Curious Facts About Gambling and Casinos

The origins of gambling can be traced back in old days, being considered as a direct participant in the formation of communities and even cultures. However, the emergence of casinos as independent establishments is not such an ancient phenomenon, and their digital counterparts are quite innovative. Due to ambiguity, complex legal relations with different countries, around gambling and casinos had grown a lot of legends, myths and interesting cases.

The History of the First Legal Casino

Not surprisingly, the first legal gambling houses in history were for those who could afford it. But the interesting fact is that the first casino, approved at the legislative level, was opened in 1638 in the building of the Venetian church. It exists only for the upper classes of society and for those who could afford large stakes.

However, deepening in the origins, the first types of modern gambling, and especially card games, originated in China. It is said that long before the advent of Italian casinos, China already had such institutions available to officials and wealthy persons.

Casino Cab

On the roads of London you can find the smallest casino in the world. The symbolic British cab is equipped with a gaming table, mini-bar and screen. On the back seat, the customer and the passenger can play poker, blackjack or try their luck in the online slot with a special tablet. The casino on wheels was created by the local gambling operator Grosvenor.

Sandwich invention

According to legend, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich and the First Lord of the Admiralty, John Montague was such an avid gambler that he was unwilling to leave the table. In 1765, he gave instructions to his servants to bring to the table some meat in sliced bread, so that he could eat and not break away from his favorite business. Thanks to him, this dish got the name "sandwich".

However, this legend has become rather a beautiful accompanying postcard in the world of casino myths. It was a French traveler who came up with that story while visiting London at that time. Of course, John Montague did not invent a sandwich, this dish probably existed long before these events, although it did not have such a name.

Fruit Gum and Slot Machines

There is a whole story about the popularity of fruit images on the classic slot machines, as well as their online counterparts. In the early 1980s, after the introduction of a ban on gambling, the owners of the machines came up with an alternative version of prizes for winning – fruit gums. In addition, it was forbidden to use images of suits and currency signs, so they were replaced by juicy pictures of fruits. It is noteworthy that even after the abolition of the ban, the owners of the machines decided not to change anything, so such design is already firmly associated with the casino.

How Casino Winning Saved FedEx

Looking at the giant FedEx now, it is hard to imagine that at one time the whole company budget was only 5000 dollars, and the prospects did not predict any growth. The founder of FedEx, Friedrich Smith, decided to risk everything. In 1973, he flew to Vegas, taking with him all the money he earned. It is still unknown how Smith’s decision paid off – whether it was pure luck or a good investment – but he returned with $27,000 in his pocket, which he won from blackjack. This allowed the company to stay afloat until it made its first profit in 1976.

The First Slot Machine

Actually, the first slot machine did not appear in the casino. The machine was called "Liberty Bell" and was invented by a mechanic named Charles Faye in 1895 in San Francisco. The machine entertained the customers of the auto repair shop while they waited for their cars. This opportunity to pass the time came to people’s taste, so the popularity of such machines began to increase dramatically. Up to the point that to date it is difficult to imagine any casino without a slot machine.