With over 1.6 billion people gambling across the world today, there’s no doubt that gambling is one of the most common pastimes in many cultures around the world. While gambling is perceived in many different ways by different cultures, and in fact still frowned upon today by some, it’s rich history has continued to grow throughout the centuries; in which today we have a wealth of casino gaming options at our fingertips.
While gambling originated as far back as 200bc in Asia, the games played then are hardly recognisable today as many games have grown and adapted to suit today’s increasingly technological world. So what are the most popular casino games today? And what’s considered the crown jewels of the casino world when there are so many different games available? Let’s find out below…
Where did it all begin?
There is evidence to show that people gambled as early as 200bc in ancient china where tiles were used in a game of chance, in addition to keno slips being found for some kind of lottery. It is thought that these lotteries were created for civic purposes and funded state work, including the Great Wall of China.
We also have evidence of the ancient Greeks using dice as far back as 500bc, although there were also dice found in Egyptian tombs as far back as 3000bc. The Romans are thought to have been the first people to invent gambling chips around this time too as any form of gambling with money in ancient Rome was illegal.
The earliest official casino game thought to have been played is Baccarat, in which it would be played by the noble people of France and Italy. Today’s game of Baccarat is of course very different as we know it today die to the evolution and adaptation of the game throughout history. It is thought that the game we play today was originated from Cuba via the UK and the USA. Differentially, it wasn’t until the 17th century that the first official licenced casino appeared in Venice, Italy, as a way of controlling the annual carnival, in which local illegal gambling activity was getting out of hand. Later on in the 19th century, licenced casinos began to pop up across the rest of continental Europe. The US were also seeing an increased amount of casino during this time, although the casinos were mainly unlicensed and were created on river boats along the Mississippi.
The evolution of today’s casinos
Casino attendance in the UK has been growing rapidly since the late 2000’s, with more than 3.7 million people visiting a brick and mortar casino venue across the space of four years. However, statistics show that physical casino venue attendance is still most popular with the stereotypical older age groups, with 36% of visitors being aged between 50 and 64, 34% of visitors were aged between 36 and 49, and only 4 in 10 visitors were aged between 21 and 35. Differentially, across the pond, only a quarter of casino visitors were aged over 65.
While physical attendance may not be so popular amongst the younger generations, recent technological growth has meant that there is now a huge range of online casinos across the globe, which has in turn sparked a new interest in casino games amongst the younger populations. The most recent statistics show that the online gambling industry was worth around $58.9 Billion in 2019, in which this figure is expected to grow to $92.9 Billion by 2023.
Today’s most popular casino games
Today’s most popular casino games include a mix of modern games, alongside more traditional games that were played when gambling first emerged. Some of today’s most popular games include –
Classic Blackjack – blackjack is one of the most frequented games at the casino, in which the player must simply beat the dealer to a hand of 21. While it seems simple, blackjack requires a great deal of strategy and if you’re just getting started, it can be tough to master, however Henry Tamburin PhD. has made a career from writing about gambling and this blog post on how to play blackjack should give you everything you need to start beating the dealer.
Classic Slots – Known for its simplicity and low investment requirements, slot games are a firm favourite amongst casino players and in particular, online casino players as the diversity of players allows for a more competitive market with a higher jackpot value and more bonus features including sign-up bonuses, free spins and bonus mini-games.
Roulette – Roulette is a game that requires the player to have a little knowledge, although this table game is relatively easy to pick and includes a range of different options for online players.
Black jack as the crown jewel of online casino games
While there is a whole range of online casino games to be played, Blackjack features the best odds out of all of them, with a 49% chance of winning. This game is also a firm favourite with beginner players, as the game requires very little skill and is more down to luck. This means that as online casino’s compete for new players, Blackjack games are most likely to have the most player bonuses and incentives as it’s one of the best options for first time players.
Overall, today’s casino games have developed significantly since that of the first acts of gambling in ancient China, Italy and France. While physical casino venues are still a firm favourite amongst today’s gamblers, it does seem that younger players are flocking towards online options. So as Blackjack has the best odds and is a frim favourite amongst first time players, it seems to be the crown jewel of online casinos when it comes to getting first time players to try their hand. Fancy a game? Remember to look out for the best new player incentives around and may the odds be ever in your favour.
