History of Casino Games

The history of casino games is quite exciting to study especially if you are a fan of casino gaming. Gambling has been around for centuries and it has deep roots in many cultures around the world - in good and bad. Fortunes have been won and lost in an instant in many casinos.

The majority of casino games are known as games of chance with big payouts. A game of chance is a game where skill is not required. Such games include slots and lottery games. Games of skill are games where your experience and knowledge can greatly affect the outcome. Such games include blackjack and poker. The difference with these two is that in blackjack the game is against the house, whereas in poker the game is against other players while the "house" facilitates and takes a very small percentage. In no limit poker a good player can win thousands if not millions of dollars as is the case with major poker tournaments such as the WPT or WSOP.

Casino games can be divided into three main categories: table games, gaming machines and random number games. Table games offer entertainment including the use of cards or dice. Gaming machines, or slot and video poker machines, can be played by one player at a time. And random number games are games where one chooses different numbers, such as in roulette or keno.

Modern Casino Games

AWPs and SWPs
 
As technology has advanced land-based casino games have developed into complex entertainment machines. These machines can be divided into Amusement With Prizes (AWP machines) and Skill With Prizes (SWP machines) as they are know in the United Kingdom.

There are actually many names for AWPs; Fruit Machines, Slot Machines and Pokie Machines, depending on which part of the world you're in. AWPs require no skill to play and you can find these slot machines in casinos throughout the world.

Skill With Prizes (SWPs) is a gaming machine which also require skill. Such machines are located widely in the pubs across the United Kingdom. These are quiz machines, the 'itbox' machines which are a network of game terminals, and even claw vending machines can be categorized as SWPs.

Online casino games are quite different. Since the implementation of the first online casino in 1996, the notion of playing online casino games has become increasingly popular. Online gaming is easily available, all a player needs is a computer and internet access. I won't get into the online casino games as these games are more complex in nature.

Traditional casino gaming is still the real thing and even with the inception of online casinos Las Vegas is still a top destination offering the 'real thing'. Other areas such as Macau in Asia is actually generating more turnover now that Las Vegas, which has much to do with the economic situation in the US.