Man, by virtue of his instinct to survive, is naturally a gambler. Given the potential risks of living day-to-day life, it was considered an act of skill to stay alive until the sun sets, especially through the Stone Age. As the human race began to develop systems that could facilitate the physiological need of survival, the gambling instinct that was inherent in man did not dissipate. Rather, it became stronger with the passage of time.

The gambling instinct, situs toto in other words, is displayed early into the history of human civilization. The Romans were notorious for their fierce and unforgiving gladiator matches, which were mainly violent at least and visceral at best. By 80AD, the emperor Titus then conducted the very first official ceremonies at the Colosseum, and thus the festivities had begun. Slaves were pitted against each other in mostly battles to the death, and sometimes against wild beasts also.