Gambling has been an attractive venue for entertainment and profits for as long as man has existed. The very nature of risking something for a greater payoff induces excitement in the human mind.
While it is difficult to pinpoint when and where gambling originated, many historians and experts believe it all began in ancient China. Therefore, China has the largest and most complicated history of gambling in the world.
Gambling in the early days
Experts have found gambling records dating back as far as 2,100 years B.C. Interestingly enough, it is known that the game we know as Keno was played around this time.
What’s more, games with similar traits to Poker and Blackjack were also thought to be played by Chinese upper-class citizens and members of its military.
Throughout history, gambling had a similar view by the government as it does today; it was thought of as an evil obsession that would generate serious problems in society. Therefore, it has been officially banned or frowned up even during ancient times.
Yet, this did not stop the Chinese people, and during the Spring and Autumn periods (771 to 476 BC) in China, gambling became completely mainstream.
Nearly everyone was indulging in wagering on various games, from villagers in the countryside to high-class citizens and military men, the latter of which often faced repercussions for overindulgence.
During the Tang (617 – 908 A.D.) and Northern Song (950 – 1128 A.D.) dynasties, the first forms of gambling venues i.e. casinos began to appear. It is around this time that Xuan He Pai was invented, which is the basis for modern-day Mahjong.
Gambling continued to thrive in the middle ages as well, and many people began to treat it as a form of livelihood, which read to obvious problems.
Recent history of China's casinos
As such, links with underground criminal activities and corruption became inevitable. The years 1930-1950 also introduced many new games to the Chinese market, but not long after the People’s Republic of China was formed (1949) gambling took a major hit as all gambling activities were completely outlawed.
Today, only state-run lotteries are legal in China, and bettors can indulge in placing wagers on horse racing and sports matches.
However, this has not stopped Chinese people from placing wagers a top online casino through VPN proxies. It is estimated that illegal bets valued at over one trillion Chinese yuan ($140,000,000+) are placed on an annual basis through mainland China.
Nowadays, people in this country seem to enjoy mobile casino gaming more than ever. Do not forget to check our the top mobile casino China today.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, which is a partly autonomous region of China, some forms of gambling are legal, as the region is allowed to form most of its own laws. In fact, gambling in Hong Kong has been legal since 1977.
Macau
Macau, known as the Las Vegas of the east, has actually surpassed Vegas in terms of revenue back in 2007, with annual gambling revenues exceeding $28 billlion.
Gambling in Macau has been legal since 1850. Today, the region hosts over 35 land casinos, attracting millions of tourists on a yearly basis, many of which are wealthy citizens from other parts of China.
Casino types
