Popular Casino Games Evolution

Ever wondered how some of the most popular casino games rose to fame? We’ll be talking about the evolution of # top casino games. If you’re a gambler that plays a lot or casually and a sucker for history, this might be the thing to read.

We’ll dive into the history of roulette and other casino games that are still played even in casinos around the world. It’s one thing to play them, but is it another to know its history of how they became popular with players? Let’s dig in and discuss these casino games.

1.  Roulette

Roulette’s history can be traced back to 1655 in France. Before there was ever Las Vegas, there was Paris. And it was home to gambling.

It was in the French capital city where the first game of roulette was held. It was invented by Blaise Pascal, who was known for his contributions as a mathematician. Although the French invented the game of roulette, some countries around the world put their own creative spin on it (no pun intended).

The British and Italians were known for developing a variation of the game known as “the little wheel”. The Brits invented a game called “Even-Odd Rolly Polly” as one of their variations of the game. However, rumor had it that the fascination of the game didn’t last long when it became quite unpopular in the early 19th century.

Today, it’s played in casinos all throughout the world. You can land on red, black, an odd or even number, or a specific number that you can guess off the top of your head. It’s one of the most exciting games where anything can happen at the spin of a wheel.

2.  Blackjack

Blackjack is yet another game that originated from France, despite rumors that it had been developed as early as the times of Ancient Rome. Blackjack would make an appearance a half-century after roulette was made popular.

The original name for the game was “Vingt-et-un” or 21.  The game became popular in the courts of King Louis XV, who was rumored to be a card player himself. When the French made their way to New Orleans, they brought the game to America where it would dominate the casinos of the United States even after two hundred years.

However, it was still called 21 until the name was changed to blackjack. At the outset, it was used for promotional purposes. But the name stuck and has been called that ever since.

3.  Video poker

The technology for video poker was not even developed in the times when roulette and blackjack were first started. In fact, it was the 1980s when video poker would soon grace its presence in casinos worldwide. Today, you can play this five-card game without the table.

The game was developed by Bally’s, a household name in casino gaming. And it had grown in popularity much faster than some even expected. With better odds, wide availability, and excellent payouts it still maintains its popularity in both the physical and online space even after 40 years.

4.  Slot machines

Slot machines have been a long-time staple in casinos all over the world. There is nothing more exciting than seeing where the reels randomly stop with one pull of a lever. The first slot machines of its kind were developed in the 1890s.

They gained so much popularity throughout the decade to a point where the US had placed a ban on them in the early 20th century. However, it didn’t stop people from playing them in secret. Plus, production continued since they developed workarounds centered by the ban.

Did you know that chewing gum was one of the prizes at one point in time before real money? Well, today you can get ridiculously large payouts. Imagine all the gum you can get after you win it big.

Even today, there are all kinds of slot machine games. Most of them have developed into video slots where you can easily stop the reels in an effort to get matching items like bars, cherries, and other relevant items. The technology and the game itself has evolved over a hundred years, but the fun has pretty much remained the same.

5.  Craps

Craps is one of the oldest known casino games that is still being played today. In fact, it’s way older than roulette. We can go as far back as the Medieval times to where a game using dice was known as “Hazard”.

The game was soon discovered by who else…but the French? They changed the name to “crapaud” or “frog”. That was soon shortened to “craps”.

What’s really strange is that the player would squat like a frog and roll the dice in front of them. They would use the sidewalks and streets since there was no table. The French would then pass this along to the British as a game that would pass the time (when they weren’t fighting each other, that is).

Both British and French settlers eventually brought the game to America, which found its niche in plenty of gamblers. To this day, craps isn’t played on the ground. It’s played at the tables across many casinos across the country. It also has become one of the popular games among online casino users in recent years.

Final Thoughts

It’s no secret that some of the most popular casino games of all time have been around longer than any of us. Even today, they still have plenty of players who win big and walk away with unbelievable cash prizes. The history behind these games is astounding.

While you might not spout off historical facts at your next trip to the casino, it’s good to know how they came about to America and other parts of the world. These games have been around for a long time and will look to stay in the foreseeable future.

Their presence in online casinos have grown quite rapidly over the years. Even if you’re too far away from the nearest casino, you can still play these games with one click of the mouse.