Gambling houses have been operating for hundreds of years in societies in every corner of the world. The opulent casinos that we know today, where you can enjoy classic casino games plus 21st century slots real money gaming machines, hide some tantalizing secrets. Check your knowledge of casino history, traditions, scandals and secrets with some light-hearted casino trivia.

Casino

Q. Where did the word "casino" originate?

A. The first public gambling house in Europe was Venice's Ridotto, established in 1638. The word "casino" derives from the Italian word "casa" which means "house." The reference to a gambling house derived from the reference to a villa or some other kind of building built on the grounds of a villa and used for pleasurable activities like dancing, listening to music, and mingling. Over time, the term broadened to encompass other buildings that were used for entertainment.

Lottery

Q. What was history's first lottery?

A. The first government-sponsored lottery is believed to have been run in China by the government over 2000 years ago. It was the forerunner of today's Keno game and involved choosing the number that would be chosen in the central lottery. People in towns and villages throughout China participated in the game, with proceeds used to finance the Empire's projects – including the building of the Great Wall of China.

The game was known as the "white pigeon game" because the results of the lottery would be announced by white pigeons that flew to participating regions to relay the results of the pick.

Flop

Q. What is the "flop" in poker?

A. In a standard game of Texas Hold 'Em, each player receives two cards. Following the first round of betting, three cards are placed on the table, face up. Any player can use those cards to help create their hand. This part of the game is called "the flop." Texas Hold 'Em is a relatively new poker variation that didn't become standard in most casinos until the '60s. It caught on quickly. Today it is featured in all casinos and is the most popular poker tournament game.

Asia's Monte Carlo

Q. Which Asian City is known as "the Monte Carlo of the Orient?"

A. Macau, a special administrative region of China, is the gambling mecca of Asia. The region was a Portuguese colony until 1999, when it came under Chinese control. Gambling had already been a major source of income in Macau and surprisingly, the Chinese Communists, traditionally extremely anti-gambling, allowed the territory to continue to function as a center of Asian gambling. Over half of its 10,000,000 square feet is dedicated to casinos.  Casinos operate under mercurial Chinese oversight – on the one hand, Beijing wants to encourage foreign visitation to Macau but on the other hand, they heavily legislate their people to make it difficult for Chinese citizens to play at the casinos.

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Slots

Q. How many different names are there for "slots"?

A. Probably an unlimited number of names for slots, but seven is a good start:

  1. Slot machines.
  2. One-Armed Bandits – Refers to the original mechanical machines that had one side lever (arm) and "robbed" the player of their money (a bandit).
  3. Pokies (in Australia and in New Zealand) – Short for "poker machines," based early slot machines in these countries which often featured poker card symbols.
  4. Fruit Machines (in the UK) – Named for the traditional fruit symbols (cherries, plums, lemons, etc.) used on the reels.
  5. Pachislot (in Japan) – A hybrid term that combines "Pachinko" (a pinball-like game which is popular in Japan) and "Slot".
  6. Puggies (in Scotland) – related to the UK's "fruit machines".
  7. Big Berthas – Slang for large, attention-grabbing slot machines which casinos often place near the entrance.

Crusading Crappers

Q. Which game was played by Crusader knights?

A. The game of craps is said to have originated with the Crusaders who played it endlessly while on their military campaigns, while besieging enemy encampments and between battles.

Some historical accounts link Craps' original name, Hazard, to the knights of Sir William of Tyre who invented the game while besieging the castle of "Hazarth." Others theorize that the name derived from "az-zahr", an Arabic word meaning "the die" (dice). The Crusaders' variation of the game was quite complex but it was simplified over time.

Whales

Q. What is a "whale" in the casino?

A. "Whales" are high-stakes gamblers who are wealthy enough to lose millions in a casino visit and never feel the strain of the loss. Casinos LOVE whales!

Kissing Kings

Q. What are the kissing kings?

A. "Kissing Kings" refers to the King of Clubs and the King of Diamonds in a standard deck of playing cards. When a card deck is printed, these 2 kings are usually facing each other during the printing process when the deck is laid out and appear to be "kissing" or closely facing each other.

Roulette

Q. Is there any reason that you should choose to play European roulette or that you should choose to play American roulette? Is the difference important to the gameplay?

A. If you're just looking for the excitement of the gaming event, it doesn't matter whether you play European or American roulette. If you want to win as much and as often as possible, you should choose European Roulette.

Simply stated, European roulette offers more favorable odds to the player. A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets – 36 numbered pockets and a zero pocket. An American roulette wheel has 37 pockets – 36 numbered pockets, a zero pocket and a double zero pocket. So for every spin of the roulette wheel, the European roulette wheel gives you more chances to land your ball in the pocket that you predicted when you placed your bet.

Learn casino trivia and become better acquainted with casino gambling to better enjoy your gaming adventure!

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