History Archives - Great Bridge Links

A Colourful History of Slot Machines

Posted on March 1, 2023August 11, 2023 by Great Bridge Links

Coin operated poker machines appeared towards the end of the 1800s and soon after, in San Francisco during the Gold Rush days, a mechanic from Bavaria named Charles Fey invented the first official 'slot machine'.

A Collection of Irish Gambling Stories

Posted on April 26, 2019November 10, 2023 by Great Bridge Links

Here’s a look at the characteristic gambling luck of the Irish, some popular gambling folklore from that side of the pond and just where it all comes from – and, of course, whether any of it is useful to you when you gamble.

Suit Up! How We Got To Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds and Spades

Posted on July 11, 2017July 21, 2017 by Great Bridge Links

It wasn’t until about the 15th century that our four modern suits evolved, probably in France. But how on earth did we end up with these four rather disparate icons? And why red and black? Let’s delve into the dirty details.

Casino card games – a history of change

Posted on May 1, 2016July 7, 2021 by Great Bridge Links

The history of card games and their evolution within the casino is an interesting one. Man’s love for gambling can be traced as far back as 600 BCE but when the first legal casinos came onto the scene in the early 1930s gambling was able to move from back streets and shady saloons into legitimate venues. Over the years casino gambling has grown to indclude a large variety of games, in particular card games. From the back streets to the growth in popularity of new casino games online,