All About the History of Gaming

• Opposition to Gambling
  In many countries, gambling has gone in and out of favor depending on the prevailing moral, social and religious climate. Most objections to gambling are based on social and religious issues. However despite numerous attempts throughout history to outlaw gaming, it has still thrived. Banning gaming simply results in the establishments of illegal casinos.

Gaming-related social problems are as old as gaming itself. In Roman times, gaming was restricted to one week of the year, during the Saturnalia festival (equivalent to the Christmas and New Year holidays). However this did not deter Roman players, who continued to gamble in private houses and clubs. Even when fines (equivalent to four times the stakes) were introduced for players caught gambling, the Romans managed to evade the law by using engraved discs, called "roundels", instead of money.

Almost as soon as playing cards were introduced to Europe, they were opposed. In Paris, legislation prohibiting playing cards was passed in 1377, and in Italy, playing cards and dice were burned.

In the USA, many attempts were made to prevent gambling. Early Puritan settlers initially banned the possession of gaming equipment, but relented, allowing games for recreational purposes. Later legislation was ineffective as it banned specific games. Players simply changed the names or invented new games. By 1910 gambling was made illegal throughout the USA, but due to widespread corruption among law enforcement officers, this law had little effect.\