We all know that gambling has been present in one form or another throughout history, no matter where human civilization was at a given time. It should come as no surprise then, that as widespread as gambling is today, there are also many interesting traditions related to gambling that have survived until this very day. Here are five of them.
1. Mock Weddings and Bill Stuffing in India
Jiyaua's Betting Slip
cash casino appSince we are focusing on traditional forms of gambling here, let's take a look at one of the oldest known ones, popular among commoners and royalty alike in India: cockfighting. This blood sport has been mentioned in several ancient Indian texts, with the most famous one being the Mahabharata.
The rules of cockfighting are simple: two roosters are placed in a ring, and they will fight each other until one of them dies or is unable to continue. Before the fight begins, the participants bet on which rooster will emerge victorious.
While cockfighting is illegal in the majority of Indian states, it is still widely practised in rural areas; furthermore, the betting amounts can be staggeringly high. According to reports, for a single cockfight, worth $125,000 was wagered! Needless to say, such sums of money require more serious betting slip designs than what you can see at .
In some regions of India, an incredibly unusual tradition is connected to cockfighting --- mock weddings. Prior to the fight, the two cocks are dressed up and adorned as if they were bridegrooms and bridesmaids, respectively. Those who have placed their money on a particular rooster often consider it as if it were their son; this is why, in case their cock emerges victorious, the winners start celebrating just like it were a wedding!
Another fascinating tradition related to gambling can be observed during the festival of Holi. During this festival, people throw colored powder at one another, dance and sing, while also engaging in a game called Dhuleti. In certain parts of India, especially in Bissam Cats, Jharkhand, Dhuleti evolved into a game similar to muskurakani (a traditional Indian gamble where apples are suspended from a tree branch by a string), except instead of apples, married women throw new notes and gold and silver coins stuffed inside rotis (flat Indian bread) at the players. The goal is to catch these "prizes"; needless to say, this game is very popular amongst the children!
bet365 casino reviewsOne notable Indian gambler is Jiyaou Wang, better known as Jui-Tsen Yap, a legendary poker player from Shanghai who emigrated to India and later to England before finally settling in Australia. To this day, he remains one of the most successful poker players in Indian history, having won over $40,000 so far.
2. Smashing Plates in Greece
Plate-breaking is a common tradition in Greece, with one of its most prominent appearances being at weddings: when the happy couple makes its grand entrance, the guests often show their enthusiasm by breaking plates. However, plate-breaking is also closely linked to gambling – a game called smashall or platiahmai in Greek.
The objective of the game is straightforward enough: the players stand in a circle around a pile of plates, and the first player throws a ball towards any plate he wants. If he breaks the plate, he gets to keep it; additionally, he gets to throw the ball to the next player, thus bestowing upon them the honor of trying to break a plate. On the other hand, if the player misses, the person whose plate was nearest to the ball gets to throw the ball next.
However, the game becomes more challenging as the number of unbroken plates diminishes, as the players are no longer allowed to use words like "stop" or "slow down" to try and prevent their neighbors from breaking the remaining plates. Due to this rule, quite a few broken fingers and hands have been reported over the years...
online casino welcome bonusesAnother Greek gambling tradition involves a pitcher (kanouni in Greek). Its basic principle is pretty much identical to the modern-day lottery: prior to a major religious holiday, tickets are sold, and those who purchased them mix them up in a bag or a box. Thereafter, a child blindly picks out a ticket, and its owner receives whatever the shopkeeper had put alongside it in the container. Depending on the shopkeeper's generosity, the prize could range from fruit to large quantities of candy.
As far as renowned Greek poker players go, you might have heard of Nikitas 'plasman' Chaikounelos, Dimotrimlas 'Dimas' Lekkas, or Ioannis Voudouris – all three are accomplished online and live poker champions. Fascinatingly, the youngest poker professional ever, Christias 'Papita' Georgantas, hails from Greece too. At the age of 6, he started playing online poker with his father, and at the age of eight, he became the world's youngest TCOOP champion after winning a $1210 event, pocketing $17,183.24!
offshore poker sites3. Kabaddi and Other Traditional Gambling Games in Africa and Asia
Kabaddi is an ancient contact team sport, popular in South, Central, and Southeast Asia as well as in East Africa. It resembles a modern-day raid round in capture the flag: seven defenders are attempting to prevent one raider from entering their half of the court, touching as many of them as possible, and returning to his side without getting tackled. The raider must chant "kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi..." whilst touching the opponents; should he get caught before reaching this opponent, he risks getting injured – or worse. Should he succeed, meanwhile, his team scores a point, and he can attempt to repeat the raid shortly afterwards.
It is estimated that kabaddi has been played in India for over 4,000 years; furthermore, it is considered to be one of the national sports there. As is the case with numerous ancient games, there exists a multitude of variations of kabaddi, one of them involving gambling. Raaka Kabaddi is usually played outdoors, in the evenings, by adults; in fact, it is believed that raaka kabaddi originated as a means for farmers to relax and unwind following a hard day's work.
