Those who gambled in the 1800s tended to be a hardy lot. They performed on riverboats down the Mississippi and in wild west saloons where drinks were freely available and firearms were on display.
Once they got over the first shock of being transported to a modern casino, they probably would only recognize a few games.
Here are facts about modern life that gamblers from the 19th century would have never guessed.
1. Poker Could Be Played Digitally
Of course, it stands to reason that screens of any kind—whether on television, in a car, in a movie theater, etc.—would be shocking.
Poker, however, was the game of choice for gamblers of the 19th century. So, you can imagine their shock if they came across a game of poker being played using images of playing cards displayed on a screen. Video poker is essentially drawing poker played on a screen, so the older players would pick it up quite quickly if you taught them the controls.
Various video poker games exist, and more recently, Texas hold ’em poker has been implemented into some gaming terminals. Of course, poker, video poker, and every other casino game are available on computers, tablets, and smartphones. Think about the reaction of a senior citizen if you pulled out your smartphone and started pressing buttons on it.
2. Poker Used Community Cards
Texas hold ’em, a kind of poker, first gained traction as a spectator sport in the 1970s. No Limit Texas hold ’em was selected as the main event for the first World Series of Poker, which took place in the 1970s. The game had been played previously.
With the advent of widespread coverage of poker tournaments on television in the early 2000s, Texas hold ’em quickly became the most popular kind of poker in the gaming world.
The game’s use of community cards is one of the novelties that makes it so engaging. When playing poker, one card is dealt face up in the middle of the table, and all players still in hand can utilize it to improve their writing.
Most Texas Holdem players are unaware that 7 Card Stud pioneered the usage of communal cards. If there are more than seven players in 7 Card Stud, and at least eight of them keep all seven cards in their hands, there is a problem. If you multiply seven by 8, you get 56, yet a regular deck of cards only includes 52. The dealer’s final card in each hand is always a face-up card, even if she doesn’t have enough for the entire final round.
The game of Texas holds ’em takes this a step further by limiting players to just two-hole cards and instead employing five community cards to form poker hands.
Although poker games were popular in the 19th century, nothing like Texas hold ’em existed then.
3. Slot Machines
I’ve already addressed electronic poker, but it’s tough to picture how a gambler in the 19th century would have felt about a slot machine. It might be unsettling if flashing lights and loud noises were involved.
The inclusion of slot machines on the list could be contested, given that they didn’t enter widespread use until the 1920s or 1930s. Still, we can all agree that the first generation of gamblers who used slot machines would be astounded by the modern versions.
All winnings from the earliest slot machines were distributed manually after each spin. Many of the earliest slot machines could only be found in bars, where the proprietor would monitor the game, view the results of spins, and distribute winnings. Machines in the past often dispensed alcoholic beverages or cigars instead of cash.
Once the reels stopped spinning, the payout was determined by comparing the symbols (often playing cards) aligned on the pay line to a pay chart.
Some of these mechanisms remain the same, but computer chips and random number generators power modern slot games, and the reels are almost entirely visual graphics displayed on a screen.
The prizes are no longer limited to free booze and cigars but can go into the millions of dollars for the winners.
A gambler from the late 19th century might recognize a modern slot machine as a gambling gadget. Still, I highly doubt he could have imagined its eventual evolution into what it is today.
4. Gambling in Riverboats Is Still A Thing
You couldn’t blame most long-time gamblers for supposing that riverboat gambling had vanished along with everything else that had altered in that time.
While it’s true that many “riverboat” casinos are just land-based ones that have been moved to the water, there are some locations where you may wager on an open boat.
In addition, there are still a few riverboat casinos in operation.
Due to the high expenses and complex logistics of running a gambling business from a moving vessel, modern casinos like new USA casinos and other gambling facilities have replaced most genuine boats. Since some people experience nausea when traveling on boats, you have to make frequent stops at landings to load and unload passengers.
Not only that, but people’s expectations have evolved. These days, a trip to the casino can be quite the event, with visitors sometimes flying in from far away to gamble in comfortable air-conditioned or heated establishments while sipping complimentary beverages. Players can unwind with a performance or a meal at a high-end restaurant after a long day at the tables or slots.
There is a practical limit to the number of restaurants and entertainment venues housed on a riverboat.
5. Roulette Hasn’t Changed
One might be surprised to learn that, despite the proliferation and refinement of seemingly endless varieties of casino games, roulette remains essentially unchanged.
Wheels with 37 or 38 numbered holes in ivory balls are still used for the game. Initially, there was just one zero in roulette, leading to 37 possible outcomes. With the addition of a doubling zero in the United States, a standard 37-slot roulette wheel becomes 38-slots long.