European countries have been some of the most instrumental in nurturing the origins of the world’s most notable gambling games and sports. In fact, most of the traditional European and American casino games have been born out of Europe’s colorful history.

European Gambling History

Dice games were developed thousands of years ago utilizing throwing objects made from ivory, bone, metals and stones. The Ancient Romans, though, most sources believe, perfected some of the early dice games, even producing early loaded dice and game cheaters.

Card games did not come along until the invention of paper and methods of printing, perhaps the thirteenth century. Early decks of cards are believed to have been French-made with the face cards like miniature portraits of the nobility of the day. After this, it is thought that early versions of Blackjack and Baccarat began to be played.

Horse racing, the so-called sport of kings, became a highly developed sport during the 1700s, but Arabian horses had been introduced to England centuries earlier. This swift and striking stock became the founding lineage of thoroughbred horses.

Lotteries

Today, lotteries exist in nearly every country. All versions of them, many very similar to the American scratch-offs, tear-offs, instant wins and the big mega jackpots. The first organized lottery originated in Italy, which still holds it own multifarious variety of lotteries. Perhaps the newest lottery attraction is the EuroMillions lottery. The EuroMillions is a collective of European countries, so far only a handful, who have developed a lottery game with even bigger and more attractive jackpots open to all Europeans.

Casinos

One of Europe’s oldest and most storied casinos is the Baden-Baden in Germany. Dostoevsky was said to have won and lost and cultivated a healthy gambling problem in the lavish German casinos.

Monte Carlo remains one of Europe’s foremost casino destinations. Prince Charles III in the latter half of the nineteenth century dreamed up a lavish design for the tiny Principality—attract the aristocrats to the temperate French Riviera location, give them formal European gaming, lavish casinos, the best chefs serving the best food and the most luxurious accommodations. Add to this the most contemporary in European style and culture. Today one of the poker world’s most exclusive events, the Monte Carlo Millions, is hosted by Monte Carlo.