History of gambling in the Netherlands

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It is not something modern of today to go to the casino. Centuries ago it was already an activity of many people. All kinds of different types of people have been involved in gambling over the years and saw this as the way to make money easily and quickly. From the poorest farmers to the richest princes, everyone participated. Gambling in the Netherlands was and is also very popular.

Even Napoleon could not prevent a game of gambling regularly. Many held it up for days and for nights. Playing for money was not done just like that, there were significant amounts in such a night. It has therefore been taken seriously for a long time as an easy source of income.

Unfortunately it is not that simple, because to rake money inside, you used to have and you still need a lot of luck. Just bring in a few hundred euros in a single night, that doesn't just work. It often has nothing to do with talent or strategy, but purely with happiness. You just have to be lucky on your side, otherwise they are gloomy rounds.

Well -known players

The American writer Mark Twain has an explanation for the popularity of gambling. And that seems simpler than most of them would think. 'With one dollar that you find on the street, you are happier than with the 99 for which you have to work, and money that you win with a game of blackjack or earns with shares, gives you just such a warm feeling,' according to Twain, One of the greatest American writers we have ever known.

So players would attach so much value to the merits with a game of blackjack or poker, that it doesn't matter if it's just a small profit. Gambling makes it exciting and that is worth taking a risk from time to time. So it will not come as a surprise that Mark Twain in the 19e century was not afraid of the popular Casino games. For example, he preferred to play as much as possible Faro and Poker. These are games that are still played by many a casino enthusiast to this day.

Unfortunately he was not the only one who had a lot of bad luck while playing. Both he and many other well -known icons such as Marie Antoinette and Keizer Augustus played a lot, but won little. They lost time and time again and that didn't just stay with these acquaintances. They may not have been the first, but certainly not the latter who hoped for more, but did not get this.

"With one dollar that you find on the street, you are happier than with the 99 for which you have to work, and money that you win with a game of blackjack or earns with shares, gives you just such a warm feeling"

Precursors in prehistory

Many historians agree that the groundwork for a good casino game was already laid in prehistory. The concept of gambling did not yet exist, but the principle that people make to go for the greatest possible profit is timeless.

In the Stone Age, even a precursor of the well -known dice game would be played. In addition, the hunting route in prehistory was determined by the way bones came down that were thrown in the air earlier. The bones were then even transformed into dice because they were broken into smaller pieces and then small drawings were carved in it.

The first dice

These were of course not the dice as we know it now. Are you playing a game of craps now? Then you don't play with broken bones and small drawings. However, the first six toe dice die from a very long time ago. In 3000 BC. In Iraq the first dice was made that is already very close to the type of dice that we now know. These were then made with stone, ivory or even with wood. It should be smooth materials that could form the most purely possible die.

In an Indian poem, players were warned against gambling with dice. Players are warned by the God Savitr: "Do not play with dice, but look forward to your own possessions, pour your wife's attention."

The Romans are also interested in the multi -sided block and the Roman people used them multiple times. In this way the sound of rolling dice could be heard in every street and on every square of the Roman Empire.

The first board games

Many used to enjoy playing board games. Money was often played, even if that was forbidden. One of those popular board games was known as the "game with 12 lines". At that time it was recognized with more often as "Ludos Duodecim Scriptorum". Three dice were used for which everyone was now more than familiar with. They also used a stone plate. This game meant the precursor of what we now know as Backgammon.

Gambling was a very important activity of the Romans, because it was really done everywhere. In bathhouses, court buildings and in temples, nobody was strange of gambling. If many games are played and a lot of money is used, there is of course a lot of cheating. That is also not something of this time. Fake coins were produced on a large scale for, for example, "Navia Autaput". This was the Roman variant of head or mint. A false currency can therefore mean a big advantage for one of the playing parties.

Europe conquered by playing cards

In 2300 BC. Lotteries were already held in China and 2000 years later a kind of Keno came out. All this is apparent from old archaeological finds. The money that was earned with these games used the emperor to finance, for example, the Chinese wall and many other construction projects. So no tax was needed for this, only a few good pots of gambling was enough. This very first lottery was called the "game of the white pigeon". The reason for this turns out to be simple, because the results were spread from city to city by white pigeons.

Already in 9e Century had Chinese cards with characters on it that players could win from each other. Historians make out that playing cards originate in distant China. These playing cards eventually came our way by commercial travelers, after which these cards also became very popular in Europe. They were received with open arms by both farmers and nobles and princes.

