During ancient times, gambling was only meant for a particular class of people. And even after 1992, the PASPA Act prevented Americans from gambling. However, ever since the Supreme Court struck down the federal law in 2018, gambling in the US has become more accessible than ever, making it easy for people to gamble whenever they want.
Though casinos have evolved ever since the time it was first introduced, the purpose behind the practice essentially remains the same—helping people have as much fun as possible while trying their luck at winning some money. What’s more, to stay true to the core purpose, many organizations have taken gambling online. Also known as virtual casinos or internet casinos, these websites allow people to enjoy their favorite casino games from the comforts of their homes.
The United States has a long history of gambling, and the practice has been rising in popularity in recent years. In such a scenario, it is essential that we look at the casino culture through human history, precisely what this article is about.
Gambling in the United States – The Beginning
An open attitude towards gambling didn’t exist until the early decades of the United States. Men in those days considered freedom from the central government to be of great importance. Hence, Americans had to deal with the legal consequences of gambling. Everything from faro to blackjack, lotteries, raffles, dog racing, horse racing, and cockfighting were popular during this era.
The Mississippi River held the American frontier during the early decades of the 1800s. As a result, the place saw numerous settlements being built there. On the other hand, French towns like New Orleans and St. Louis were still slowly evolving into cities. During those days, riverboat travel was the only means of settling the Mississippi River delta. This resulted in Riverboat gambling seeping into the American culture. It was then that the riverboat gambler was included in the American folklore.
Soon after, in the 1830s, New Orleans, a then developed city, became the gambling hub. Illegal and fraud enterprises started popping up, resulting in Americans on the frontier taking justice into their own hands. With the professionals taking advantage of farmers in the local settlements, riverboat gambling also started gaining a bad reputation.
Furthermore, by the end of the 19th century, gambling fell into disfavor. A lot of western casinos and eastern racetracks had to shut down because of moral and ethical reasons. With the implementation of federal law, almost all state lotteries went out of business by 1900.
Gambling in the United States – From 1900
At the beginning of the twentieth century, forty-five states comprised the Union. Statehood was given to Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico between 1907 and 1912. According to experts, the closure of casinos was a precondition of statehood in New Mexico and Arizona.
Furthermore, Nevada banned casino gambling in 1910. In the same year, horse racing was also tagged illegal in New York. Thus, almost all sorts of gambling practices became prohibited in the United States, except betting on horse racing in Maryland and Kentucky. There were also a few standalone card clubs across the country.
The Advent of Online Gambling in the United States
Online gambling was a significant invention in the United States, especially during the pandemic in 2020. However, the virtual practice goes way back into the mid-1990s, when Americans were increasingly participating in the online world.
In the mid-1990s, software programmers were finding new ways to help people gamble online, and companies like Playtech and Microgaming were developing software solutions. In addition, significant online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms were first launched in 1996, 1997, and 1998. All these resulted in the American online gambling community flourishing and thereby becoming the largest and the most profitable during those times.
However, the good days of online gambling reached an end in 2006, when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. But that couldn’t prevent Americans from gambling online.
With the ongoing pandemic, approved casinos and sports betting in states like Virginia are making a comeback on the internet.
So, if one thing is evident from the history of gambling in the US, it is that the gambling laws are never permanent. The American’s attitude towards gambling changes as their culture evolves, thereby resulting in the rules changing. What’s known is that Americans love gambling. So, it is only fitting that the government gives them enough opportunity to enjoy their hobby.
