Playing casino games is an integral part of enjoying your stay at one of Nevada’s many lovely casinos and resort areas. But do you know where they came from? Here’s a little bit of history about three of the most popular gambling games: Keno, Poker, and Roulette.
– Keno
When Cheung Leung invented the ancestor to the modern game of Keno over 2,000 years ago, he could never have envisioned that it would still be so popular today! Playing Keno is not unlike playing the lottery: winning is strictly a matter of luck. Leung was the leader of a Chinese city whose army had been weakened by defeat and disease. He couldn’t bring himself to raising taxes on the population to strengthen his army, so he devised a game of chance instead.
He sold tickets to villagers for the chance to win a jackpot: all they had to do was choose the correct set of Chinese characters out of a pool of 120. This way, only those who could afford to gamble a little could have some fun and play the game, while those whose finances were tight would not have to be burdened by a new tax.
Leung’s game proved to be successful beyond his expectations, and he easily raised the money needed for his army. Although some claim that Keno funds were used to build the Great Wall of China, the claim cannot be positively substantiated. However, Keno is as popular as ever today!
– Poker
The exact root of today’s modern poker is a matter of some dispute among gaming historians. The first known game involving betting, hand rankings, and bluffing was called Poschspiel, which was a popular pastime in 15th century Germany.
The other probable direct ancestor to poker was played in ancient Persia (now Iran). It was called As Nas and players’ hands each had 5 cards dealt from a 20 card pack. The most common consensus is that poker comes from a combination of these two and other similar games which trace their origins to Ireland, England, and France.
Whatever its beginnings, poker as we know it took root in America sometime before the American Revolution and the game in various forms soon spread like wildfire and became hugely popular.
– Roulette
No casino game compares in mystique to the sexy turn of a roulette wheel. The name means “little wheel” in French, and so although the game’s origin is not definite, it is usually attributed to the French. In fact, famous French mathematician Blaise Pascal is thought to have invented the earliest version of a game involving roulette in the 17th century.
In the mid 1900s, gambling was outlawed in France proper, so Francois Blanc brought roulette to the seaside area of Monte Carlo and established the first casinos there. Since then, the roulette has always been associated with high class, high stakes gamblers dripping in diamonds and furs and sipping martinis.But really, it’s a game for everyone!
Why not test Lady Luck and your own skills at Keno, Poker, Roulette, and other games at Mesquite Nevada Casinos? Visit Virgin River Hotel and Casino (http://www.virginriver.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Are you planning a gaming vacation to a Nevada or Atlantic City hotel or resort soon? It may be fun to know a little bit about the casino games you’ll be enjoying during your stay. A casino game is defined as an activity where the participant gambles a sum of money on an expected outcome or probable choice. These games are categorized into three different types: table games, electronic machines, and random numbers. Here’s the scoop on some of the most popular ones.
– Baccarat is a card and dice table game with origins believed to date clear back to the Middle Ages. According to legend, a virgin would throw a nine-sided die under the watchful eyes of the gods in order to determine her own destiny. If she threw an 8 or a 9, she could become a priestess; if she threw a six or seven, she would be prohibited from having a religion-based life; if she got a number of 5 or lower, she would be condemned to commit suicide by slowly walking into the sea.
The name Baccarat comes from the Italian word for “zero.” If you are a fan of the game, you’ll readily understand the significance of its name.
– Craps is another popular table game, but here the dice are the only star. Although dice games have been around since centuries before the birth of Christ, it is believed that Craps itself may have been developed during the time of the Holy Roman Empire. According to legend, Roman legionnaires made crude dice out of the knucklebones of pigs, rolled them on the concave side of a shield, and bet on the outcome of the roll.
In modern day America, Craps is popular partly because it can be played most anywhere and requires very little specialized equipment. The United States is credited with refining the rules of Craps and creating the game that is used in casinos.
– Compared to its ancient table-top cousins, slot machines are definitely the new kids on the block. They were invented in 1895 by Charles Fey and the novelty gambling items were an instant hit and their popularity spread like wild fire.
The first machines were located in Cigar Shops and bars: their payload was not money, but rather, patrons who successfully hit winning combinations received a “jackpot” of candy and free cigarettes. During periods of gambling prohibition in America, heavy cast iron slot machines were cast into rivers as part of the rabid anti-gaming trend. In the 1960’s, the introduction of electronics into the production of modern slot machines revolutionized the game, and its popularity soared once again. After all, slots are really fun!
