The Curse of the Pharaohs: Gambling in Ancient Egypt

It seems like every other slot machine has an ancient Egypt theme, with pyramids, mythological characters or symbols. Ancient Egypt is a hot genre in gambling. There is something mystical and enchanting about ancient Egypt that translates well into games of chance and risk. Themes such as the Curse of the Pharaoh, the wrath of the ancient Egyptian gods, or the grandeur of their dynasties are still compelling to this day.

And ancient Egypt was not lacking in its own gambling devices and traditions. Dice throwing, board games, racing games and wagers were as much a part of the culture back then as online gambling is today. The ancient Egyptians were just as creative in their betting habits as they were in their architecture, mythology and art. Some of the games played then even have ties to the games we play at modern casinos.

The Role of Gambling in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians were highly religious as a society, worshipping many gods who governed fate and fortune. Games that had chance or luck to them were not just seen as an entertaining pastime. They also had direct connections to the spiritual and ethereal, testing fate or challenging destiny. And so people saw misfortune as a sign that someone had offended fate or faced some kind of danger. They viewed fortune as a sign of favor, intertwining fate with spirituality. The psychology and motives behind gambling were quite different from those associated with it today.

Chance had a timeless allegory, as Egyptians believed that chance and fate continued to play a crucial role in the afterlife. Any misfortune could be taken as a moral consequence, often creating a fear of divine judgment. But don’t think of these games as a means of judgment or a spooky indictment on players. Mystery and fate were very much a part of daily life and the philosophy of the time. Gambling with chance was a common pastime and quite a social activity too.

Senet in Ancient Egypt

One of the most iconic games that hailed from ancient Egypt was Senet. The earliest representation of the game dates back to 2620 BC, in the Mastaba of Hesy-re tomb complex. Though there are hieroglyphics and similar boards that date even earlier, going back to the Early Bronze Age.

Senet was a board game that used a 30-square grid and a set of five to seven pawns each for two players. The pawns moved squares based on the throw of a dice, in the oldest cases, a knucklebone or four two-sided sticks. Some squares had special rules, with unlucky or lucky symbolic meanings. The goal was to trap of conquer certain squares, and players could also block or capture their opponent’s pieces.

A very similar type of game was also played in Mesopotamia. We don’t know the original name of the game, with archaeologists dubbing it the “Royal Game of Ur“. Senet was hugely popular in ancient Egypt, and played by famous monarchs such as Nefertari (one of the many wives of Ramesses II), and even Tutankhamun. It was enjoyed by players of all backgrounds, and people thought that Senet also played a part in the afterlife. But Senet was not the only game of chance that the ancient Egyptians dabbled in.

Other Gambling Games in Ancient Egypt

Mehen was also board game, with similarities to Senet. This game used a circular board, and referenced Mehen, a snake god in the ancient Egyptian religion. The game board represented the coiled snake, and the goal was to move the pieces along the track, from the head to the tail. There was also a symbolic allegory in this game, as the pieces and movements could represent the soul of a recently deceased person passing through the underworld.

The Egyptians were highly creative when it came to board games. Hounds and Jackals is another example of a board game, but the pawns were sticks with jackal or dog head carvings on the top. Another racing board game, some alternatives were found in the neighbouring civilizations of Mesopotamia, Babylon amd Persia.

Dice games were a pivotal part of Egyptian daily life and culture. They didn’t have the same 6-sixed dice as we have today, but instead used animal bones, such as knucklebones, or painted sticks. Games were most likely made on dice throws, with minimal rules, and thrown into marked areas. These would have most likely served as the games played among the working classes, or those who couldn’t source board games.

Modern Games with Roots in Ancient Egypt

Senet spread to Cyprus and other countries in the Levant, but pretty much died out when the Roman period came around. It is thought that Senet inspired many board games that come later, such as Tâb (in early Muslim society), Tabula (Greco-Roman), and even the modern day backgammon. The gambling ventures revolved around board games don’t have many contemporary counterparts, if there are any similarities to write about, they are at most symbolic in nature. However, the dice based element about ancient Egyptian games definitely has some modern counterparts.

Craps and Sic Bo are two examples of dice games enjoyed today. Sure, they may have no direct roots back to ancient Egypt, but that speaks more to the boundless and timeless appeal of dice throwing games. Ancient civilizations closely associated many of their games with the ethereal. And while we don’t make the same assumptions today, gamblers still form irrational superstitions and habits around the table.

Ancient Egyptian Legacy on Gambling

So going back to the original statement, about slots and ancient Egypt, there is no direct timeline connecting their games and our modern online slots. The connection is more based on the magical appeal of the ancient Egyptians, from lost treasures and hidden tombs to their all-powerful gods and symbolism. Themes like the “Curse of the Pharaoh”, “Ra’s Treasure”, or the “Journey to the Afterlife” have an enchanting catch that is captivating.

There is also a huge depth of visual symbols and imagery that slot machines can tap into. These can relate to anything from animal-headed gods to mummies and pyramids. Just think about the following:

• Architecture: Pyramids, ancient temples, obelisks, sphinx, temples, hieroglyphic walls, burial chambers
• Mythology: Ibis, Jackal, Eagle, Hawk, Heron, Snake, and other animal-headed gods
• Afterlife and culture: Mummies, pharaohs, Cleopatra, Tutankhamun, Book of the Dead, ancient scrolls, stone tablets
• Miscellaneous: Scarab beetle, Golden Ankh (☥), scepters or staffs, Hieroglyphs, mummification jars

There is a lot of iconic imagery that can be found based on ancient Egypt. And it remains a hugely popular, and very common, slot machine theme.

Playing Ancient Egyptian Themed Slots

There all kinds of slots with ancient Egyptian themes. The theme is highly prominent in jackpot titles, with some of the iconic character symbols unlocking bonus rounds or jackpot wheels that can lead to a player hitting the top prize. But there are also games that use innovative mechanics or extras to make the base game more dynamic. For instance, slots with cascading reels, Megaways mechanics, cluster pays, multi-directional paylines, and expanding symbols.

Some online slots use typical ancient Egyptian backdrops to decorate their games. You may be playing a slot set in the heart of a hidden ancient burial tomb. Or, along the Nile, in between the great pyramids, or in front of a hieroglyphic wall or ancient obelisk. Pharaohs, animal headed gods, or specific characters such as Cleopatra, are often the highest paying character symbols in these games. Though you may find miscellaneous items such as Scarab beetles or the Book of the Dead featuring as a scatter or wild symbol.

Concluding Ancient Egypt and Gambling

Some players revel in ancient Egyptian themed games. Others play them because they think they’re lucky. And there are those players that don’t care about the theme but like the mechanics – the hype around the theme isn’t going away anytime soon. They are more than just a fad, and many of the biggest slots games of the past decade have sported ancient Egyptian themes. Just be careful not to get too carried away with your gaming.

While the games can be all good and fun, when betting for real money you run the risk of losing. So make sure you have a budget planned, set reality checks, and stay in control during your gaming sessions. Whenever you feel the games are getting a little too much or you are getting too emotionally involved, it is best to take a break and save your remaining bankroll for a future session.