You could say that the USA was established through casino gaimng as the original thirteen colonies used lotteries as a means to generate funding. The first settlement at Jamestown in Virginia relied heavily on the lotteries that supported it, and for the players, it was a major source of entertainment.
In 1769, new regulations were implemented by the British Crown that directly undermined the lotteries that were so popular. This was one of the many factors that led to tensions between Great Britain and the colonies which would eventually culminate in the American Revolution, not least because officially-sanctioned casino gaming had been a popular choice for decades.
By the 1680s, wagering on horse racing had become hugely popular among the upper-class citizens of Virginia who began to come up with increasingly elaborate rules about betting. This excluded the working classes, allowing the elite to maintain a strong grip on much of the wealth in the area until religious groups turned their attention to casino gaming in the mid-18th century.
The battle to outlaw casino gmaing
Baptists and Methodists both agreed that casino gaming was sinful, denouncing it thoroughly and challenging the status quo with campaigns to have legislation passed to ban it. Cities such as New Orleans, which had previously been hailed as the centre of casino gaming for the whole of the USA, were suddenly being described in less than glowing terms.
The Great Awakenings brought with them increasing pressure on legislators to limit the casino opportunities available. However, while there may have been superficial public support for the movement, attempts to restrict wagering did nothing to decrease the number of gaming houses and racetracks in operation.
When laws were passed to make casino gaming illegal, innovative gamers took to riverboats on the Mississippi where the captain’s word was law and players could wage without fear of being arrested. When the gold rush brought prospectors to California in search of their fortunes, there was also a heavy trend for casino gaming among the newly-rich settlers who wanted a way to demonstrate their wealth and compete with their peers.
Casinos in the USA
The earliest gaming houses started to appear in Italy in the 17th century and it wasn’t long before the idea of a place where people could get together and play games soon caught on. Although it was originally a pursuit solely of the upper classes, gaming spread quickly throughout mainland Europe and soon crossed the Atlantic.
While these also fell foul of the ever-changing laws about casino gaming, the desire to play was always there, whether it was in private houses or public casinos. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, gaming houses in various forms sprung up all over the US and attempts to ban them did little to diminish either their popularity or their ability to do business.
When the Great Depression had a ruinous effect on the finances of the State of Nevada, legislators decided to legalise casino gaming in 1931 to generate some much-needed revenue to keep the state afloat. The building of the nearby Hoover Dam meant that there were plenty of construction workers in the area who were all being paid relatively well.
Neighbouring states still had relatively strict casino laws that were being enforced, so players needed somewhere to indulge their hobby. With so many potential players ready and waiting, the first casinos came to Las Vegas, kickstarting a movement that would change the face of global casino gaming forever.
Investors put their money into hotels and casinos, trusting the ongoing popularity of casino gaming to do the rest. And it was an astute move – players flocked from all around, travelling to play their favourite games and enjoying the thrill of a city that welcomed them with open arms.
It wasn’t long before other states learned of the swelling coffers that signalled the success of the plan to refinance Nevada. New Jersey legalised casino gaming in 1977 in Atlantic City, creating an East Coast counterpart to New Orleans and kickstarting the city’s tourist industry.
Slowly, more and more states began to see the appeal of a legitimate casino industry and another raft of legal changes followed.
The future of casino gaming in the USA
While some states have taken centuries to refine their casino legislation, the gaming industry has evolved swiftly, requiring a host of other legislative changes. Online casino gaming has become so popular that lawmakers have struggled to keep up with the constantly-changing face of digital and virtual gaming.
Many states have had to further update their casino laws to accommodate online players and ensure that they are offering the same protections in virtual casinos as players enjoy in real ones. Legislation surrounding sports wagering has been complex and controversial, with federal legislation banning most types of sports wagering under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which was subsequently overturned.
With more and more options for wagering online, the US is one of the leading markets for casino gaming and sports wagering. With so many avid fans, experts believe that the market will continue to grow with new players joining the throng all the time.
