Card Games Played in Casinos

Legend and myth prevail where science does not exist, and sadly time travel doesn’t exist. One such controversial matter is about the origins of card games played in casinos.

Four theories are under speculation:

• Cards were invented in China, and gradually found their way to Europe.
• Bands of rowing Gypsies introduced them to Europe.
• Crusaders returning from the Holy Land brought them back to Europe with them.
• Cards crossed the Mediterranean from Egypt.

China and the Far East:

Legend and history don’t agree that cards originate from China. First, because, China remained isolated from Europe in the Middle Ages. Secondly, Chinese money cards don’t resemble casino cards. The second theory is that cards originated in India. Earliest cards found in India surfaced in the 1600s, however, Europe had playing cards in the 14th century.

Gypsies: The Gypsies arrived in Europe in the 15th century, and by them cards had become an integral part of the European culture.

The Crusaders:  the last crusade war was fought in 1291, and cards came to Europe almost a century later.

The Mamelukes: This legend states that cards arrived in Europe from the neighboring Islamic empire. Interestingly enough, this has been proved, to an extent, with the discovery of the jewel in the crown in the Topkapi Sarayi Museum, Istanbul, in 1939.

Very little is known about the history of card making in England. However, through the pictorial history of French, English and American patterns it is clear to see the origins of the English Pattern and its patrimony in the French Rouen design.