By 
We Digitize.
Today, the most popular form of betting is sports betting. But how did betting begin, and what other betting games can you play?
Betting has always been a popular form of entertainment, and it has changed and evolved over the years. Learn how the most popular forms of betting originated and evolved.
Horse racing: The oldest sport in the world
Horse racing is arguably the oldest sport in the world. Horse racing dates back to the Olympic Games of ancient Greece in the period 700-40 BCE. Since then, the sport grew in popularity and spread to Medieval England, where horses were ridden by professional riders to showcase the animals to potential buyers.
Horse race betting started in the 17th century, and by the mid 18th century, horse racing had become such a popular sport, that it had turned into a proper sporting event, open to the public with larger fields of runners. Horse racing continued to grow in popularity up through the 1800s, and so did horse race betting. Today, however, the sport of horse racing has fallen in popularity, giving way to more popular sports.
Sports betting: A modern entertainment
Today, the most popular form of entertainment in sports, sports betting, has grown in popularity as well. Although betting on sports has been illegal in most states for many years, the attitude towards sports betting seems to have changed drastically. With the legalization of sports betting the industry has grown, attracting millions of fans to participate in the old activity of sports betting. Now that people are becoming more and more interested in placing bets at their favorite sporting events, there is plenty of information to help you decide on a bet. Get your sports betting information here and start betting yourself.
Blackjack: Luck or skill?
The game of blackjack is also very old. Some speculate, that the game dates back to the Romans. This theory, however, is not confirmed. Blackjack probably originated in France around the year 1700. In France, blackjack was called Ving-et-un, which means twenty-one. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the name of the game was changed from twenty-one to blackjack. The change occurred because casinos were promoting the game by offering bonus payouts, one of which was given if a jack of spades or clubs was dealt alongside an ace of spades. Eventually, the bonus payouts ceased, but the name of blackjack stuck. Today, blackjack is still being played in casinos. It is a game of both luck and skill. For more information on the history of blackjack visit BlackjackHistory.com and click here to learn the rules of Blackjack.
Roulette: A game of chance
Roulette was not a game, to begin with. It was invented by a French physicist and mathematician called Blaise Pascal in 1655. He intended to create a perpetual motion machine and not a casino game. In 1842, Francois and Lois Blanc added a zero to the wheel. This changed the game, giving the house a bigger house edge. The wheel was designed specifically for the king of Monaco, Charles III, whose kingdom was facing financial difficulties. By introducing the game of roulette with the added zero, the casinos of Monaco quickly generated income and made Monte Carlo a symbol of upscale gambling. Later, another zero was added, giving the house an even bigger edge.