WinStar World Casino is not only the largest casino in the US but also the biggest casino in the world – in the unlikely destination Oklahoma! With at least 600,000 square feet of gaming space. The Largest Gambling Industry in the World. The World Census tailed known underworld figures in order to determine which nations have the largest gambling industries. Greece and Spain are ninth and tenth in the biggest gambling countries in the world. This fact is true despite both countries being in economic crisis. Casinos are legal in Greece with the city of Acharnes featuring the largest casino. It has 52 table games, 708 pokies and video poker machines. Greeks lose $420 each per year.

Humanity learned to play before it learned to write. The precise origin of gambling is unknown. From Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greeks and Romans to Elizabethan England, much of history is filled with stories of games depended heavily on luck.

Saloons were the first gambling establishments in American history. The first casino as we know it opened in 1638 in Venice, Italy.

Casino word is of Italian origin, in modern-day Italian, however, a casino means a brothel. It is known as kazino in Albanian, Croatian, Bosnian, Uzbek, Latvian and Lithuanian languages and kaszinó in Hungarian. In almost every culture, there are references to the early form of gambling.

Gambling is a big business internationally, almost every country in the world has casinos. With the exception of China, North Korea, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Ecuador, Iceland, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan, most of the countries without casinos are predominantly Muslim.

Gambling in EMEA and APAC

China is a major feeder market for other Asian gambling jurisdictions, like Macau, Philippines and Singapore.

Gambling history in the Philippines goes back at least 500 years and has become a key component of Philippine’s appeal as a tourist destination.

Casino in Macau has been legalized in the 1850s. With 41 casinos open, gambling tourism is Macau’s biggest source of revenue, making up about 50% of the economy.

Gambling in Singapore, however, was not legal until 2006. This is an industry still in its early stages when compared with Las Vegas or Macau. However, after the legalization of gambling, it turned into a potential contender with Marina Bay Sands opening. Singapore has also a growing number of floating casinos, which sail in international waters to avoid regulations that might arise on dry land.

Europe is home to the most glamorous casinos in the world.

France is home to some of the oldest casinos in the world. French casinos are famous for their ambiance and traditional touch. Paris has some of the most magnificent and lavish gambling casino resorts.

Horse racing has some serious history and can be traced as far back as 200 AD. Now, thousands of years later, horse racing stands as one of the most popular betting sport in the UK. Casinos, however, were going through difficult times.

In addition to French casinos, there hundreds of casinos in Germany, Spain, and Italy, and then there’s Monaco with four iconic casinos in Monte Carlo.

The gambling industry in Croatia is making great strides. With 135 casinos, Croatia ranks seventh worldwide by a number of casinos.

Russia is developing several gambling zones; there are casino resorts in Sochi and near Vladivostok, with several more to come.

Gambling in Romania launched in the early 1900s. Casinos, or cazinou in Romanian, are not quite as numerous but there are still plenty that offers the usual popular games.

The Republic of Georgia managed to become a gambling hub in just two decades. Batumi, once a corrupt and crime-ridden city, is now being touted as the Las Vegas of the Black Sea.

There’s not much activity in the Middle East or Africa, but some may be surprised to know there are about a dozen casinos in Egypt and Morocco. Several African non-Muslim dominated countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, and Namibia offer casino gaming as well.

South Africa has the most and largest casinos on the African continent. There are 42 casino licenses there.

Casino in the Americas

There are more than 1,000 casinos in the United States of America and more than 10% of them are in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is popular all over the world for its extravagant lifestyle and legalized gambling culture with almost 100 years of history. It is often referred to as the gambling capital of the world.

Canadians and Mexicans love to gamble just like their neighbors. Betting is permitted everywhere across Canada. Casinos in Mexico were once again made legal in 2008 after 70 years break. There are a total of 365 gambling facilities in Mexico spread across the country’s 28 states.

Legalization of gambling

Up to three resorts will be allowed to open across Japan under the law enacted last year to introduce casinos.

Brazil is on the verge of passing casino legislation in Amazonas, the largest in terms of the land area of Brazil’s 26 states. If it does, big international players will throw their hats into the ring for casino resort licenses there.

Ukraine may soon legalize a wide range of gambling activities including online as Ukraine’s parliament has passed its hotly anticipated gambling bill.

Sitting down to gamble is a fun, sometimes even thrilling, hobby. So when you can do it from the comfort of your home, many online gambling enthusiasts agree that it makes the pastime twice as enjoyable.

The first online casino available for use in the U.S. was introduced in 1995. Since then, online gambling has exploded, not only in the U.S., but on a global scale. Although due to the United States’ regulations regarding online gambling, it is an immensely popular industry and is expected to grow to a whopping $2.5 billion by the year 2015.

So, which regions are contributing the most to that pot? Here are the top ten gambling nations in the world as of January 2014.

#10: Spain

Biggest Gambling Nations In The World Countries

The people in Spain certainly love to gamble. In fact, Spain has the largest Christmas lottery in the world; called “El Gordo,” this lottery gives away more than $1 billion in money and prizes every Christmas.

The average gambler in Spain loses around $418.00 per year.

#9: Greece

Economically speaking, Greece isn’t doing so well; however, Greek gamblers were unfazed, losing $2.3 billion to online gambling a year ago.

Greeks lose an annual amount of $420.00 per person.

#8: Norway

The majority of online gambling is illegal in Norway. The government is very strict, and there are only two companies that can allow Norwegians to bet online. A law was passed in 2010 forbidding customers to use their bank cards at any online casino in the world, which the banks enforce.

That did not stop the online gamblers; 88% of them confessed that they were lifetime gamblers and the average Norwegian online gambler spent $448.00 last year.

Biggest Gambling Nations In The World Since

#7: Hong Kong

You can only gamble online through the Jockey Club and even then you can only bet on one lottery, football games, and horse racing. The government takes taxes from all winners.

A gambler in Hong Kong loses about $503.00 per year.

#6: Italy

Ten years ago, regulations on gambling online were cut, and Italy is now the largest online gambling market in the world. Legalized online gambling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The average online gambling Italian loses around $502.00 annually.

#5: Finland

The government is all over Finland when it comes to online gambling, but not for the worst. Online gambling is a national monopoly divided into three organizations, and all monies go to horse breeding and sports. Instead of trying to regulate online gambling more, the government is looking at ways that would strengthen the monopoly.

An online gambler in Finland loses approximately $553.00 annually.

#4: Canada

Seventy-five percent of adult Canadians got into online gambling last year. The government views online gambling monies as good revenue for the country but does require good record keeping.

Online gamblers lose around $568.00 annually.

#3: Ireland

Ireland only made this list because they do have a solid online gambling presence and their losses are the third highest in this list. Land-based gambling is preferred in Ireland.

Average Irishman online gambler loss: $588.00 per year.

#2: Singapore

Number two on the list is Singapore, as its government recently decided to limit internet gambling due to an extravagant of monies lost. This caused Singapore Pools (a lottery operator) is looking to open the first Singapore gambling website, which will be fully licensed.

How much do Singaporeans online gamblers spend per year? Only $1,174.00 on average.

#1: Australia

The number one spot on the list goes to the land down under. Eighty percent of the population participates in some form of gambling. Gambling winnings are untaxed, which provides a pretty big incentive (you think?).

The average gambler in Australia loses a whopping $1,288.00 per year.

The economy may be hurting globally, but that doesn’t seem to stop people from dropping money at online casinos. Online gamblers may incur heavy losses, but as long as nobody stops them, all is right in the world

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