Millions of people all over the world visit casinos every year and even more enjoy their favourite games on the go thanks to smartphone gambling. It can’t be denied that casinos have become a part of our culture but from where the idea of gambling initially originated to the biggest ever winnings, there are probably a few things you didn’t know about one of Britain’s best-loved pastimes.
Big wins
Las Vegas saw the biggest ever slot machine win with a total of over $39.7 million. The jackpot was won in 2003 after a software engineer put a bet for $100. Online casino games have their own records too – although they haven’t quite met the 2003 physical slot game record – but someone was lucky enough to win $17.8 million in 2013.
In the UK, Jonathan Heywood put a bet on for 25p and turned that into just over £13 million too. Possibly the most nerve-wracking win took place in 2004 when Ashley Revell took part in a UK TV series, Double or Nothing. Viewers watched as he sold his possessions, putting the stake on a single roulette spin. Luckily for him, he landed on a Red 7, which paid out over £270,000.
The gambling industry isn’t just ludicrous because of the records for the most money won in the games. There’s also the way that the casino industry constantly looks to offer players the best value for money: prolific casino brands are using promotions and offers to keep folks interested and ensure they’re the go-to provider on the scene.
For example, if we look at William Hill’s casino online games, daily free spins, extra coins and the chance to win a share of up to £100,000 are just a few of the enticing deals available. But this will likely shift shortly and a new array will come up its place. The continual cycle of value-for-money offers has made the market very competitive and has also meant that there’s always an influx of new customers among the long-term, loyal players that keep coming back for more.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to cash prizes – who knows where online casinos will stop?
Italian roots
If we think about some of the leaders of the world when it comes to casinos nowadays, the likes of London and Las Vegas probably come to mind. But it was actually Italy that held the trophy for the first ever casino. The word ‘casino’ even comes from the word ‘casa’, which means the house as the term ‘casino’ was created to describe a number of social establishments that were popping up around the country. There are even records of organised gambling taking place in 1638 in Venice, which has led many to believe that the idea stemmed from Italy.
The first slot game can be dated back to 1887 too. Back then, it was called Liberty Bell and was created by Charles Fell. The completed design of the first game was released in 1891 and, although it’s very different from what we know today, it did lead the way.
Legendary tales
Sticking with the 1880s, it was around this time that the longest poker game was played too. Legend has it that a group of men played poker in 1881 in an Arizonian theatre basement. The game was said to last for eight years, five months and three days. Plus, depending on who you speak to, some say it was played for 24 hours straight. What’s more, the total amount of money to have been played is said to be around $10,000,000.
Of course, these are just a few stories from the casino world’s past. The truth is, even just a little digging can reveal a whole number of tales. What’s more, as casinos become even more popular and more people game than ever before, it’s likely that we’ll see a few others added to the list in no time.
