Have you ever wondered where all this gambling stuff got started? Who used dice first? Craps... who thought that one up? Roll them bones?

Where did playing with cards come from?

My horse is faster than your horse! Who said that? Or was that a camel? Or dog?

Who were the original "Tough Guys" to bet on? (Clue: Rome)

Sports? Teams, individuals, big balls, oval balls, little balls, bats, nets, baskets, clubs, pucks, wickets, surfboards, skis, even chain saws. We bet on them all and more!

Racing? Planes, trains, automobiles, (wasn't that a movie?) motorcycles, snowmobiles... we bet on 'em!

Bet money using a computer? But there's no coin slot on mine! Is this stuff really legal? Big business? Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, just how big is this?

Who gambles? Or should that be who doesn't? Let's find out!

This series will be an ongoing look at this phenomenon we call Gambling. First, let me say this is not going to be some heavy study session, rather a lighthearted look, and informative answers to some very common questions. I don't profess to be a history professor or an authority on this topic; I'll leave that to those who make their living at it.

(They have contributed greatly!) I'm just plain curious, as I hope you are.

In doing my research to satisfy my curiosity I thought there might be others wondering about some of these hard to find answers and at the same time enjoy a chuckle at this form of entertainment. Or, should that be business? Or problem?

I'll try to cover many areas from Gambling as a whole and how far back it goes, to some specific categories such as the oldest forms of betting, cards, dice, horses, then games individually. I will title the "Chapters" so you can find an area that interests you if you don't wish to read it all.

I'll add a Chapter every couple of weeks, so if there is an area you would like me to cover, e-mail me and I'll try to fit it into a Chapter, or at the very least answer your question. Your ideas are welcome! Let's have some fun and maybe learn something at the same time.