The journey of casinos in the U.S. is both a reflection of the great history of a vast country and a reflection of the dynamic and ever-evolving world that is casinos. The history is entailed in how a nation’s attitude has changed towards gambling, entertainment, and regulations, and how this is manifested in the current casino landscape.
From the early gambling halls of the Wild West to the luxurious experience of casinos in Las Vegas, with the recent rise of online casino platforms, this article will dive into all aspects. This will also give an understanding of how the current online casino landscape came to be. With various online casino sites, each offering their own type of bonuses and benefits such as free spins and welcome bonuses, the selection for gamblers has and continues to grow larger.
The early days of casino: Gambling in the Wild West
Since the colonial era, gambling has been a part of the American culture. However, organized gambling didn’t become an activity until the 19th century. Riverboat gambling was the first organized gambling established, which saw its rise in the early 1800s along the Mississippi River. Activities such as poker and blackjack were popular among travelers and traders, but the setup did have a reputation for cheating and violence since these floating casinos were unregulated.
By the mid-19th century, settlers started to move westward. With this, gambling halls became a fixture in frontier towns. Some of the most famous places for saloons and gaming houses were Deadwood in South Dakota and Tombstone in Arizona. These types of establishments were often lawless, where gambling, drinking, and prostitution were all intertwined. At this time, gambling was accepted in these regions, but due to its lawless nature, it was also perceived as quite controversial, resulting in many states passing anti-gambling laws by the late 1800s.
The birth of modern casino: The rise of Las Vegas
A turning point for gambling in the U.S. was in the early 20th century: By 1910, almost all forms of gambling were outlawed nationwide, but the practice itself was not eliminated. The rise of illegal gambling flourished in major cities such as New York and Chicago. The legal landscape took a turn with the Great Depression of the 1930s, which also caused a shift in public opinion: To boost the economy, Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, which was the first step in paving the way for Las Vegas.
In its early days, Las Vegas was a small railroad town, but with the legalization of gambling, coupled with the construction of the Hoover Dam, which brought thousands of workers to the area, the city grew suddenly. However, compared to the famous Las Vegas Strip, which the world knows today, is nothing compared to how it started: The first resort-style casino, the El Rancho Vegas, opened in 1941 and offered both gambling, accommodation, and entertainment.
The explosion of casino development: Las Vegas gets cemented
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s an explosion of casino development took place in Las Vegas, with most being funded by and invested with money from organized crime. Bugsy Siegel, a mobster group, financed the Flamingo Hotel, and it was mobsters like this that were instrumental in shaping the city’s early casino industry. Despite the underworld connections, Las Vegas grew rapidly, with tourists visiting from across the country in accordance with the glamorous image and various entertainment options being offered.
By 1960, Las Vegas was the premier destination for gambling, with over 60 casinos operating in the city. By introducing celebrity entertainers, the city’s reputation grew, and so continued the demand for casinos. In the 1980s and 1990s a new wave of mega-resorts took over, with the establishment of world-famous casinos such as Mirage, Bellagio, and MGM Grand, which introduced the combination of gambling, luxury accommodations, fine dining, and world-class entertainment.
Spread of casinos and the rise of tribal casinos
While the gambling scene was thriving in the West, New Jersey approved a referendum in 1976 to legalize casino gambling in Atlantic City, which consequently led to the first casino opening in 1978, which marked the beginning of a new era for the city. By the 1980s, the city was the second-largest gambling market with a dozen casinos. This city played a crucial role in expanding legalized gambling in the U.S. since it inspired other states to consider legalizing casinos, leading to the establishment of tribal casinos.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 was a federal law that recognized the right of Native American tribes to operate casinos on their land. This led to a rapid expansion of tribal casinos across states like California, Oklahoma, and Connecticut. The importance of these tribal casinos is still present today, with over 500 establishment generating billions of dollars each year.
The online casino industry: Free spins and other benefits
The first online casinos appeared in the mid-1990s with a limited selection of games. However, technological advancements have led to rapid growth, and in 2024, the online casino industry will be a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The regulatory landscape is a patchwork, with some states embracing online gambling and others not allowing it. However, this does not take away from the popularity.
Many people have embraced online casinos due to their convenience of being accessible from anywhere and due to the bonuses and benefits they come with. Free spins are a popular type of bonus many people take advantage of. With free spins, one gets to start playing on an online casino site without having to wager their own money to begin with. Instead, free spins allow you to try out your luck first, and then you can wager and get started.
