Betting In America
A History of Gambling in the United States
Evidence of gambling has been found in archeological dig sites dating to 3,000 BCE in Mesopotamia, while the games and payments have changed over the last 5,000 years, the general practice has been the same since. The United States is no different; the settlers of Jamestown came to the colony with cards and dice. The earliest form of public gambling was the use of lotteries to raise funds for public projects. Games of chance in taverns became commonplace as the East Coast was populated with more settlements. Puritan colonies cracked down on gambling due to the belief that it led to immoral behaviors. By the outbreak of the American Revolution, cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia derived taxation funds from these practices.
As the country entered the 19th century, new venues of gambling became prominent, one was the riverboat casino. These floating casinos became popular in the regions near the Mississippi River. Close access to water and an abundance of possible patrons made these ventures extremely profitable. A hub of entertainment, card games like blackjack or poker, and fine dining, these boats were tailored to upper-class clientele. As the United States expanded westward, gambling became an integral part of the frontier society. The classic scene of a cowboy entering a saloon to have a drink and rest was usually accompanied by him playing a few hands of poker while waiting for food. During this time, individuals developed their skills to professional levels, becoming notorious for cleaning small townsfolk of their weekly wages. This sometimes led to duels between opponents or open brawls in those saloons. In 1891, the first slot machine was available on the market. Known as the “Liberty Bell” it was invented by Charles Fey as an easier way to gamble. While not an overnight hit, the integration of gambling machines would become its own industry in the 20th century.
By the turn of the 20th century, the prohibition of alcohol (1920-1933) created a surge in illegal gambling dens. These establishments, known as speakeasies, used games like roulette and craps to entertain patrons while they drank alcohol. These underground casinos became interconnected with various criminal organizations that supplied the alcohol for the speakeasies, giving them a share of the house’s funds for protection. Nevada, as a result of losing their mining industry, legalized casino gambling in 1931. By turning themselves into a tourist attraction, small cities like Las Vegas began to grow rapidly. Many of these new casinos were built around the idea of keeping tourists as long as possible in the casino. This led to the promotion of live shows consisting of musicians, comedians, and magicians. The building of hotels to accommodate longer trips, and finally, the availability of food and drink in various restaurants inside the hotel/casino. The goal of all of this was to keep people busy so they would spend more time in the casino and thus spend more money.
Following the end of the 2nd World War, the passage of the Nevada Gaming Control Act of 1959 led to the establishment of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This board’s goals were to regulate and oversee the growing casino industry, to ensure fair play for both house and patrons, and to prevent the infiltration of organized crime. Businessmen like Bugsy Siegel and Howard Hughes helped design the now-famous Las Vegas Strip, which many still come across the world to see. Outside of Vegas, in the 1970s, Atlantic City legalized casino gambling to become the Las Vegas of the East Coast. By the 1980s, resorts like those of Bally’s, Caesars, and Trump Plaza dotted the boardwalk. The first Native American casino opened in 1979 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by the Seminole tribe. Following the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, tribal casinos became a common sight across the country. By the end of 1996, 25 states and 3 territories had various forms of these casinos.
As we entered the 21st century, into the age of information, a new form of gambling began to take hold in houses across America. The development of online card games, sports betting, and apps that mirror slot machines has created a new wave of gamblers. In states where it is legal, those over the minimum age, usually between 18-21, can bet from the comfort of their homes. This includes live bets on cell phone apps, which allow people to bet as a football game is being played. Many are unsure if this new technology is as innocent as portrayed in advertisements. Now with unlimited access, those who previously gambled excessively still needed to physically go somewhere to do so. Now, those people can lose thousands in mere minutes. The long-term ramifications of this are still unknown, but many believe it will create even more addicts to gambling at younger ages.