Since gambling has such a long history, it is only natural there are many facts and titbits related to gambling that players would surely find interesting and amusing to read. What follows is just that – an array of fun and at times surprising information about gambling, casinos and games.
The World’s First Casino
As far as the oldest casino in the whole world goes – it is Casino di Venezia. It all started in (as the name suggests) Venice, in the far 1638. Even though historians consider this casino as the oldest one, it didn’t start operating until 1774. It closed in 1959. Luckily its story didn’t end there. Today the casino has a new location – Ca Vendramin Calergi and it has an astonishing view, overlooking the Grand Canal.
If you have heard of online casino like thaiclicks.com, you might assume they are only for gamblers with money to burn. Nothing could be further from the truth. The internet is full of online casino games for all types of players at all levels of experience. Whether you enjoy playing games like slots or online poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette or anything else, there is an online casino game that is right for you.
The First Online Casino
Casino di Venezia is the first one when it comes to land-based casinos, but what about the more modern online casinos? Where and when did they start? Well, it is interesting to know that Antigua and Barbuda passed a law in 1994, which allowed operators to apply for a special license. This license would allow them to own and operate an online casino. The first software made for this goal was developed by Microgaming in 1994. But it wasn’t until 1996 that the first online casino was launched. The Gaming Club Casino was the first one powered by Microgaming, and InterCasino was right there too, powered by Cryptologic.
Today there are plenty of online casinos operating and providing a thrilling experience for every gambler. Most of these are trustworthy and secure, so players needn’t worry as long as they do their proper research. When scrolling through the names of online casinos today you will most certainly see Winorama, Twin, Mr Sloty, Wildz casino and many more.
The World’s Largest Casino
This title goes to Venetian Macau. The entire gambling complex this casino has is an unbelievable 10,500,000 square feet, or 980,000 m2. The inside of the casino itself is 546,000 square feet, or 50,700 m2. There are more than 3800 slot machines and staggering 800 tables for gambling. Besides all this, the casino also offers a hotel with 2900 rooms, outlets and restaurants.
The Inventor of the First Slot Machine
When talking about slot machines, you need to know the name Charles Fey. He invented the first slot machine in 1895. It was called the Liberty Bell, and it was the most valuable symbol on the three-reeled machine. It had 5 symbols – hearts, spades, horseshoes, and diamonds.
Gambler’s Fallacy
This is a false belief that previous results from the game can tell or predict any future results. For instance, if red has won a couple of times in a row in roulette, players assume that a black win is next. This is not true, and it is important for players to know that each roulette hand, each card or spin is a separate process and it is completely random.
A Few Gambling Related Trivia
- The total of the numbers on the roulette wheel is 666. This is the reason why players often refer to it as the devil’s wheel.
- The standard card deck has 52 cards. Out of those cards, there are 2,598,960 unique five card hands.
- Most land-based casinos in Las Vegas (and the rest of the world) don’t have windows or clocks. This is a method to keep players into the games without noticing the time.
- When playing slots, it doesn’t matter who pays the bet, it is the person who pulls the lever or presses the spin button who is considered lucky and a winner. This was a hard lesson to learn for Jan Flato, who lost 100,000 pound because he told his friend to push the button.
Dead Man’s Hand
This one is a nickname of sorts. It is used for a poker hand that features two black aces and two black 8s, and the fifth card is unknown. This particular hand is believed to signify bad luck in poker. You may wonder why these numbers and symbols exactly? Well, it is believed that it all started in 1876 in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota. Namely, Wild Bill Hickok (an Old West folk hero) was holding this exact hand when he was shot in the back of his head by Jack McCall.