| "An individual plays only when he is human in | | | | whole amount of the bet to the casino owner. |
| the full sense of the word, and he can be | | | | Approximately in the 16th century such |
| wholly human only when he is playing". | | | | establishments came to be called by the |
| Friedrich Schiller | | | | Italian word "casino", which has not changed |
| | | | its meaning up to now. |
| The history tells us that in 49 B.C. the | | | | |
| famous ancient Roman commander Julius Caesar, | | | | Gambling houses irrepressibly attracted |
| having won brilliant victories over barbarian | | | | people with different characters, different |
| galls, wanted to seize supreme power in the | | | | talents and varying financial possibilities. |
| Eternal City. Then the frightened senators | | | | The list of famous casino frequenters, |
| forbade him and his troops to return to | | | | compiled by the largest casinos in Europe, |
| Italy. | | | | includes such celebrities as chancellor |
| | | | Bismarck, composers Berlioz and Brahms, the |
| Without hesitations, the commander announced | | | | writer Dostoyevskiy, the poet Mayakovsky and |
| about his decision regarding the senate ban | | | | the automobile king Citroen. |
| by saying "Alea jacta est" ("The die has been | | | | |
| cast") and crossed the border river Rubicon. | | | | Reverberating fame, however, did not prevent |
| This led to lingering civil wars in Rome, | | | | these people from insidious tricks of |
| which became one of the most significant | | | | Fortune. Admittedly, some celebrities were |
| events in ancient history. | | | | often lucky and they won a lot. For example, |
| | | | Citroen was such a lucky player. He loved to |
| The words of the ferocious dictator became | | | | play for high stakes, in order to impress |
| proverbial, however, today there is hardly a | | | | other rich men. Journalists never grew tired |
| person who thinks about its real meaning. As | | | | of writing that the automobile king is as |
| it turned out, the Great Caesar actually cast | | | | lucky on the green cloth, as in business. |
| the dice. So great was his passion to | | | | |
| gambling, that he deeply believed in the | | | | Others mostly lost. For instance, Mayakovskiy |
| magic ability of the dice to predict the | | | | was such an unlucky fellow. He loved |
| future. | | | | billiards, cards and particularly the |
| | | | roulette. During his trips abroad the poet |
| The public opinion hardly favors gamble and | | | | run into unprecedented debts, because he was |
| everything connected with it. Conversely, in | | | | lucky only at billiard table, but by no means |
| those times the word "player" was nearly a | | | | in the roulette. |
| swearword - so huge was the contempt of the | | | | |
| majority of people to those who gave the game | | | | Gambling houses are known not only by their |
| its due. | | | | frequenters, but also by various legends that |
| | | | surround these establishments. The most |
| But at the same time ancient people | | | | enduring is the story how a certain Frenchman |
| understood perfectly well that the thirst for | | | | monsieur Blanchard won twice in "Casino |
| gambling could not be eradicated. The Greeks | | | | Monte-Carlo". When he intended to enter this |
| with their characteristic rich imagination | | | | casino for the first time, his hat was spoilt |
| invented a myth about the goddess of the fate | | | | by the dove. Blanchard interpreted this as a |
| Tyche (the Romans called her "Fortune"), who | | | | good sign and was right. The player managed |
| gave birth to Zeus' daughter, and this girl | | | | to win several thousands. Then he intended to |
| was endowed with the gift of inventing | | | | go to casino once again, but on condition |
| various dangerous amusements, which caused | | | | that a bird would spoil his hat for one more |
| the people to lose a lot of money, cheat, | | | | time. |
| scuffle and committed suicides. | | | | |
| | | | He had to wait for the new dove for several |
| Tyche loved her daughter and thus winked at | | | | days, but his expectations paid for |
| her cruel pranks. She even presented her with | | | | themselves. The Frenchman was lucky that time |
| a large beautiful house, to which her | | | | and he won even more than before. After this, |
| daughter allured the most credulous players | | | | the doves displayed no interest in Blanchard |
| to make them miserable. | | | | and he could not win. However, all inveterate |
| | | | players believe that if the bird marks you |
| More than two thousand years passed since | | | | before the visit to the gambling house is a |
| those times, and today hardly anyone believes | | | | true sign of good luck. |
| in fortune-telling by throwing lot and myths | | | | |
| about the goddess Tyche, but there is one | | | | Clearly, it is nearly impossible to get rid |
| thing that has not changed. It is the human | | | | of all possible troubles completely, because |
| need for the game. This unquenchable desire | | | | even trifle losses somewhat spoil the mood. |
| stipulated for the fact that in the course of | | | | But they also make the triumph more |
| time special premises were built for gambling | | | | delightful and allow you to feel the sharp |
| - as if the ancient Greek legend came true. | | | | fascination of victory over chance. Thus, it |
| | | | is hardly expedient to worry in advance, you |
| In these establishments visitors played with | | | | should just be always be at the ready and |
| each other in these and paid a part of their | | | | treat the game lightly, although with deep |
| winnings to the owner - or played with owner | | | | respect, as if it were a close friend of |
| and then, if they lost, they were to pay the | | | | yours. |