If you were respectable and had the money, and the government turned a blind eye to you because of it, you were able to gamble.Ĭurrently, New York State law stipulates that only those 21 and older are able to gamble with the exception of 18-year-olds and up being able to buy lottery tickets. Despite this familiar trend of less prohibition and more regulation, gambling laws have regressed in terms of being available to minors. Eventually, state lotteries for public works sprouted up and unofficial gambling became regulated taxable gambling once the state realized how much profit they were missing out on. From the 1300s to the 1700s, two Charles, a Henri, and another Louis all reaffirmed the “official” state ban. In the 1200s, King Louis IX of France prohibited gambling when he ruled for religious reasons. In fact, for quite a while, any form of gambling was strictly prohibited. Throughout history, gambling laws have progressed in terms of regulations and oversight by the government. Empires, countries, and religions have all tried to prohibit gambling, often to little effect. Humans have been gambling for five thousand years, starting out with “ stick and knucklebone ” games of chance and currently with video poker. Many card games are played as a form of gambling.
