Gambling is not really what I like though many people are even addicted to it. I never liked social games as a child and as an adult I have never been to a Casino. Well, once in Germany with my mother, she liked it a lot. But I guess more for the social status it had once (people with money go gambling). Today the status of a casino is much different and many people are going there with just a little money for living and the hope to get the great deal. Winning money without doing anything. That’s not me…
Gambling is an old leisure-time activity which has no real ‘history time’. I believe it has always been there since humans were living together and had spare time to relax. But the first official place where to go for gambling was in Venice, the ‘Ridotto’, in 1638. It was situated in the Venice’s Palazzo Dandolo and government-owned. Around 130 years later it was closed because of “preserving the piety” of the city. It was impoverishing local people (good reason, the same is happening today, but the ‘money lust’ is stronger today than ever).
In America saloons initially where the gambling places. Also here in the 20th century gambling was forbidden by law. The only state to allow gambling officially today is Nevada (Las Vegas) as far as I know.
Another place where gambling is allowed are the Indian Reservations as they have tribal sovereignty. And they use it as a good income for their communities.
I had the opportunity to visit one of those casinos when I was for a antique car show in Ramona in southern California.
On out way back to San Diego we passed through the Barona Indian Reservation and right on the main street there is the casino. Huge, enormous, inviting. We stopped and had a look.
It is owned by the Mission Indians. They once were different tribes living in this area and forced to live and work in the missions, why they got the name Mission Indians. The Kumeyaay Indians are the owners of the casino in the Barona Indian Reservation.
The casino itself offers 75 table games, roulette and 2.000 (!) slot machines. The legal age for gambling here is 18 years old but there are no alcoholic drinks sold! You need to go to the steakhouse or other restaurants. They offer also a resort with spa and golf.
We got to the casino in the late evening and had a walk through it. Amazing how many different people were sitting at the slot machines. There is even the possibility to have snacks sitting at the game table or machine. A great service, very friendly people (we had a great talk with one of the workers, being from the Sioux tribe but married to a Kumeyaay woman) and a very inviting ambiente. I liked the place though I was not spending even a cent. No interest at all. And luckily my companion has no interest in it as well.
We left, amazed by the place but with no interest to return. I think the resort would be much more inviting…
Barona Indian Reservation, California/USA:
For further information:
Barona Indian Reservation
