The gambling sector has been a spot for amazing and tragic stories since it was created several centuries ago. Ancient Romans have been documented as some of the earliest gamblers who would wager on different horse races. Greece, Egypt, and China are some of the other countries where people could bet on the outcomes of games such as keno, checkers, and senet. Ancient Greece has records of casinos where the citizens could go play card games and dice.
Are there specific stories that stand out in the Global Scale? We linked up with an expert casino gamer and writer Michelle Thomas (check profile), who shared with us casinos with remarkable stories and their impact on the modern casinos in Canada and beyond:
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
You can’t talk about casinos and fail to mention Las Vegas. MGM Grand is one of the largest single hotels in the US and has lived up to its name. The hotel is known for its large gaming floors and classic Hollywood art deco style. MGM Grand is packed with attractions and partitions such as Grand Garden Arena (which hosts sporting events) and David Copperfield’s theatre.
MGM has had a share of dark stories that have made news over the years. A fire that broke out in 1980 left 85 people dead and 785 others with injuries; this disaster has remained to be the biggest in Las Vegas casinos.
Tupac Shakur was shot dead after watching the Tyson vs. Seddon match which was hosted at the hotel in 1996. 2013 was a bad year for the hotel as a performer dubbed ‘Ka’ fell and died after her harness detached from the safety wire as she was performing at Cirque du Soleil.
The Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco
It has been documented as one of the world’s most luxurious casinos. Princess Caroline of Monaco was the brain behind this amazing casino. It has been documented that the family was in the blink of bankruptcy, and she believed that the casino would attract wealthy people from different parts of Europe. It took ten years before the dream was finally realized. The casino would generate 4 million Francs within its first year.
The Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco’s story is a good one as it has not had tragic events. The casino stands as an exemplary representation of Belle Epoch architecture one and a half centuries later. People always recognize it as a statue of wealth and status. The casino has been a setting for various famous movies such as Ocean’s Twelve and two James Bond classics.
Crockford’s, London
The casino was founded in 1823 by William Crockford (a former fishmonger) known for his love for gambling. The Crockford’s Gentleman’s Club was initially known as the perfect spot for young aristocrats. England was a gambling haven in the early 19th century, and Crockford was ready to capitalize on this.
In the 1920s, this space would be rebranded as a bridge club, and new games were added. Membership is not as exclusive as it used to be, but it is still a spot for serious gamblers. The world’s largest loss in a casino to be ever documented was in this casino, where an Australian Kerry Packer lost £13 million during one gambling session.
The online casinos
Who could ever think that Antigua and Barbuda (a developing country) could be the first state to introduce online gambling in the mid-90s? The Free Trade and Processing Act allowed the country to grant licenses to companies interested in operating online gambling platforms.
Canada has come a long way in the gambling sector since the activity was legalized in 1969. However, it was not until 2004 that the British Columbia Lottery Corporation launched the first legal online casino in Canada. This was a turning point, and now we have thousands of online casinos,
Online betting has some interesting stories and added history as well. For instance, James Adducci placed a bet worth $85,000 (all his savings) on Tiger Woods during the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. He won over $1.2 million when he was struggling with a mortgage and student loan debts.
The casino industry has beautiful as well as tragic stories, as you can see. Public education has been on the rise over the past few decades, explaining why the Canadian online gaming space has been growing at a steady rate.
also Read about: 10 Types of Online Casino Games: which one is Best for You?
