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Humans have enjoyed playing various entertainment activities involving dice since as far back as ancient times right up to the modern era, and I have a strong feeling that people across the world will continue to play dice for many centuries to come, especially now that the digital realm has breathed new life into the world’s oldest form of entertainment.
Most people are familiar with the standard cube-shaped dice, the polyhedron, which has six sides numbered with pips (small dots) from one to six. You may also be familiar with fun activities that involve 4, 8, 10, 12, or 20-sided dice.
Before I started researching the history of dice, I had no idea how many different types there were.
On this page, I will start by revealing a few key dates in the history of dice and take a closer look at how dice have evolved over the years to become the staple of human entertainment they are today in so many cultures.
According to the history books and recent archaeological discoveries, I believe that the earliest type of dice we know about was just two-sided and first used by the ancient Egyptians in around 3,100 BCE in an entertainment activity called Senet.
However, none of the dice used in Senet have been discovered. Our only evidence is from the hieroglyphics and colourful mural decorations on the walls of ancient buildings and tombs.
Cubical dice have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, but I believe that the oldest ones ever found in this region only date to around 2,000 BCE, not as far back as 3,100 BCE.
Primitive dice-shaped objects called Knucklebones, made of animal bone, were also found in Tutankhamun’s tomb from 1,333 BCE.
The oldest confirmed dice found in its physical form dates to around 3,000 BCE in what is now modern-day Turkey. Around the same time, you may also be surprised to learn, as I was, that the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica were also enjoying playing similar activities involving dice.
Holes punched into clay floors that closely resemble modern dice scoreboards have been discovered, suggesting the ancient Mesoamericans played various activities using dice. Other early evidence suggests that dice were also played in ancient Sumer.
In ancient Greece, around 1188 BCE, tragedian Sophocles claimed that the Greek mythological character Palamedes invented dice during the siege of Troy. Ancient Roman dice, known as Tuscania dice, which date back to circa 900 BCE, have also been found in Italy.
Dice with 4 to 20 sides have also been found in India, dating back to 400 BCE, as well as in 3000 BCE China, 1000 AD Scandinavia, and many other regions dating back up to 1,000 years.
My research has also taught me that today, thousands of entertainment activities are still largely dependent on dice. Some of the most famous ones that many of you may already be familiar with are Backgammon, Boggle, Craps, Crown & Anchor, Dice 10000, and Klondike.
Others include Hazard, Sic Bo, Chuck-a-Luck, Banka Francesca, Farkle, Tenzi, and Yahtzee, to name a few.
Thanks to modern technological developments, most of these popular dice activities are now widely available to play online from any modern Wi-Fi/internet-connected smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, or laptop.
Their successful leap to the digital realm has solidified their popularity and made dice activities more accessible than ever – and proven once again how successful a digital transformation can be for a classic title. The industry leader, online slots, created something of a roadmap for other casino game formats to make that jump. While the game mechanics are very different, the core principles for success are the same. The definitive AskGamblers list (available here: askgamblers.com/casino-games/online-slots) exemplifies how variety, quality, and a healthy combination of verisimilitude and originality go a long way with players.
To play any of the dice activities featured on these trusted sites, you must be at least 18 years old. In fact, in some countries, the legal minimum age to play dice online to win real money is 19 or 21, depending on where you are.
Over the past couple of years, I have found several popular computer-generated dice-themed online fruit machines and other traditional dice activities. Some of today’s most popular titles include the following:
In most of these online dice examples, I’ve found that it’s possible to play from as little as $/€/£0.10, $/€/£0.20 or $/€/£0.50 per round.
Computer-generated dice activities are usually available in free-play and real money mode, but any digital entertainment activities involving dice found in live dealer lobbies can usually only be accessed in real money mode.
As you can see, dice have been a major part of human civilization to keep us entertained since before records even began, and they will no doubt continue to entertain us as we move into the future.
Playing dice is a fun way to pass the time and appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds.
However, if you do decide to play dice to win money, remember to play responsibly and only ever do so on reputable websites controlled by trusted operators.
