When it comes to long-lasting sectors, few have enjoyed the same level of longevity as casinos have. However, the casinos in the past were very far from the modern casinos we now typically enjoy and are used to. So, make sure to keep reading to learn more about what gambling looked like through the ages in the UK.
The Brief History of Gambling in the UK
Nowadays, gambling lovers around the world can play classic luck-based and card games through online casinos. On such platforms, they can find a variety of games including jackpot slots like Wheel of Wishes. All of these games are playable on PCs, laptops, and phones alike, following the standard of convenience modern consumers now expect to see with everything. However, their origins were far more humbling.
Gambling in the UK has had a deep-rooted history, enjoyed even by its monarchs such as the Tudors and the Stuarts. When it comes to the regular population of the UK gambling in the country was typically enjoyed at home and other more generic establishments during the 16th century.
This was until around the 17th century when gambling houses started appearing all around the UK, but especially in London. However, it took until the 18th to 19th century for gambling to properly take off around the country. During this time, gambling managed to evolve into something more widely accepted.
The Evolution of Casinos in the UK
The first instance of what would be reminiscent of modern casinos can be traced back to gentlemen’s clubs in the 19th century. These were sophisticated establishments frequented only by men, typically those of a higher class, aimed for relaxation and to forge friendships. But it took almost another century for this to evolve into the first legal casino, after the 1960 Betting and Gaming Act.
As such, the earliest licensed casino opened up in 1961 in Wales, the Casino Club Port Talbot. This was heavily influenced by the establishments found in Monte Carlo. From that point onwards, more and more casinos opened up in the UK, such as the Clermont Club in Mayfair in 1962. This can easily be marked as the turning point for the future of casinos.
As we mentioned above, in this day and age, players also have the option to play casino games online. However, this has not diminished the popularity of brick-and-mortar casinos but simply provided an alternative to players, especially those who don’t have a local casino or are too busy to commute to one.
Regardless if you’re someone who gambles regularly or has never stepped foot into a casino, you can’t deny that the history and origins of this sector in the UK are as vast as they are interesting. From being mainly enjoyed by the elite to a turn to the masses to its digitization, gambling is set to continue to be part of our lives for a very long time. For now, we are excited to see what else is next in store for this industry.