Post #3: History of Gambling- Slot Machines, Lotteries, and Sports Bets
Gambling is a lucrative business. And there are definitely many ways to do it. There are always rules and strategies that make up a winning gambling spree. Before you get to the gaming tables of a casino however, you should see machines with flashing lights and appealing sounds to draw you closer. These machines allow you to play slots. The first slot machines date back to the 1880’s. These machines were found in saloons, the casinos of the past. You paid a nickel to participate in a small game. After you put the nickel in the machine, you pulled the lever that was located on the side and the game then started. These games did not require you to wager anything. Whoever won received coins, cigars, and slips to receive refreshments as prizes. These games were very popular and could be played by anyone of any age.(https://www.britannica.com/topic/slot-machine)
The game was then upgraded in the late 19th century by a company called Sittman and Pitt. The game still cost a nickel and there was still no wagering. The goal was to get a winning poker hand, preferably a Royal Flush, and then get a prize. During the time between 1887–1895, a proper slot machine was finally created by Charles Augustus Fey. His design contained pictures and the machine was designed to give an instant payout. Whoever got three bell symbols got the money hence, the game being called the Liberty Bell. In 1902, betting on Slot Machines was banned but they still could be used to give out prizes. Because of this, fruit was added. Whichever fruit you received, your prize had to relate to that fruit. Lemon gum and orange hard candy are examples of some of the prizes you could win. These machines were very popular during this time. The games were played this way until 1964. A new slot machine was invented by Bally. It was called Money Honey and it contained video slots. Because of these popular electromechanical slots, the lever was then removed and replaced with buttons. In 1976, the video screen was replaced with a 19 inch Sony Television. The first machine was placed in a Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. The rest was history. (https://www.online-casinos.com/slots/history/) A slot machine can be found in every casino big and small. And they are still very much popular today. Operating one is quite simple. Whatever form of money is allowed at that machine should be inserted. When the slot machine registers the amount of money inserted you can then start to play. Your winnings depend on the type of machine you are at and the amount of money you wager. Machines that only allow you to bet on one line tend to pay less than those who allow you to bet on multiple lines. The machines’ designs can be anything from the Wild West to Alice in Wonderland. They also contain bonus levels that allow you to win more money or play more slots for free. You can play these fun games by just a pull of a lever.
Lotteries can be traced all the way back to the Old Testament. Lots were cast to make hard decisions. The very first real lottery however, can be traced back to Europe in the early sixteenth century. It became mainstream in the United States in 1612 when King Louis I held a lottery to raise money to build Jamestown, the first permanent British settlement in North America. Lotteries were then the most used methods for charity. In the 1900’s however, lotteries were outlawed when it came to light that lotteries were being conducted and rigged by underground crime lords. Lotteries then continued to be illegal until 1963 when a lottery was reintroduced in New Hampshire. It was the governments desperate attempt to gain money to fund school programs. Nearly 5.7 million dollars was raised that year. After this successful lottery, New York followed suit holding a nationwide lottery raising nearly 53.6 million dollars. Lotteries became a great way for the different governments to raise money to fund state projects and educational endeavors. This is why lottery winners are only given a part of the total earnings because the rest of the money is considered profit to the government. (https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports-and-everyday-life/games/games-and-hobbies/lottery#A)
To play the lottery is very simple and the rewards are cash based. There many different state lotteries that are basically played the same. These lotteries can usually be found in gas stations, convenience stores, and any other businesses that support the lottery. I am going to explain how to play Mega Millions and Powerball. To play Mega Millions, you have to pick six numbers. These numbers are located on a slip of paper that is given to you after you buy it. Your first five numbers can be anything from 1–70. Your last number, the Mega Ball number, can be picked from 1–25. Some people pick numbers and hope for luck while others research numbers that have come in the past and their probability of being picked again. The jackpot is awarded to the person or persons that have all 5 regular numbers in any order and the Mega Ball number. There also other measures in place to receive prizes if you don’t pick all five numbers correctly but to receive them, the Mega Ball number has to be correct. (https://nclottery.com/MegaMillionsHow) To play the Powerball lottery is the same procedure except your first five numbers have to come from 1–69 and your Powerball number has to come from 1–26. There also is a difference in the amount of the jackpot. A Mega Millions jackpot usually amounts to over 302 million dollars while a Powerball jackpot can amount to over 20 million dollars. These lotteries are always distributed equally between the multiple winners. After taxes are taken out of your winnings, you can request your winnings in installments or request to receive your whole share right away. (https://www.flalottery.com/powerball-howToPlay )
Placing a bet is also a simple form of gambling. You can place a bet on virtually anything where there is going to be two plausible outcomes, a winner or a loser. You can bet on any sport and come out victorious. Sports betting can be traced back to Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. Romans would bet on Gladiator games and Greeks would bet on the Olympic games. Sports betting is most popular in Europe today. (https://www.bigonsports.com/history-of-sports-betting/.) You can bet on any sporting event from Football to Race Car Driving. To win your money back or even double, you have to be smart about it. It is important to research the sport you are betting on let’s say football. The odds of a team actually winning must be researched. You can bet on what a certain player will do during the game or the outcome of one particular game. Once your bet is placed, if you guessed correctly whatever money you bet is doubled. Even though this is a good thing, you are still at risk of losing everything you bet if you guessed wrong. Betting on sports is actually very illegal in most countries and bookies have to be used. A bookie handles their customers’ money and is responsible for bets being made. Being a bookie is profitable but also illegal. Even though this is the case, betting on sports is still popular today.
This post answers any more questions one might have about other forms of gambling. It highlights where these last forms of in person gambling have originated and where it stands today. I answered the questions “How long have slot machines really been around?”, “How can I participate in a lottery?” and “How can I bet on a race?”. I always wanted to know if sports betting was actually something that was actually done. I only experienced it through the numerous movies it was represented in. I was also curious of how slot machines actually started out before their obvious evolution. My final post will be a recap of my last three posts, the evolution and importance of Micro Gaming, and some pros and cons of the gambling industry.
