History of Gambling In Video Games – When And How Did It Begin?

The history of gambling in video games spans decades, from early consoles to modern online economies. Discover how digital chance shaped one of the industry’s biggest trends.

The history of gambling in video games is more than just flashing lights and spinning wheels. It’s a story of evolution, from simulated blackjack tables on the Atari to high-stakes skin trades in Counter-Strike. As games grew, so did the ways they mirrored real-life gambling. Today, it’s not just about the thrill of winning, it’s about how chance, risk, and reward have become a part of how we play.

We go back into the history of video games and monitor screens! This was the true start of a deeper gambling culture within games. It blurred the lines between entertainment and high-stakes trading. By the time loot boxes and digital casinos became widespread, the culture had already taken root. Register at any of the online poker sites in the US to play similar games today!

EverQuest – History of Gambling In Video Games

One of the earliest versions of internet gambling comes from video games. Because one day, people started selling their rare in-game items. Items, for which they likely completed a simple RNG grind or an almost fully RNG duel. However, this was not the first way people managed to gamble with the game. According to Reddit, people even sold their whole accounts! Because of EverQuest’s online community, players started selling their rare items. Eventually, entire accounts were up for grabs on third-party sites. This wasn’t just casual trading anymore. It was real-world gambling.

You could spend time grinding, get lucky, and walk away with hundreds of dollars or nothing. And that uncertainty was addictive. What makes EverQuest crucial in this history is not just the emergence of this practice, but its normalization. Players didn’t just participate. They built strategies around it. Guilds formed just to farm rare loot, knowing that one item could sell for real money. And so, the economy of EverQuest began to resemble the stock market more than a fantasy game. Register at Everygame Poker and find similar games today!

Atari 2600

The history of gambling in video games even started much before EverQuest connected our world with the realm of digital valuables. According to Retromash, the Atari 2600 was the first-ever console that could host blackjack games. Therefore, the most important date is 1977. Blackjack on Atari didn’t involve real money, of course. But it offered something else—repetition and the thrill of winning. This feeling of beating the system or outsmarting the game became a recurring theme. And so, even without real stakes, the emotional hooks of gambling were there from the beginning.

Developers saw the success and followed suit. They began to include more card-based and chance-driven games. These weren’t always labeled as gambling, but the inspiration was clear. Therefore, from the start, gambling and gaming walked side by side. Also, the simplicity of these games made them accessible to everyone. You don’t need to understand complex rules. You just needed to hit a button and hope. That mechanic, instant results and low effort, is what made Atari’s take on gambling so influential. It wasn’t just about the cards. It was about how easy it was to feel involved in the thrill.

Vegas Stakes – History of Gambling In Video Games

As technology advanced, so did the simulation of gambling. In 1993, Vegas Stakes arrived and made a clear statement. According to Arcade Attack, the very first go-to for simulated casino games was Vegas Stakes, released briefly before the appearance of digital slot machines. What made it truly significant was how it simulated human elements. Random characters would talk to you. Events would occur between games. You weren’t just spinning reels—you were living a gambling lifestyle. Thus, Vegas Stakes offered more than simple mechanics. It offered immersion.

Players who loved casino games could now enjoy them without leaving home. No tokens, no crowds, no pressure. Just pure, calculated gambling, wrapped in a cozy pixelated world. And because the game kept track of your money and progress, losses felt real, even if they weren’t. This psychological design made the game popular. It kept people hooked. Win or lose, something always happens. Therefore, players kept coming back. Not for flashy visuals, but for the rhythm of risk and reward.

Super Mario

Another defining moment in the history of gambling in video games. Even iconic franchises like Super Mario embraced gambling mechanics. And when Super Mario does something, it usually sets a trend. In some entries, such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64 DS, players could find mini-games that resembled poker or slots. Among the videogames featuring poker, we believe Super Mario became the first one to implement it into a fully published game. What makes Mario’s version of gambling so interesting is how seamlessly it fits. It’s fast, colorful, and easy to play. No setup, no explanation. Just press a button, and get a result. That’s why it worked so well. It tapped into the dopamine loop without needing to justify itself.

These mechanics weren’t central to the gameplay, but they weren’t hidden either. They became small moments of tension and joy. And because of Mario’s influence, other games followed suit. Therefore, gambling-style mini-games started to appear everywhere, from Zelda to Pokémon.

Counter-Strike Valuables – History of Gambling In Video Games

Counter-Strike brought gambling into a new era. Here, the stakes became more tangible. Because players could earn, trade, and sell weapon skins, a full market emerged. These weren’t just cosmetics. They became currency. Thus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive played a huge role in the history of gambling in video games. It wasn’t just about gameplay anymore. It was about collecting something rare, something flashy, and often something valuable. This has created an epidemic of lootboxes too. Soon, third-party sites allowed players to bet their skins. Win big, and your inventory will explode in value. Lose, and it could all vanish.

This created a parallel economy outside the game itself. And Valve, the game’s developer, eventually had to step in due to legal pressures. But by then, the culture was already set. Because these skins had a real market value, the experience mimicked gambling perfectly. Open a case. Hope for a rare item. Celebrate or regret. Repeat. And with real money involved, the psychological hooks deepened.

Red Dead Redemption

Finally, we reached the modern era with the history of gambling in video games. Red Dead Redemption deserves special mention. While most games simulate casinos or slot machines, Red Dead brought gambling to life through its world-building. You could sit at a table, play poker, and even cheat, just like in old westerns. This game managed to remain one of the videogame gamblers love. It made gambling feel immersive and realistic. It wasn’t just about pressing a button. You had to read opponents, bluff, and sometimes draw a weapon. Thus, the stakes felt cinematic.

This approach gave players more than just a game, it gave them a gambling experience rooted in story. And because of that, it felt authentic. You weren’t just trying to win coins. You were playing a role, making choices, and living the consequences. Unlike the flashy digital casinos of other titles, Red Dead leaned into the atmosphere. The setting mattered. The sounds, the faces, the tension. Because all of it created a believable gambling environment. And for many players, that realism made it unforgettable. Register at Everygame Poker and play real games online!

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