All over the world, ancient civilizations engaged in some form of gambling. Ancient Roman, Greek, Chinese, and Egyptian civilizations all have references to it in surviving manuscripts or physical evidence of games that have been uncovered. Latin America’s ancient civilizations have also been found to participate in games of chance. For many, it was an integral part of society that was played by all, regardless of social status.
As the civilizations in Latin America evolved and were influenced by external forces, like Spanish invaders, the gambling landscape changed dramatically. By the mid-to-late 2010s, the landscape changed again with laws and regulations adapted to the growth of online gambling. Join us as we explore the evolution of gambling in Latin America, from its earliest games to the ones played today.
Ancient Games of Chance
The ancient Aztec, Toltec, and Mayan civilizations had two games of chance that were significant to their societies and cultures. The first was a board game called Patolli or Patole, and the second was a ball game called Pok-a-Tok. Both games had religious and societal significance. During and after games, offerings or sacrifices were made to gods. Decisions relating to war or ongoing conflicts would be made through the game’s results. The games were also played during significant events, like harvest season, and were a source of entertainment that even the leaders of these civilizations would be engaged in.
Patolli used a board with a cross-shaped design and black beans, which were used similarly to how dice are used today. The game combined chance and strategy, though the rules and gameplay are only speculated about as the formal rules have been lost to time. However, evidence suggests that players would meet before the game to determine what they would wager. The wagered items usually ranged from practical items like food or blankets to valuable items like gold.
Pok-a-Tok is believed to have been a combination of soccer and basketball, with two opposing sides aiming to hit a ball through a stone hoop without using their hands. The game was a source of entertainment that spectators wagered on, and it is believed that on some occasions they were used to recreate Maya myths and legends for spectators. However, like Patolli, the rules and nature of the game are made through speculations based on evidence like the remnants of game pitches.
The two games were believed to have existed for centuries but disappeared from Latin American societies when the conquistadors arrived and exerted their influence.
The Spanish Influence on Gambling
The Spanish arrived in Latin America in the 16th century and significantly impacted the civilizations there. They banned games like Patolli, reportedly destroying game boards and punishing people found playing the game.
Though these games died out, new forms of gambling became popular through Spanish influence, including early versions of La Lotería, a game that bears many similarities to Bingo. The game, still played today, involves a board with images and an announcer who calls out the drawn cards. Since the drawn cards are images, how announcers would call them changed throughout the game’s evolution, ranging from simple image descriptions to improvised poems. Today, the cards have text written on them, making them valuable for learning different skills, such as reading and writing.
Shifting Perspectives on Gambling
Although Latin America is made up of many different countries and perspectives, generally speaking, gambling began to be seen as an immoral activity, much like other regions of the world, including Europe and the United States. Laws began to reflect this perception, placing more restrictions on the types of gambling allowed.
Of the gambling allowed, horse racing became one of the most notable forms and has had a lasting impact on the sport regionally and globally. Within Latin America, many prestigious racing events and famed racetracks, like the Hipódromo da Gávea in Brazil, draw many spectators and bettors for a day at the races. Many of the top jockeys in US races are from Latin America, which is linked to the sport’s long history there and the opening of jockey schools in Panama and Mexico during the 1950s and 1960s. Even the top-performing racehorses are connected to the breeding of Latin American horses.
The Rise of Online Gambling
While Latin America continues to be a strong player in horse racing, it has also seen explosive growth in online gambling alongside other places in the world. The growth can be linked to many countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Columbia, embracing and updating their regulations to support the industry. These updates authorize gaming providers to operate and advertise within certain regions through means such as websites ranking best-paying online casinos. In the countries that have legalized online gambling, regulations vary significantly but have generally allowed the gaming industry to thrive. Sports betting and online casinos, in particular, perform well.
Mexico, while having put work into updating gambling regulations, remains a legal grey area for online gambling, but its population contributes significantly to the gross gambling revenue of Latin America, which is expected to surpass US $3 billion in 2025.
Gambling Is a Long-Standing Part of Latin American Culture
From the early games with religious and social ties to the present growing passion for sports betting that adds to the thrill of watching soccer matches, gambling has changed significantly throughout Latin America’s history. To this day, gambling remains tied to areas many Latin Americans take pride in, like the performance of Latin American jockeys and racehorses on the global stage, making it hard to separate from the culture.