The rules are more or less identical to regular kabaddi, with the exception that the game is played without any boundaries, i.e., in an entire village or district. Needless to say, such a setup offers plenty of opportunities for gamblers to place their bets. The stakes can be extremely high, sometimes even resulting in families becoming impoverished or going into debt.
Africa and Asia share not only a long history of trade but also various traditional gambling games. For instance, the board games senet, hazard, and dice backgammon were popular in both Egypt and medieval Europe. Similarly, the card game rummy has multiple variants across the subcontinent.
One country where gambling is deeply ingrained in the local culture is Indonesia. Even though gambling is technically illegal there, the nation boasts several illustrious poker professionals such as , Johnny Chan, and Reinald Hofmann.
4. Burning Money as an Offering to Gongsun Zan in China
Every year, on March 15th, the locals in the county seat of Ningxi, China, set fire to large piles of paper money, gold ingots, houses, cars, watches, smartphones, and everything else you can imagine. Why? Because it's the birthday of Gongsun Zan, a real historical figure from the Ming dynasty – albeit an infamous one. He amassed enormous wealth during his lifetime yet spent his declining years in poverty, having fallen out of favor at the imperial court. Therefore, the villagers burn fake money as an offering to ensure their own prosperity.
Needless to say, this tradition has a few obvious similarities with our modern-day concept of burning money – on fire and in vain. After all, paper money is made of cotton fibres and wood pulp, coated with Whiting (calcium carbonate), Boiled Linseed Oil, and other substances. In other words, it's flammable. A lot of it gets burnt every year in China, especially during the Chinese New Year – and insurance companies take note since cotton and Whiting do not grow on trees!
Simple Tips on How To Become a Casino DealerSimilarly, gamblers all over the world sometimes feel as if they're setting money on fire and watching it disappear in vain, especially during hot streaks of the house. However, unlike the villagers from Ningxi, civilians cannot afford to light bonfires in the middle of urban areas, nor can they fill them with bundles of cash and credit cards. Thus, hoping not to sound too cliche, the only thing left for us to do is to approach gambling responsibly – with a cool head, a logical mindset, and firm self-control.
Feng Biao, also known as Bird Fellow, is a world-renowned poker player from Guangzhou, China. Up until 2008, he worked as an English teacher; thereafter, he dedicated himself entirely to poker, quickly climbing the rankings and garnering respect from his peers. So far, he has won over $900,000!
5. Running of the Bulls in Spain and Nudo Penitencial in Peru
Encierro, or the Running of the Bulls, is perhaps one of the most dangerous and risky traditional games associated with gambling. Held annually during the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain, this event starts at 8:00 AM and continues for approximately three hours till the bulls are cornered in the city's main plaza. The encierro itself lasts mere minutes due to the speed of the bulls; nevertheless, over the years, dozens of participants lost their lives here, with hundreds sustaining injuries.
Interestingly enough, those who manage to touch or grip one of the horns of a bull during encierro receive an automatic pass for the following year's festival, sparing them the trouble and danger of running with the bulls again. Needless tosay, such a chance occurs rarely, and countless books have been written about the sensations and feelings experienced by those fortunate (or skilled/lucky) enough to grasp the curved, lethal horns of an enraged bull.
Best Video Poker Apps (iOS & Android) in the US for 2023Unlike the Running of the Bulls, the Peruvian tradition called Nudo Penitencial does not involve live animals. Instead, the penitents tie themselves with rope strings, attempting to reach a Church altar located a considerable distance away. This ritual is performed on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and dates back to the 17th century.
During the procession, the faithful stop at several roadside stations where the members of Catholic brotherhoods cut the penitents' chains, leaving them dangling from their shoulders, necks, and waists. Following centuries-old traditions, some believers also whip their backs with braided flags of lashes (quipus) as a sign of repentance and penance.
Must-Play Casino Games in Canada - Top Games & Where to Play ThemAlthough these customs may appear bizarre or even barbaric to outsiders, they hold deep spiritual meaning to the local population. Contrary to popular belief, fewer than 2% of all penitents sustain injuries severe enough to require medical attention.
Peru is not particularly renowned for its poker players, although Antonio Livingston Eguiluz – nicknamed Chato76 – is a notable exception. This young poker shark was born in Lima and won his first bracelet at the age of 15, thereafter participating in numerous tournaments and competitions both online and offline. So far, he pocketed over $150,000!
Final Thoughts
Gambling has been an essential part of human society for millennia, and innumerable traditions related to this activity have sprung forth worldwide. Some of them involve live animals, fire, physical contact with others, or even self-harm; therefore, we wholeheartedly advise against attempting to recreate them at home, especially the bill stuffing casino and smoking money. Instead, satisfy your curiosity by reading about them online or visiting museums. And, of course, the next time you decide to engage in any type of gambling, be it sports betting, casino entertainment, or poker, remember always to stay responsible, focused, and cautious. Good luck!