Casinos are fascinating places where people can enjoy various games of chance, skill, and luck. Casinos have a long and rich history and many interesting facts and stories that may surprise you. Before knowing crazy facts, check out Betiton for unparalleled gambling experience. Here are 8 facts about casinos that you may not know:
8 Unknown Facts About Casinos
- The “casino” word comes from the Italian word “casa”.
The origin of casinos can be traced back to Italy, where they were initially small houses or villas where people could go to gamble. The first official casino was the Casino di Venezia, which opened in Venice in 1638 and still operates today.
- The world’s smallest casino is in the back of a London cab.
The Grosvenor Casino in London has a mobile casino in the back of a cab, complete with a gaming table, a dealer, a bar, and a TV showing sports.
- The founder of FedEx saved his company by gambling in Vegas.
In 1973, Frederick Smith, the founder of FedEx, faced bankruptcy, as his company only had $5,000 left. He decided to fly to Vegas and risk it all on blackjack, and he won $27,000, which was enough to keep the company afloat. He later raised $11 million, turning FedEx into a profitable and successful business.
- The Nevada State Prison used to have a casino for inmates.
From 1932 to 1967, the Nevada State Prison in Carson City had a casino inside it where inmates could play blackjack, craps, poker, and bet on sports. The ” Bullpen ” casino was located in a stone building on the prison grounds. A new warden from California shut it down, saying gambling was a “degradation” to the inmates.
- Monaco, the home of the famous Monte Carlo Casino, forbids its citizens from gambling.
The Monte Carlo Casino is one of the world’s most famous and glamorous casinos, and it has inspired many movies, books, and games. However, the citizens of Monaco, the tiny principality where the casino is located, are not allowed to enter or gamble there. The casino is only for foreigners, and the profits go to the royal family and the state.
- Macau is the world’s largest gambling center, with revenues six times that of Las Vegas.
Macau, a former Portuguese colony and now a special administrative region of China, is the world’s gambling capital, surpassing Las Vegas in revenue and visitors. Macau has more than 40 casinos, many owned by American companies, and it offers a variety of games, such as baccarat, roulette, sic bo, and fan tan. Macau is known for its lavish resorts, cultural attractions, and cuisine.
- The sandwich invention happened in a casino.
The popular story of the sandwich’s invention is that in 1762, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, played cards at a casino and did not want to leave the table to eat. He asked for a piece of meat between two slices of bread to hold it with one hand and continue playing. The other players soon followed his example and asked for “the same as Sandwich”. The name stuck, and the sandwich was born.
- The longest game of poker lasted for more than eight years.
According to the Guinness World Records, the longest poker game in history lasted for eight years, five months, and three days. It occurred at the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona, from 1881 to 1889. The game was played by some of the most famous figures of the Wild West, such as Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, and Wyatt Earp. The minimum buy-in was $1,000, and the game was played 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The total amount of money that changed hands during the game was estimated to be $10 million.
