HISTORY OF GAMBLING

Gambling has been around as long as humankind. Gambling is the second oldest profession.

Dice were found in the tombs of the ancients. Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments at the

foot of the cross. Gambling, it seems, has had a role in virtually every civilization, from the

earliest of times. It is sometimes important to be reminded of this reality. Roll the Bones: The

History of Gambling does just that.

Historical records indicate that gambling was practiced at least as early as 4,000 years ago,

specific and detailed knowledge of gambling practices through the ages is scant. From the

records that do exist, however it can be surmised that gambling was as popular, and a

controversial, an activity in ancient times as it is today.

The first records of gambling are Chinese, circa 2300 B.C. A gaming board used by Chaldean

tribesmen 2,000 years before the birth of Christ was recovered in excavations of the city of Ur,

Gambling was legalized and taxed in India during the reign of Chandragupta, from 321 to 296

B.C.

Gambling in the New World was introduced by Spanish, French, and English settlers, although

the Indians played some primitive games before tbe Europeans arrived,24 In Play the Devil; A

History of Gambling in the United States from 1492 to 1955, Henry Chafetz described the

gaming activities.

The first card game, in the modern sense, on this continent

was probably played by the conquistadors under Cortez.

Hont E'zuma, while held as a hostage, showed great interest in

watching his Spanish captors gamble with cards. The early

colonists along the Atlantic seaboard imported their card

games, but the Indians had similar forms of gambling with

straws and sticks. William Strachey in a history of Virginia

said the Indians "use a game upon rushes much like primero,

wherein they card and discard, and lay a stake, too. They

will play at this for their bows and arrows, their copper

heads, hatchets and their leather coats.