Today's glamorous casino resorts are a modern phenomenon. However, the human impulse to gamble and the concept of a dedicated place for it are as old as civilization itself. It's a story of evolution, from simple private clubs to the multi-billion dollar global industry of today.
Games of chance have been played since the dawn of history. Dice-like objects made from animal bones have been found in prehistoric sites, and there are records of lotteries and betting on animal fights in Ancient China, Greece, and casino Rome. However, the first known establishment that can be truly compared to a casino was the Ridotto, which opened in Venice, Italy, in 1638. The Venetian government created it to provide a controlled environment for gambling. This effectively made it an exclusive club for the aristocracy, setting a precedent for the glamour of future casinos.
Casinos became a central feature of high society in European spa towns. They were sophisticated venues for the rich and powerful to gather, gamble, casino and be seen. A ban on gambling in Germany in the 1860s had an unintended consequence: it turned Monaco into the gambling capital of the world. It became the iconic destination for the world's wealthiest gamblers, defining the very image of a luxury casino.
Gambling was a common pastime in the American West, with saloons being the primary venues. But by the early 1900s, a conservative movement had made gambling illegal in most states. Nevada's decision to legalize gambling in 1931 was a pivotal moment. Las Vegas was born, and its early growth was fueled by investment from organized crime syndicates. After World War II, visionary entrepreneurs like Bugsy Siegel with his Flamingo casino began to build the large, glamorous resorts that would define the Las-Vegas Strip and turn it into the entertainment capital of the world. The digital revolution of the 1990s brought the casino into people's homes, starting the next great chapter in gambling's evolution.
