For as long as people have been building civilizations, they’ve been looking for new methods to entertain themselves. One of the oldest ways to have fun was to gamble. Though many might view gambling as a modern pastime, the practice has actually been around for millennia. In fact, evidence of gambling can be traced back to 3000 BC. Some may ask the question; what is the evidence that people gambled as early as the first human civilizations?
The answer is simple; historians have traced sets of bone-made dice to the Ancient world. Experts believe that people used these dice to play rudimentary games, some of which might have been similar to the popular dice games found at online and land-based casinos today. The extraordinary history of dice carries quite a bit of intrigue. That is why, in this article, we are going to go over the periods when dice were created, and how some of the most popular games developed.
The Ancient World
The oldest-known dice have been traced back to 3000 BCE, and discovered in what would have been Mesopotamia and Egypt. The dice were most commonly made from animal bones, with some also being carved from wood or stone. The really expensive ones might have been made from ivory. Whatever the material chosen, the most common of dice had six sides, and were decorated with symbols that matched the culture.
The oldest-known dice game comes from Mesopotamia, and has come to be called the Royal Game of Ur, likely named for the fact that it was popular among the royalty in the Mesopotamian city of Ur. The game requires two players, and many historians believe that it is a predecessor of one of the most popular dice games today, backgammon. The goal of the Royal Game was to remove all of your own pieces from the board, before the opponent could do the same. Certainly, one could see elements of backgammon or checkers in the gameplay.
Moving over to Egypt, we can observe a game called Senet, which many casual history students might recognize. A game popular among the elites in Egyptian society, Senet managed to endure for millennia in Egypt, even being adopted by the Roman conquerors, who quickly grew to love the dice game. However, during the Roman period, the game’s popularity fell significantly, and many of the details were lost. Experts are still trying desperately to reconstruct the rules of Senet, and get a glimpse into the minds of Ancient Egyptians.
Medieval Period and the Renaissance
In the Middle Ages, cards were first introduced to Europe. Iberian and Spanish merchants brought the game over from northern Africa, where it had been introduced by Arabic traders. Today, card games are what most people think of when they think of gambling. Of course, poker tournaments are the absolute height of the casino world. However, during the Medieval era, the introduction of cards had no effect on the popularity of dice.
In fact, during the Middle ages, dice had gotten more popular than ever, as the games had spread to the working classes and peasants, rather than simply being a pastime of royalty. It was during the Medieval era that a game called Hazard became incredibly popular. While many may not recognize it, perhaps savvy gamblers will be familiar with its descendant, craps. During the Middle ages, dice games were seen as a fun pastime, and games of pure chance, but the Renaissance had something new in-store.
Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat were among the most respected and innovative mathematicians of the era. Their theories helped to lay the foundation on which modern mathematics is built. Their theories also impacted gambling. Dice games especially became a lot more sophisticated, due to the introduction of probability theory. Тhanks to probability theory, dice games became elevated, which soon led to the creation of a new and vibrant casino industry.
The Modern Period
The Renaissance was a turning point in human history. Emphasis was placed on scientific study and understanding of the world. Naturally, this mindset led to various industries thriving. One such industry was the gambling industry, which many would say began with the first casino, built in the 1600s. The Venice Casino was a popular hotspot for many of the local lords and nobility. It featured a cocktail bar, rooms to spend the night, and of course, a gaming room.
Dice games were a staple in the early casinos. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that they truly began to thrive in big-name casinos. Of course, the dice game that most are familiar with in the context of gambling is craps. The classic game involves players wagering on the outcome of a pair of dice, being rolled by a person called the croupier. Though craps is the biggest casino dice game nowadays, once upon a time it was competing with Yahtzee.
Dice Games Outside of Gambling
Yahtzee may have started out as a gambling game, but its popularity quickly made it a household staple. Today, most players don’t even realize that the classic game’s origin was in the casinos. Of course, Yahtzee is not the only dice game that many families gather together to play. Plenty of classic board games involve rolling dice.
One of the most successful games, whose entire gameplay revolves around dice rolls is the tabletop, pen and paper roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. The game is run by a Dungeon Master, who creates a unique world, while the rest of the players create characters with different abilities, weapons, and spells. The players must then take down dungeons and obstacles created by the DM. The outcome of these battles falls down to the roll of the dice.
Finally, we have to talk about board games, and the example we’ve chosen to look at is Monopoly. The family-friendly board game has been a staple of family gatherings for years. The players roll a die in order to move their pieces along the board, and get to spend in-game money to purchase property. As you can see, dice games are a staple of both gambling and home entertainment.
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