4 minute read
Maybe you don’t know this, but the name VIAGE comes from Italian. It is, in fact, derived from the word "viaggio," for the simple and good reason that it promises its visitors a timeless and adventure-filled journey. Also, since the word "casino" is also Italian, we managed to keep it all in the same linguistic theme... For a little dip into history and for more surprising fun facts about the casino world, keep reading !
The very first casino opened its doors in 1638, in Venice. It was called the “Casino di Venezia”, whose name referred to the word "casa," evoking a small villa or a summer home. At that time, the casino was nothing more than a place built by the privileged men of the world for the sole purpose of indulging in moments of pleasure.
The Casino di Venezia still retains much of its ornate charm, as seen in such details as the large wooden doors and chandeliers. Photo courtesy of Casino di Venezia.
The first slot machine
What about the very first slot machine? Well, the birth of slot machines as we know them today dates back to 1898. It’s the American Charles Fey who built the first "Liberty Bell," a slot machine that, for the very first time, automatically dispensed winnings in coins. A revolution in the gambling industry that quickly spread throughout the rest of the United States. Casinos began acquiring this game to offer an alternative to their visitors when the gaming tables were full. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas - casino heaven -, slot machines quickly became - and still remain - the most popular casino games by far. In fact, most people go there to play slots rather than table games!
In Las Vegas still, it was a woman who was the first to obtain a casino license. Mayme Stocker offered only five legal games in her casino at the time: bridge, lowball poker, stud poker, draw poker, and 500.
From the biggest to the smallest
Did you also know that while Las Vegas is considered the gambling capital of the United States, it's actually Macao, an autonomous region of China, that is the world's true gambling capital, churning out three times more money than Las Vegas. On the contrary, the world's smallest casino, Grosvenor, is content to roam in a London taxi! A mobile and homeless casino, it features a gaming table with a dealer, a bar, and a TV broadcasting sporting events.
Casino Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao
The most unusual casinos
But let's go back to Nevada for a moment. This region of the United States - with Las Vegas as its capital - has internalized the gambling culture so much that even the Nevada State Prison hosted a casino for 35 years. In the bullpen, the gathered inmates could play games such as poker, craps, blackjack, or bet on sports, starting in 1932. They used their own currency: coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, or 1 and 5 dollars. The prison's director, Carl Hocker, took the initiative to close the casino in 1967 with the aim of replacing it with constructive and beneficial activities that would contribute to good mental health.
The funniest facts about the casino
The longest poker game in history lasted eight years, five months, and three days. It took place in 1881, in the basement of a famous brothel called the Bird Cage Theatre, in Tombstone, Arizona, USA. To participate, players had to pay a $1,000 buy-in. The game ran 24/7. During the game, approximately $10 million changed hands, with 10% going directly to the Bird Cage. This longest poker game in poker history finally ended in 1889 when rising groundwater from the mines flooded the small town of Tombstone. As a result, the town went bankrupt, and the Bird Cage had to close its doors permanently.
The largest casino jackpot in history was won by a man at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas. With a $100 bet, he simply hit the incredible jackpot of $39.7 million.
Super Big Bertha, the world's largest slot machine, stands at over 2.5 meters high and wide. Its eight spinning reels each contain 20 symbols, giving it a staggering 25.6 billion possible combinations. Each spin costs $100. According to statistics, you would have to play the machine 15 billion times to have a chance at the jackpot. That being said, over the years, players have won a lot of money with Super Big Bertha, including a woman who hit the jackpot in a casino in Ontario in 2001.
Super Big Bertha
In any case, whether the casino you choose to relax in is the largest, the longest, or the oldest, the essential thing is that you have a real moment of fun and entertainment. That said, we still recommend opting for VIAGE, and not just because it's the biggest!
