Trivia Time: From Pharo to modern slot games in spectacular surroundings

Have you ever thought about how come we know that gambling dates back to 3000 years before Christ?

Sure, archaeology provides the answer to a lot of life’s mysteries concerning the evolution of man. According to archaeologists, findings of dices, carved from bones and ivory, date back to 3000 years before Christ. The dice as we know it today dates back to 200 years before Christ and was developed in Egypt.

Despite this indication that people have always been prone to give ‘it a gamble’, governments soon introduced regulations. Gambling became increasingly popular in Europe throughout the 18th century, and in one European country, gambling was only allowed within a single government building.

Guess which country that was?

Just a little tip, the building was the Palais Royale. In 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte (what a fitting name) introduced restrictions, which only allowed players to gamble at the Palais in Paris. Roulette, Rouge et Noire and Pharo were particularly popular. Yet, due to the restrictions on gambling, these were only legally accessible to the rich and famous.

Meanwhile, in other areas of Europe, gambling was allowed to thrive more openly. Some of the oldest, still-operating, casinos can be found in Europe. Among them are Germany’s Spielbank Baden-Baden and Monaco’s glitzy establishments. But which casino is the oldest casino in the world?

The Casino di Venezia is said to be the oldest casino in the world. At least, the Venice-based casino advertises with this and states that it has been in operation since 1638. While there are many impressive casinos in the world – think Las Vegas! – the Casino di Venezia is something special. Based in the canal-clad Italian city, the casino offers a great restaurant, with magnificent views of the city.