I’ll Bet You Like These Facts
Sunday
The first historical record of gambling goes back to 2300 BC. This makes games of chance 15 centuries older than the invention currency itself, meaning things besides money were first wagered.
Monday
History’s first casino appeared in Venice in 1638, and was so popular that in the next century another 100 had sprung up there.
Tuesday
“Don’t bet the farm” is an American idiom discouraging the wagering of one’s own home/livelihood on something, and may have originated when actual real estate was bet in Old West poker games.
Wednesday
A wealthy hedge fund manager once paid Kenny Rogers millions to play his favorite song “The Gambler” over and over at his birthday party, but after a while Kenny refused to play it yet again.
Thursday
Gambling is huge business. In 2023 alone, casinos in the state of Nevada reported $15.5 billion in gaming revenue, with the casinos on Las Vegas’ famous “Strip” taking in $8.9 billion of that.
Friday
Even flashy Las Vegas, however, can’t touch the allure of state lotteries, where Americans spend a combined $100 billion dollars plus every year. These began mostly in the mid-20th century for states to raise local government revenue, a preferable option over the illegal lottery operations of the time. The idea of running lotteries to help benefit local governments isn’t new, however, as there is evidence that this was practiced back to Europe’s Middle Ages.
Saturday
Gambling is no fun anymore if it becomes addictive. In the US, approximately 6-8 million people fit the criteria for problem gamblers, but only around 8% of those seek help. This is especially troubling since gambling addicts have the highest suicide rate among addictive behaviors. (Problem in the US? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)