Casino History: Where did it all begin?

Think of a casino and what springs to mind? We wouldn't be surprised if it is impeccably groomed men in smart suits alongside women wearing the most sophisticated dresses. There's no better opportunity to dress to impress than at a casino night. But, how have casinos and fashion evolved if at all? Let's take a look at how we gamble today and how it all came about...

Gambling From Home 

Even with the option to gamble at a dedicated spot, many people throughout the 1900s chose to gamble at home. Much like that of today which sees families and friends to play for cash or visit online websites like that of one of the most popular online bingo sites https://bingo.paddypower.com/ to try their luck, people enjoyed the casual setting of their houses. With no pressure to dress a certain way or impress anyone, gambling at home has always been favoured by many. However, it's interesting to also take a look at gambling throughout time. 

In Pop Culture

It's no secret that the swanky lifestyle of casino-goers has been propagated through pop culture. Take James Bond as the classic example in Casino Royale, shaken not stirred right? On our TV screens and in published media, casino nights have always been associated with glitz and glam.

The classic casino attire that graces our screen often sees a man dressed in a classic black tux complete with a bow tie. Of course, when you're playing poker, casual clothes just don't cut it. Though many films show the casino as a male-dominated scene, there are of course women that appear to frequent casinos too often with sparkly cocktail dresses. How much of what we see in pop culture related to casinos is actually a true representation of casino fashion through time? Let's find out. 

American Saloons 

While the earliest records of gambling date back to even before the Ancient Egyptians, we're going to take a look at more modern history. Casinos began to pop up in America in the early 1900s and were largely illegal at the time. A popular past time among the working class, these casinos were often known as 'saloons' which are the epitome of the wooden saloons like the once pictured below found in the Wild West https://dailymail.co.uk as we know it. 

With their shady reputation, these saloons were also a place for business exchanges. Though there was a stark contrast between the working class and upper class reflected in their clothing. As you can imagine, the working class folk often turned up at the saloon dressed in the clothes they'd worn for their graft. On the other hand, men wearing suits would visit but not to gamble, only to deal with business. 

Casinos Today 

Today, casinos have grown to be a place where sophisticated like-minds gather. Iconic individuals including the likes of one of the most popular actors James Dean https://biography.com/ and Frank Sinatra are renowned for being the faces of modern casino fashion. Black suits form part of their dashing dress sense and many casino-goers today attempt to mirror this dapperness.

The association of casinos and working class is no longer, with casinos opening their doors to anybody in this day and age. With a dress code in place, all you have to do is remember to dig out your best suit or bow tie to walk through the doors...