Championing China's Impact on Poker in the Year of the Serpent

Hey there! It's time to celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Snake. Let's take a trip down memory lane and learn how China, despite having a nationwide gambling ban except in Macau, has played a significant role in the development of gambling around the world.

Gambling in China has roots going back 3,000 years, and much like today, it has fluctuated between legitimacy and illegality depending on the dynasty. Initially, Chinese gambling was a pastime for the nobility, but it soon seeped into society's lower echelons.

The first gambling activity we find in Chinese history is Luibo, a cognitive, mind game enjoyed by the elite. Although money played a part, it wasn't the primary objective – much different from traditional casino gambling. Over time, faster games more suitable for wagering like Pitch Pot and Ma Diu emerged.

By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, gambling had truly taken hold. Card games were invented, and Mahjong as we know it today was born. It's fascinating to think that during this period, gambling addiction was so rampant that people were reportedly "playing day and night," causing an uproar throughout the country.

Today, China's gambling scene is centered in Macau, often referred to as the Las Vegas of Asia. Despite occasional rivalry with Las Vegas, Macau usually leads in terms of revenue and is renowned for its exquisite casinos and lavish offerings.

China also has a rich history of sports betting, beginning with horse racing around 770 BCE to 221 BCE. Tian Ji, a military general, and the King of Qi were known to have placed bets together. Later, during the Han Dynasty, Han Xin created Kickball, a gambling-focused war occupation that resembles modern-day soccer. In rural areas, betting on animal races, including dogs and cockfights, was common.

As you delve deeper into China's gambling history, you'll find more intriguing tales of cheating, rivalries, and wagers spiraling out of control. The story of Ji Pingzi and Hou Zhaobo, two officials caught in a cockfighting scam that led to a coup, is just one example. Rivalries over various gambling activities, such as Liubo, are also well-documented.

It's also worth noting that early forms of gambling in China took the shape of games like dice and lotteries, a precursor to modern casino games. Pai Gow, a game involving tiles and dice, had a scoring system influencing later games like baccarat. Moreover, Fan-tan, a traditional Chinese betting game, became popular in the Western United States in the 19th century.

In conclusion, China has a long, rich history of gambling, from ancient games like Pai Gow and Fan-tan to modern casinos. Its evolution reflects the blending of foreign elements with traditional games, as well as the cultural and economic impact of gambling on Chinese society. Whether you're moving the tiles in Mahjong, rolling dice, or betting on the outcome of a sports event, it's clear that the thrill of gambling has always captivated the Chinese people.

Although money played a part in ancient Chinese gambling games like Luibo, it pales in comparison to the primary objective of traditional casino gambling, such as those found in Las Vegas and Macau, the latter being the gambling hub of Asia.
The gambling trends in China have significantly influenced the global casino culture, with casino games like Mahjong, Pitch Pot, and Ma Diu having roots dating back thousands of years.
Beyond casino gambling, China's sports betting history is equally fascinating, with the first instance tracing back to horse racing around 770 BCE to 221 BCE, involving notable figures like Tian Ji, a military general, and King of Qi.
As casino personalities and gambling culture continue to evolve in China, sports betting, particularly sports-betting trends, has found a new lease of life in the digital age, with many betting on sports events online.