HSP 135-01
Albion College
Fall 02025
Discussion
questions for RTB, Ch. 2-3
DL: Enky
1. How did the rules and
betting structures of European casino games such as
basset, French roulette, trente-et-quarante, and baccarat contribute
to the house's profitability and define the player experience
during this period?
2. What were the
primary motivations for the transition of
European gambling from informal settings to
state-sanctioned venues like Venice's Ridotto and later
resorts such as Spa and Monte Carlo, and how
did these early legal casinos transform the gambling
landscape and its clientele?
3. How did casino operators,
particularly the Blanc brothers, manage the inherent "house advantage" in
European mercantile games and the various player "systems"
(e.g., Martingale, Paroli, Gagnante Marche) designed to
overcome it, as well as instances of cheating in their pursuit of profit?
4. How did the moral criticisms and social
consequences of widespread gambling in 17th-19th century
Europe, including noble bankruptcies (Venice) and personal
struggles (Dostoyevsky) influence governmental prohibitions or regulations,
and how were they balanced against the economic or
entertainment aspects of gambling?