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When exploring a new state, country, or city, it isn’t a stretch to assume that a casino, or multiple casinos, could be located within a five-mile radius of a tourist’s hotel room. However, many of the people who pay visits to these modern and glamorous establishments, whether visitors or locals, probably do not realize how rich in history they are. Casinos, and their classic casino games, have travelled through ancient lands and even virtual frontiers to arrive where they are today. Here we take a look at the places and spaces casinos have inhabited, showcasing the ways in which these world-famous facilities have reinvented themselves down through the ages. INSERT IMAGE HERE >>>> https://ibb.co/Lz9Y64G >>>> Photo Casinos and their games have sure come a long way over the years Gaming in Ancient Times Before casinos even existed, people were playing betting-style games with friends for entertainment. The earliest known record of this comes from China in 2300 B.C. where playing cards are said to have been invented and in Egypt in 1500 B.C. where dice were first crafted. Although historians have not been able to narrow down the exact dates that this type of gaming came to be, there are some milestones we are 100% sure of – namely, the location and time period of the first official casino establishment. The World’s First Casino It wasn’t until 1638 that casino games were given a place to call home, with the opening of the world’s first casino, the Casino di Venezia or ‘Il Ridotto’ in Venice, Italy. Situated on the gorgeous expanse of the Grand Canale, it was originally built as a venue for theatre performances called the Theatre Saint Moses. During shows, patrons would be entertained by dancing and music, and during intermissions, they would head to separate wings of the facility to play casino games. This Renaissance period saw visitors dressing particularly elegantly, the women donning glitzy gowns and the men sharp black suits. This one-of-a-kind environment sparked a casino craze throughout Italy, whereby over a hundred more gaming establishments opened up all around the country. In fact, the very origins of the word ‘casino’ belong to Italy as well, with the inspiration coming from ‘casetta’ or the Italian word meaning ‘little house’. In 2021, this antiquated building is still standing in the exact same spot it was in the 17th century and boasts over 600 slot machines, as well as popular table games like Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and more. Upon one visit to the historic Il Ridotto, visitors will quickly see how unique the décor is when compared to the casinos of today. 19th Century European Establishments Following the birth of Venetian gaming houses, casinos became widespread in all of continental Europe, represented by extravagant buildings that resembled intricately decorated palaces. Some cities where this was evident included Baden-Baden and Wiesbaden in Germany, as well as Paris and Monte-Carlo. It was at this time that the ‘little wheel’ or Roulette became a predominant activity in the gaming houses of the French capital. On the other side of the pond, however, dusty old saloons located in states like Kansas and Louisiana were the setting of casino game entertainment. The Rise of Las Vegas Given its high-profile reputation around the world today, it’s hard to believe that there was a point in time when Las Vegas didn’t have much to offer visitors in terms of swanky casino establishments. The story of Sin City’s transformation begins all the way back in 1905 when railroad workers came to work on different projects and later the construction of the massive Hoover Dam. During their breaks, these laborers would play card games and bet. However, casino gaming was illegal in Nevada from 1910 to 1931, when, after a 21-year ban, it was relegalized. By the time this finally occurred, Vegas had already made a name for itself as a place where locals enjoyed gaming entertainment year-round. The modern Las Vegas that we know today didn’t come about until the mid-1940s with the success of one of the first casinos, El Rancho Vegas. From here, an entire host of other facilities opened up along Highway 91, or what is now commonly referred to as ‘The Strip’. People from all over the world began to visit Vegas, wondering what the casino boom was all about. Famous artists like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra also arrived, to entertain the new influx of local and international tourists. Fast forward a few decades to the late 80s and early 90s and Vegas started to earn its official title as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ with shiny new mega hotels and massive casino resorts. Nowadays, Las Vegas receives over 40 million tourists a year. INSERT IMAGE HERE >>>> https://ibb.co/nMBMdXp >>>> TSG Image Bank All the thrills and spills of casino gaming are now available via smartphones and tablets Early 2000s Internet Boom and Casinos Today By now it’s clear to see how casino gaming has been an essential part of entertainment culture for hundreds of years. However, the internet boom of the early 2000s caused the entire industry to become even more revolutionized. In perhaps the biggest milestone imaginable, online gaming platforms have opened doors for casino businesses to have huge virtual presences. If a person wants to visit a casino in 2021, all it takes is a reliable internet connection and the device of their choice to make it happen. The internet has also enabled online casino platforms to provide a more expansive list of gaming titles than traditional establishments are able to, since they are limited in terms of physical space. For example, casino sites of today often boast dozens of different themed-slot games. Players can search these virtual lobbies via filters on their desktop computer, laptop, or mobile phone in order to find the best casino game to suit their gaming preferences. Additionally, classic table games like Blackjack and Roulette feature original gameplay thanks to the Live Casino versions which are available. The Live Casino experience transports players into a real-life casino studio with dealers speaking to players in real-time. In a Live Roulette session, for instance, croupiers spin the wheel, respond to betting requests, and interact with players like they would in real life. With new waves of technology shaking up the industry all the time, these casino services are poised to become more and more advanced as time moves on.

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