A ban on the Mediterranean Sea

After all these different forms of gambling became so popular, this also caused many arguments with each other. Even work was failed and that was a big problem for the order in many places. To restore this order, playing for money was banned by those in power. In this way there should be less argument by bad losers and work should be done again.

The first casino in Venice

This of course did not work for everyone, because it is forbidden to be attractive. In Venice, for example, gambling moved to private homes. This was no problem for residents, because they just demanded part of all the effort. In this way gambling was made possible without the ruler could do something about this.

Eventually it was done in such a way that the city state itself could also earn it. If it could not be forbidden, or at least not be maintained, the city state had to ensure that they were also wearing it themselves. The very first casino was opened in Venice. Here citizens could finally play legally against a bank.

The reduced public

In 1638 the very first casino in Venice finally opened its doors, called Il Ridotto Pubblico, located near the Chiesa di San Moisè. It was a huge draw, because from day one the casino was full of both Italians and tourists. It was seen as a gambling palace where it was finally legal to use money. As a player you could go to four floors where you were provided with all kinds of drinks and tasty snacks.

The casino introduced a high minimal bet amount to guarantee that the casino itself would also make a profit. For players this meant that the casino did their best to make their earned money. Assets were lost in this way. For example, Italian adventurer Giovanni USAsco Gemelli Careri even called the casino the "house of the devil". For example, he pointed out that the pleasure of players was taken away when they lost. Similarly an Italian poet, named Lorenzo Da Ponte, agreed with Careri. He was tired of gambling. He was even tired of leaving the city in front of it.

However, they were not the only ones who attached this opinion, so after 136 years the casino had to believe it. They should close the doors forever. In 1774 it was decided that they had to close to keep the "piety, to limit the noise and moderate the behavior," said a member of the city council.

Strict rules

Did you come to the Casino of Venice in the past? Then you had to adhere to a strict dress code. Otherwise you simply couldn't get in. In this way all visitors wore expensive robes and everyone also wore a huge hat. You were an outsider if you dressed differently than the rest. These clothing species were also obliged to play card games such as Bassetta or the Biribi gambling.

Gambling in the Netherlands

Not only the Romans or the Far East, but also the Netherlands has an important history in the field of gambling. The oldest National Lottery was founded by the Netherlands in 1726. This was then called the General Lottery.

In 1900, however, almost all forms of gambling were banned, except the Staatsloterij. Only after the Second World War did relaxation in this area come in 1950 and the Staatsloterij was even more often organized.

The Gambling Act

In the Netherlands, 1964 was an important year for gambling enthusiasts. The Gambling Act was introduced and from that moment it was finally legal to use money in our little country. The market could be controlled and regulated by law. This law still applies to this day. This has of course been adjusted in the meantime to ensure that the law lasts over time. For example, there are other rules today than half a century ago, but the law lasts.

Gambling in the NetherlandsThe beginning of TOTO

In 1956, the KNVB, the Royal American Football Association, was founded. Clubs were able to join the union, after which people could bet money at competitions of those specific clubs. However, this only applied to the two highest football competitions in the Netherlands.

It Bet money on football matches Wondered so popular, so there had to be regulated. For example, the government first wanted to completely ban Toto, but thanks to another lottery law it could continue to exist. From that moment on, the TOTO was taken over by the National Sports Totalisator. The regulation of the Toto was ultimately part of the Gambling Act.

The first legislative changes For gambling in the Netherlands

Since the first implementation of the Gambling Act, something has changed compared to the current situation. Until 1974 it was still not possible to play legally with the Lotto and casinos were not yet allowed.

In 1974, however, it became legal for the American for the Lotto and the roulette to play. After that, even the first American casino was opened in 1976. Holland Casino got this honor and is still full to entertain players with the range of their games. If you want to gamble at table games in the Netherlands, you have to be at HC.

What will the future bring?

Online gambling in the Netherlands has recently become legal and you as a player can therefore participate in participation. Until recently, however, this was still prohibited. Only since October 2021 can you as a player at online legal casinos justly. Online casinos are strictly controlled to ensure that everything runs safely.

In the future, things may change in the field of legalisations or restrictions. Only time can tell this and we can't be sure. Now enjoy the fact that you can gamble legally in the Netherlands.