When you hear “casino games” today, you likely imagine the collection of games on an online casino website. Colourful graphics and interesting mechanics create an unforgettable experience for Australian players.
But things weren’t always like this. Gambling has been around since ancient times and the games have come a long way. Today’s article is a walk down memory lane where we take a look at the complete history of these games.
Humble Beginnings of Ancient Times
The slot games that you can find on the online casinos at Gamblenator Australia are the discoveries of the past century. But gambling as a form of entertainment has been around since ancient times. We’re talking about the times of the ancient Roman civilisation.
The game was so popular that it was played in almost every alley of the Roman cities. People back then loved to wager money on a game of chance.
What about the card games then? Where did they originate from? It’s believed that the foundation for modern card games can be traced back to ancient China. As paper was not commonly available, tiles were used to symbolise what we know as modern cards.
The game was called “Pai Gow”, a game where players had to create hands that beat the dealer’s hand. If it sounds familiar, it’s because the rules are similar to blackjack.
The Advent of Card Games
The world wouldn’t see the invention of cards for many centuries to come. Finally, during the Renaissance Era, card games started becoming popular among Europeans. Some of the earliest iterations of card games were:
- Baccarat
- Roulette
- Blackjack
The introduction of games like Baccarat makes an appearance in the history books during the 1400s in Italy. The gameplay was straightforward as all the players had to do was bet on the party that had the better hand.
The Most Popular Variations
Among the table games that are popular today, roulette and baccarat are two of the main ones. These games are famous at Aussie online casinos as well as on gambling sites worldwide. But did you know that both games have their roots in France?
As the years went by, these games gave birth to multiple variations each with slightly different rules. The card games are timeless classics, evident from the fact that you can still find them in almost every online casino that offers table games.
Slot Machines: The Start of a New Era
So far we’ve focused on dice and card games. However, it’s now time to draw our attention to slot machines. That’s right, we’re going to move forward to the late 1800s to take a look at the Liberty Bell.
The fully mechanical slot machine was unveiled in San Francisco by Charles Fey. Although the design had issues, it was the first time someone had come up with a concept like that. As there was nothing like it, Liberty Bell managed to cause quite a stir.
Slots Are Going Digital
As computer games became popular among the general population, the first software developers started thinking about a digital form of the slot machine everyone knew and enjoyed. It took some time, but they finally managed to create one in 1976.
This digitised version of the slot game took the inspiration of randomness from mechanical slot machines and improved it by using RNG algorithms. People were able to get hands-on experience with the first digital slot machine at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.
Modern Casinos: What to Expect
Now let’s talk about modern online casino games. Today, you can find these games at the best online casinos in Australia and many other parts of the world. This has only been possible thanks to the increased accessibility to the Internet.
Mobile Compatibility
The same digital games that you can find in the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip can be enjoyed online. The technology has improved to the point where players can play games with their mobile phones as well.
This doesn’t just apply to slot games. Card games like poker, blackjack, and baccarat were the first ones to make it to online platforms. Online pokies came much later.
The addition of the live dealer games creates an immersive environment for Australian players. Because they’re able to get a similar feeling of actually being in a physical casino from the comfort of their own home.
Future Innovations in Casino Games
As we move towards the future, the online gambling industry is expected to change drastically, especially in the division of gameplay experience. According to experts, it’s only a matter of time before AR and VR tech are integrated into our daily lives. When that happens, it can cause a drastic shift in the way players enjoy casino games.
Latest Technological Advancements
If you’ve been following the recent release of the Apple Vision Pro and how it blends the virtual world with the real one, you should have an idea of what to expect. When the technology becomes more mainstream, online gamblers will be able to enjoy slot games with gestures creating a more immersive gaming environment.
If you’ve heard of myths about online casinos going out of fashion, they’re not true at all. In fact, as things stand, things are only looking better for the gambling industry with the recent technological improvements.
Recap: The Complete Casino Games’ Timeline
To wrap up today’s discussion, here are all of the major developments in casino games in a nutshell. Each period comes with its improvements and we can expect even more features and advanced gaming solutions.
| Time Period | Popular Casino Games |
| Ancient Rome and China | Dice games and the use of tiles for gambling |
| 1400s-1700s | Card games like Baccarat and Blackjack |
| The late 1800s | The first slot machine “Liberty Bell” |
| Late 1900s — Present Time | Digital slot machines, table games, live dealer games |
Finishing Up
Modern casino games are a great way of passing the time by engaging in something risky and exciting. There are tons of options to choose from making it easier for players to play what they want. If you wish to try them yourself, make sure to do that on the trusted gambling sites our experts recommend on Gamblenator.
