The History of Gambling

Gambling has existed since the dawn of humanity and has accompanied us throughout the ages, leaving its unmistakable mark on the pages of history.

In the year 1161 CE, there was a dispute between Norway and Sweden over the district of Hising. Diplomacy failed to solve the dispute and so the kings of each country (who were both named Olaf) met and decided to seal the fate of the province on the role of two dice. The king of Norway rolled two 6's and thus received ownership of the territory without any bloodshed.

But gambling wasn't always looked upon with friendliness. King Henry VIII of England decided to prohibit his soldiers from gambling because he learned that they were spending more time punting than practicing drills and marksmanship.

In colonial America, gambling and the possession of cards and dice was banned by many of the Puritan communities (such as the Massachusetts Bay Colony) although dancing and singing suffered the same fate, as they were thought to be jaded values from their old society.

Regardless of extremist beliefs, gambling has continued to exist in nearly every country on Earth, whether hidden or out in the open. Just as a roll of the dice decided the fate of Hising, the punt still influences foreign and domestic policy, steals the attention of the tabloids, and creates millionaires.