The term "casino" comes from an Italian word which means a small villa, pavilion or a summerhouse. Traditionally these villas are built just for contentment of the owner on a ground within a bigger villa or Italian palazzo.
The first acknowledge casino was built around 1638 in Venice. During the 19th century the word casino now incorporate other establishment where relaxing activities such as sports events and gambling are held. Newport casino in Newport, Rhode Island is a good example of this building.
Generally, casino is not solely use for holding games. A casino in Denmark, a theater The Copenhagen Casino had become famous allowing Danes to hold public meetings in its halls during the 1848 Revolution. This Danish theater is now considered a historical landmark in Denmark. Another casino, The Hanko Casino in Finland was never used for gambling. A noticeable landmark in a small town in Hanko, Finland, served as a banquet hall for Russian noble bloods which regularly visit this spa resort during the 1800's. Today, this casino is converted into a restaurant.
When did these casinos become venue for gambling activities? The exact origin where gambling first took place is still unverified up to now. The first actual practice was recorded by the Chinese in 2300 B.C. But gambling in general was believed to be a social activity in one way or another has been practiced way back time immemorial. From the time of Alexander the Great of Greece and Romans to Chinese Emperors, to Napoleon and to the Elizabethan golden age in England, history's page with volumes of stories and tales about this game of luck.
In early American history, casino is then known as saloons. Four frontier cities, St. Louis, Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco have contributed much in establishing saloons and nurturing the importance of saloons existence. It was in through this small place that early American cavaliers stop for a drink, mingle with others, and often to gamble.
In the early 1930's state laws banned gambling in several US states. But in 1931, the state of Nevada legalized gambling and the first casinos sprout out of Las Vegas now famous as the "Sin City. By the late 1978, Casino business reached the state of New Jersey in particular Atlantic City where it is now considered as the second biggest gambling city of America.
Today, casino reaches every American home and people begin to be hook up to what casino can offer through the power of internet networks. Now, many Americans are into online casino games.
