Even the famous American game poker was developed from a 17th-century Persian game.īecause gambling is such an interesting concept, man has tried to explore the topic in various works of literature. For example, a six-sided die, a popular object used in many games involving gambling, has been discovered in Mesopotamia, which experts claim is around 3000 years old. After human civilizations sprung all around the world, pieces of evidence have been found which point towards the existence of gambling. Interestingly, gambling can be traced as far back as the Paleolithic period of history when man first started making stone tools. It can be playing different board and card games at a casino, betting on a sports team, betting on races, and the likes. The addiction is of the thrill of possibility. Soon, we realize that we have become addicted to the entire thing. What keeps us going is the belief that tomorrow will be different. And naturally, luck runs out pretty quickly in such situations, and at the end of the day, we end up losing more than what we win. When one wins once or twice at a simple game like blackjack, the tendency generally is to play more. Now the situation naturally begets a question - why is gambling so addictive in the first place? The answer is very simple: the possibility of winning an unfathomable amount of money. It is one of the most dangerous addictions and can destroy a man completely. Players are known to have even sold off their houses and other property to continue their gambling habits. The sole reason why there have been so many books written and films made on gambling is because it is highly addictive. This is because it entraps a player and makes him a slave of itself. Gambling is as harmful as any other addiction.