Casinos. History of gambling in brief.

Game is a very peculiar side of the human life thatthe god Saturn).
has its own laws, which do not fit into theThroughout the years the significance of the game
framework of traditional logic. Here reigns His Majestyincreased. There appeared new game contrivances,
Chance and everything is relative: the weak canfor example cards. Some researchers argue that the
defeat the strong, the cunning can make a fool offirst playing-cards appeared in China. In the Chinese
himself, the poor can become rich, and vice versa.dictionary, Ching-tsze-tung (1678), mentions that
Gamble opens up new possibilities of the personality,cards were created in 1120 (according to the
which are often not displayed in ordinary life. AlmostChristian chronology), and in 1132 they were already
everybody wants to get rich at once, without anywidely used. Cards at those times were long and
efforts. Game gives a hope for this, but luck isnarrow plates with numbers from 1 to 14 on them.
destiny of the chosen ones.Four suits symbolized four seasons, and the number
Origins of the game.of cards (52) corresponded to the number of weeks
Game and gamble has followed the humanity since itsin the year.
first steps. A grain of gamble is evident almost inThe prototype of the modern deck of cards is the
everything, starting from hunting in the primitiveTarot cards. The first documentary witness that we
society and up to major financial deals in the 21stknow of refers to 1254, when Saint Louis issued an
century. Elements of game are inherent to manyedict that forbade card game within France under the
competitions and entertainments, which ourfear of punishment with a whip.
forefathers arranged. For example, it is evident inOther researchers call Egypt the homeland of cards.
competitions in strength and deftness, which wereThe Tarot deck was used for fortune-telling. It had
later transformed into famous tournaments. Later on78 sheets - arkana (22 seniors and 56 juniors). The
the first gambling games appeared. They were basedpictures on the senior arkans correspond to golden
on the element of chance, trying one's destiny.tables, which are preserved in the dungeon of the
The historians believe that the very first game wasgod Tote in Egypt. Their names are as follows: 1.
casting various stones, shells, animals' bones - theseFool; 2. Magician; 3. Priestess; 4. Hostess; 5. Host; 6.
objects were the prototypes of the dice.High priest; 7. Lovers; 8. Chariot; 9. Power; 10. Hermit;
Documental evidence of the first games is stored in11. The wheel of fortune; 12. Justice; 13. The hanged
the British Museum. Among this evidence are dice,man; 14. Death; 15. Abstinence; 16. Devil; 17. Tower;
made by an unknown Egyptian craftsman from the18. Star; 19. Moon; 20. Sun; 21. Court; 22. Peace.
elephant's tusk (16th century B.C.) and a board forIt is considered that cards reached Europe in the
playing draughts, also called checkers which belonged10-11th century, during the crusades to the Near East.
to the queen Hatchepsut (1600 B.C.).Other argue that the majority of card games were
Historical evidence attests that all ancient civilizationsborn in France, which is called the homeland of
played dice. Astragalus,i.e. fetlocks of the animals,European cards. The first factory-made deck of
were mostly used as dice. The word "astragalus" alsoTarot cards included 56 cards of four suits (swords,
referred to tetrahedral bricks with indentations, whichwands, money and cups). Besides there were 22
more resembled modern dice - hexahedral bricks withtrump-cards with numbers from 1 to 21. Every card
somewhat rounded corners, in which the oppositehad a name of its own: the emperor, the empress,
facets, when added up, always amount to seven.the nun, the conjurer, the fool etc. Thus, the deck
In the old days the people played odd and even, castincorporated 97 cards. Gradually it was substituted by
dice in the circle or threw them, trying to hit certainnew cards, which more closely resembled the
openings. Dice were also widely used formodern ones.
fortune-telling. It is also interesting that the playersIt is surprising that the symbols of suits and the suits
treated dice with nearly reverent trepidation, as ifthemselves did not change since 15th century. In the
the dice were alive: the players talked to them,Middle Ages card games were very popular among
whispered charms and tried to persuade them tovarious strata of population, ranging from a king's
bring victory.court to the common people. By the way, in those
Since their emergence dice almost at once becametimes cards were not only a means to beguile the
one of the most venturesome gambling games. Thetime, but also a symbol of the society structure:
players placed everything in their bet: money, things,hearts embodied the priests, diamonds meant the
dwelling and even freedom (ancient Germans whobourgeoisie, spades represented officers and
lost in dice humbly became slaves). At the same timearistocracy, clubs referred to the peasants.
there appeared various lawful bans on this seeminglyModern card games (poker, blackjack) arose in the
harmless game. For instance, in the 3rd century B.C.U.S. in the second half of the 19th century. It is
the first known in history law against gambling gamesdifficult to name them all. There are card games for
was adopted. It was called Lex aleatoria (alea meansadults and children, games for training logic and wit -
a die).and there are games just to beguile the time. The
In Ancient Greece there was a legend that themore mature is the individual, the more complex are
Olympic gods divided the "spheres of influence" bythe games he plays. Having become financially
casting lots (Zeus got the Olympus, Poseidonindependent, he lets loose his gamble: makes bets,
received the ocean, and Hades came to rule theplays in the lotteries, makes bets on the totalizator
underworld). The laws of Ancient Rome formallyand finally funds himself in the very temple of game,
forbade gambling games, but there was no specificthe casino. Here the individual totally submits to the
punishment for violation of the ban. The onlygame, which sharpens his feelings and emotions and
"penalty" for the players was the right of themakes him forget everything, but the green cloth
defeated player to reclaim everything he lost, if heand roulette wheel. The thirst for such feelings lures
though that he was wrongly or unfairly defeated.again and again those people, who have at least once
Officially the games were allowed only once a year,been in the casino. Meanwhile, the skeptics say: "If
during the Saturnalia (annual festivities in honour ofyou want to win in the casino, buy one of those".