to choose whichever form that pleases them. The games can be either online or physical like in the casinos. Casino games include slot machine, bingo, video poker, keno, pachinko, and video bingo. Other types of gambling are lottery, raffle tickets, sports betting, virtual sports, fixed odds betting, coin tossing, card games and dice games among many more. Different people prefer different gambling options. You are at liberty to choose from among the many types available.

Benefits of gambling

Gambling is a form of recreation where you can have a chance to win as you cool your brains.Gambling helps you to become optimistic and work better so that you can have a better life. When you gamble you have thoughts of how your life would change if you were to win. Such thoughts help one to be hopeful and make goals to achieve their dreams. You have a possibility to win and winning means better life. Gambling has contributed to local economies by providing employment to the locals and taxes to the government. Some gambling companies help in charity causes so even if you do not win a needy person wins. As you gamble, be careful or else you be addicted to it, which can open doors for more serious life issues like indebtedness.

Consequences of gambling

Gambling can be addictive if proper care is not taken and this can take a toll order on one’s social standing. Gambling addiction can force someone to steal; cheat or worse still kill to get money for gambling.  The frustrations of losing a bet or game can lead to depression,excessive drinking, use of drugs, or being insomniac to suppress the worries. One can start withdrawing from social activities or gatherings for fear of mockery or being looked down.

Though gambling is not a stable form of investment, it can turn ones status from the lowly to the league of the respected personalities in the society. Some proceeds from gambling, have been used to give hope to the less fortunate in the society. Schools, colleges, hospitals and other social amenities have been initiated using the proceeds from gambling. A word of caution though, gamble wisely.