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Franzi | Games
Franzi | Games 
How did gambling originate?
That people want to play is no secret – it is true today and has been for a very long time. Learn here all about the beginnings of gambling.
approx. 5 min.
How did gambling originate?
A journey from the earliest days, through the grandeur of ancient Rome, and into the modern era.
The roots of gambling are so deep that pinning down the exact moment the first game of chance was played is nearly impossible.
Some evidence suggests it could have started as early as 3,000 BC, likely with dice carved from ivory. Archaeological finds in Mesopotamia and ancient China support this theory.
In ancient Rome, dice games were a craze that crossed all social boundaries, even though they were technically illegal and carried heavy risks—some players even lost their homes. The only time the law looked the other way was during Saturnalia, the festival celebrating the god of sowing.
Casinos conquer Europe
Lotteries arrived in Europe during the 16th century and became an instant hit. Unlike other forms of betting, they were viewed more favorably and even gained the Church's blessing—most notably in 1735, when Pope Clement XII personally introduced a lottery in Rome.
17th century – The era of classic games
The 17th century saw the rise of the classic games we know today. This era marks the early roots of poker and the invention of roulette by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal.
Italy also pioneered the first casinos during the 17th century, with the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi in Venice opening its doors in 1638. From Italy, the trend swept across Europe. Germany's own casino history began in 1720 in Bad Ems; today, MERKUR owns 33% of this historic venue, which earned a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. Bad Ems . Today, MERKUR holds a 33% stake in this historic casino, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
The tradition continued in 1824 with the opening of a gambling house in Aachen. That legacy lives on today at the MERKUR Casino, situated within the iconic Tivoli football stadium. MERKUR Casino is located in the Tivoli, one of Germany’s most famous football stadiums.
First scientific studies
By the 17th century, gambling had become such a phenomenon that it attracted scientific interest. In 1654, Pierre de Fermat and Blaise Pascal used their observations to build the foundations of probability theory, following in the footsteps of earlier thinkers like Geronimo Cardano, Luca Pacioli, and Galileo Galilei.
The first gambling machine
The first mechanical gambling device appeared in 19th-century America, created by German immigrant Charles August Frey, who launched the 'Liberty Bell' in 1895.
The Liberty Bell introduced the classic rotating reels and lucky symbols like bells to trigger jackpots—elements that remain the cornerstone of every slot machine to this day.
The evolution of slot machines: from mechanical gears to the digital age.
The gambling landscape has never stopped evolving. Manufacturers have spent decades innovating, introducing diverse game variations, fresh symbols, and cutting-edge hardware.
Eventually, the mechanical reels of the past were swapped for digital screens. Yet, the legendary symbols—the number seven, clovers, letters, and bells—stayed exactly the same, remaining instantly recognizable.
Image credit: iStock / Luisa Vallon Fumi / Baiaz
