by Kate
2. December 2010 09:46
Gambling has been a favourite past time in Britain for the past thousand years. Dice, horses, cards, cats (!?) have been used for the purposes of gambling. From its ancient beginnings to the multi-million pound industry it is today, it is abundantly clear that the British love to gamble, even if it’s behind the backs of the authorities.
EPISODE 1 – PRE-1100: PRIMITIVE GAMBLING
Religious rituals using stones, sticks and bones, thrown on the ground, their landing positions used to predict the future eventually evolved into a form of gambling – with human sacrifice! Stakes were offered to favour more positive outcomes and rewards would include the best piece of meat after a hunt.
Gambling was banned in Ancient Rome, except for betting on chariot races and during the week-long festival of Saturnalia. So while the Romans weren’t integral in Britain’s love of gambling they can be credited with introducing dice into the Britain.
The Anglo-Saxons grew to love dicing and their favourite was a game called Knucklebones or Fivestones. The game consisted of the flicking of sheep or pig knuckles into the air followed by players attempting to catch them on the back of their hand. Bets were placed on the outcome and the player who caught the most would be the winner. This form of gambling was so popular back then that even a royal grave from this time had over 50 gaming bones as well a two deer antler dice.