Early casinos were originally known as saloons. The development of saloons was influenced by four cities; New Orleans, being the first step to Texas, the home of gamblers; St. Louis, the home of fur traders; Chicago, with its large brewing trade; and San Francisco, the entrance to the goldmines. It was in a saloon that you could find somebody to talk to, drink with, and often gamble with.

Initially saloons could be found anywhere, often dug into the side of a hill. They later developed and could be recognized immediately because they were the town's most imposing structure. Likewise, the saloon's bartender was easily distinguished because he would be the best-dressed man in the saloon. He could also be found armed with a pistol and most likely a knife because he was both judge and jury to any disputes that regularly broke out.

The main contender for the status of America's first casino was known as Brown's Saloon. It was established in 1822 and could be found bordering Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Typically, saloons followed miners; wherever miners settled, saloons were never far behind.

During the early 20th century gambling became outlawed and banned by state legislation and social reformers. However, in 1931 gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, and Las Vegas spawned America's first official casinos. Additionally, New Jersey's Atlantic City joined them in 1978 to become America's second largest gambling city.

Las Vegas was responsible for putting the glamor and entertainment into gambling, largely through celebrities like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra and his friends, including Sammy Davis Jnr., and Dean Martin, became known as the 'Rat Pack'. They achieved iconic status in the gambling circuit and everybody wanted to share in their oasis of sophisticated glamor. The original film 'Ocean's 11' was filmed in Las Vegas, and cemented the town's kudos forever.

During the 1970s the casinos in Las Vegas became notorious for their association with the Mafia. These events were authentically summarized in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film 'Casino', which really says the first and last word about the glitz and glamor of American casinos during that eventful decade.

Nowadays anyone can experience the sophistication and excitement of a casino in the online world of gambling. Online casino gambling is one of the 21st century's biggest phenomenons. These days, American casinos are just as likely to be hosted in the real world with a web server, and existing in a virtual format on the Internet.

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