Baccarat, Craps, and Slots are just a fraction of the types of games enjoyed by millions in casinos nationwide each year. Good luck!
If you are looking for a Mesquite Nevada resort or a quality Mesquite Nevada hotel with the very best in casino games, visit Oasis Resort. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
The state of Nevada has become practically synonymous with gambling in America; indeed, the gaming industry is integral to the economy of the Silver State as it is its principal source of revenue. Gambling in Nevada dates back 100 years, but it had already been a country-wide source of entertainment long before that.
When the Puritans arrived in the 1600’s, gaming and gambling of all kinds were strictly prohibited in the Massachusetts Bay colonies because of strict religious beliefs; however, there were British settlers in other colonies who enjoyed the “gentlemen’s diversions” and brought with them the tradition of classy English gaming.
Back in the Motherland, financial backers of the New World began to see legalized gambling as a way to raise funds for the needs of the colonists. Eventually, all 13 colonies established lotteries, and their proceeds helped found prestigious universities: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Princeton, and William and Mary. Churches and libraries were financed by lotteries too, and the great leaders of the day such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin endorsed the benefits of the system.
Lotteries continued well into the 19th century, and by then the earliest casinos were created in the east; some of them were quite lavish, and dice and card games were de rigueur. When the population began pushing west, gambling went with it. Gaming shacks popped up along the river travel routes, and the excitement and risk involved with the games paralleled the personalities of the adventurers who took to gambling.
The California Gold Rush in the mid 19th century brought the center of legalized gambling to the West forever. San Francisco was the hub then, but when California prohibited gaming, it found a home in Virginia City, Nevada. When prohibition came to Nevada also, gambling continued to thrive but went underground. After the completion of the Hoover Dam, the increased tourism prompted Nevada to legalize gaming once and for all in 1931, and it never looked back.
Business really boomed during the prosperous post WWII era, and the cities of Reno and Las Vegas became gaming Meccas for people from all over the country. Big name entertainment soon followed, and Nevada soon became known as the state where people could play the games they love and see their favorite stars too. Today, visitors come to cities like Mesquite to enjoy all the amenities of Nevada’s big cities as well as world class golf, spa treatments, excellent hotels and food, and an overall pampered and relaxed experience.
Nevada and gaming go together like bacon and eggs. It’s a great place to play, eat, shop, golf, and enjoy a show at the end of the day.
For the very best in quality Mesquite Nevada casinos, contact the good people at Virgin River (http://virginriver.com/). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
If you are looking to join the ranks with thousands of other sporting and gaming enthusiasts out there, look no further than dabbling into the world of fantasy sports.
Fantasy sports takes your favorite sports games that are played by professional or semi professional players such as football, golf, baseball basketball and hockey and allows you to compete with other members by betting on what the final result or score of each player and team will be. Initially, you or your team will pick the players that will be playing for you. As these players complete in real life, your score will either go up or go down depending on how many points they achieve per game.
Initially, you must bet before the season even starts to insure fair play. You can wager and bet throughout the game privately or during special occasions in which all team members agree.
Be sure to join groups that wager the betting amount that you feel comfortable with winning and losing. Never bet more than you can afford.
If you are a newbie or a beginner you may want to try a free online version of fantasy sports to familiarize yourself with how the game actually works before you begin betting with real money.
Here are some tips to make Fantasy Sports Betting work for you and bring you the best return.
Study Fantasy Sports- Online websites such as Yahoo Fantasy Sports offer a wealth of information for the beginner or even the seasoned fantasy sports player. By offering tips and techniques as well as how to place your bet this is a good source to begin the education process.
Analyze your favorite players- You may or may not get the players for your team that you had initially wanted but it is wise to study last year’s performance and scoring cards of all players so you can see who has made the most improvement as well as who was nominated for certain trophies and awards. Unpopular players who were given a chance to show off their skills and who really aided in helping the team may be the players you want to choose, as they could break out this year and score some serious points for the team.
Have back up players in place- Make sure that you have selected alternate players in which to play with in case if the ones you have chosen have already been selected by other players.
With these tips in mind you will be well on your way to not only winning in fantasy sports but also to enjoying the game throughout the season.
Hobby Horse (http://ty7u.com) offers you the chance at fantasy sports betting so you can test your skills without risking any real money. Art Gib is a freelance writer.