Oh, the casino — it’s a world that seems so accessible to many, and available in many forms, both digital and physical. But for a place that seems like such an easy thrill, it hasn’t always been so accessible to the masses. The casino has evolved in leaps and bounds from many moons ago, and its history stems back so far, it’s hard to trace it, although it appears to have roots going back to Ancient Rome and China. The earliest gambling houses centered around the idea of chance and the use of hand-drawn cards. Back in Ancient Rome, gambling was actually seen as a form of pastime to create funds for the government!
The brick-and-mortar casinos we know today probably began in 1600 and mostly featured the ever-popular table games and poker — but today, technology has evolved so much that there are thousands of new casino games being launched every year. Through mobile, PC, and physical entities, we’re going to take a walk through history and see the evolution of casino games. Let’s play!
Traditional casino games
One that everyone and their distant relatives have heard of is the trusty physical casino. It’s been around for centuries, as mentioned, and even your oldest family member would have grown up with this form of entertainment. The most common game types involved in traditional casinos are the games that you still see around today — so we guess you’d call them oldies, but goldies.
Blackjack (also known as 21) is the most popular casino game in the world — no matter what country you’re in. From the USA to Europe, it’s a game loved by the masses and shows no signs of slowing down. And although you may be used to dabbling on it via your phone or online, it’s a table game that originated in the physical realm.
Along with blackjack, you’ll find roulette, craps, and baccarat leading the way in traditional games. These options come in a variety of formats and have contributed to the gaming world as a whole. From cinematic choices to themed parties and more, traditional casinos have a cultural impact that has been immortalized in literature and film.
Slot machines and video poker
As time went on, so did the evolution of the casino space, and by 1894, slot machines were created. In the first-of-its-kind format, an engineer created a coin-operated gambling machine, called the Liberty Bell, which features the familiar design that we all know and love today. Since this brilliant advance in the casino world, there has been a plethora of slot games for real money flowing into existence. From 3D slots to themed slots, there is a vast array to choose from, and many storylines that follow.
From their inception in the 19th century, slot machines have seen a remarkable transformation — and are now experiencing even more growth through video technology. Video slots are driven by high-tech advancements and ever-improving graphics, and have shaped a new world of gameplay.
Online casinos
The formation of online casinos in 1994 revolutionized the way individuals can gamble across the world. Since the late ‘90s, the online gaming space has grown exponentially, and the range of games has become even bigger. From classic table games such as blackjack to live dealer games — online casinos have created a whole world of game choices for everyone to enjoy.
With new games come plenty of new audiences that are tuning in across the world to play, meaning game developers work overtime to get new formations out there. As we see technology grow and new features get introduced, we know that casinos will continue to flourish.
Mobile gaming
The shift from desktop to mobile gaming came about in the early 2000s, when a new demographic was reached through phones. This new era was brought on through mobile technology advancing and it allowed players to play their favorite games even more easily. This saw a new, younger crowd getting captivated. Mobile gambling created a more interactive experience and allowed you to invite friends and play on the go — which meant that games had to focus on brand-new themes, stories, and ideas. From mobile slots, mobile roulette, and all the games that have been around for years — almost anything you can think of is available on your phone.
The future of online casinos
If you think we’re at the peak of advancements in the world of casinos — excitingly, you’d be very wrong. Virtual reality (VR) casinos are starting to step into the limelight, along with augmented reality (AR) and live dealer platforms — and we’re only just getting started with this technological world. We’re also likely to see things like face recognition improving digital security and keeping us safer than ever before. And with the help of crypto and being able to use virtual wallets for fast and easy transactions, casinos will only keep getting more advanced. We can’t wait to see where we are by 2030, and from what we can tell, it’s going to be huge!
