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