Gambling and betting in Ancient Roman

History of Gambling and Betting 

Gambling and betting have been there since the beginning of human history.  There were very bettors and gamblers in ancient times. Gambling and betting have been popular activities throughout human history, with distinct features in different eras such as Medieval times and Ancient Roman times. Even though there were no online casinos at that time for sure there were some sports leagues and sports bettors beside gamblers. Large group of people used to go events and place bets. There were even betting markets, possibly looking very different from now. Let's look look at how game bets differed and type of gambling between these two periods:  

Gambling in Ancient Roman Times

Legality and Scope of sports event: Gambling was a common pastime in Ancient Rome, except it was considered illegal gambling if you bet during the Saturnalia festival. It was officially banned. Despite the laws, gambling was widely practiced among all social classes as there were may sports fans.   There were also betting games involving animals, such as cockfighting and chariot races. These events attracted large crowds and substantial amounts of money could be won or lost.
One of the most famous forms of gambling in ancient Rome was chariot racing. The Circus Maximus, a massive arena in Rome, hosted chariot races that drew huge crowds and led to intense betting among spectators. Betting on chariot races was a way for Romans to show their support for a particular faction or charioteer, much like modern sports betting.
While gambling was a popular pastime in ancient Rome, it was not without controversy. Many Roman lawmakers and moralists viewed gambling as a vice and tried to regulate or prohibit it. Despite these efforts, gambling remained prevalent in Roman society, continuing to be a popular form of entertainment for many. 

Popular Gambling Activities in History

Romans engaged in betting on various games of chance including dice games (like "alea"), which were extremely popular. These dice were similar to modern dice but often rigged to favor certain outcomes.  There were also various other gambling games that Romans enjoyed, such as knucklebones (a game played with small animal bones), board games like ludus duodecim scriptorum (similar to backgammon), and chariot racing.
Gambling was a common pastime among all social classes in Roman society, from the wealthy elite to the lower classes. The Roman government attempted to regulate gambling at various times throughout history, but it was never fully successful in controlling the practice.
Despite the risks of losing money, property, or even freedom, Romans continued to gamble on games of chance, often taking their gambling habits to excess. This led to a negative perception of gambling by some Roman writers and philosophers, who saw it as a destructive and morally questionable activity.
Overall, gambling was a popular and prevalent form of entertainment in ancient Rome, with people from all walks of life partaking in games of chance for the thrill of winning and the excitement of risk-taking. 

Chariot Racing and Gladiator Games

These games were not only in movies. In ancient times actually one of the major sports activity was fighting and racing. Sports betting was also very popular, especially on chariot races held in the Circus Maximus and gladiatorial contests in the Colosseum. Spectators often placed large bets on their favourite teams or gladiators who were going to defeat his rivals win the game.

Social Context: Gambling could be seen at all levels of society, from emperors to commoners. It was a major social activity, and winning or losing could have significant social consequences. 

Gambling in Medieval Times

Legality and Scope: In the Medieval period, attitudes towards gambling were mixed and varied by region. The Church often denounced gambling as sinful, yet it remained popular among all classes.
Popular Games: Medieval gambling was centred around games such as dice (like "hazard"), and card games, which started to appear in the late Middle Ages. Board games such as chess and backgammon were not typically subjects for betting but were played for leisure.

Tournaments and Animal Races

Betting on jousting tournaments became a popular form of gambling among the nobility. Common folks might bet on animal races, such as horse races, which were common at fairs and other gatherings.

Social Context: Gambling could lead to social ruin or the rise in status, depending on one’s luck and the stakes involved. Laws and attitudes towards gambling could be inconsistent, with some regions having strict penalties for gamblers and others having a more lenient approach.

Differences and Similarities of Betting in different eras

Regulation: Both eras saw fluctuations in how gambling was regulated and perceived, often depending on the current religious and social climate.
Types of Games: The types of games popular in each era differed, reflecting the technological and cultural developments of the times.
Societal Impact: In both periods, gambling had a significant social impact, often seen as a vice that could lead to ruin but also as a widespread form of entertainment. 
Gambling in both Ancient Rome and Medieval times shows how deeply ingrained this activity has been in human culture, adapting to different societal norms and conditions. 

We can say that seeds of modern gambling industry were planted thousands of years ago. This fun experiment has been carried in our DNA's.If you are interested in different perspective of gambling we would suggest you to check our other related content.