The Winner Takes All!

Discover the cultural history of casinos and the world of gambling in this fascinating exhibition about ‘Games of Chance'.

This special casino exhibition, named ‘Volles Risiko! Glücksspiel von der Antike bis Heute', takes a look at the history and origins of games of chance and is on display at the Karlsruhe Palace from 12 April to 17 August 2008.

As the lottery celebrates its 50th anniversary in the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Badisches Landesmuseum is displaying 400 objects and exciting full-scale models which depict a historic overview of how gambling has developed from pre-Christian times to the present day. This exhibition features many examples of the different kinds of games played and shows the type places where people went to try their luck.

One section of the exhibition focuses the décor of a classic casino in Baden-Baden, an elegant town well-known for its historic passion for gambling. This casino area conveys the gripping atmosphere that people experienced around the roulette table, as if they were in Las Vegas itself, the legendary ‘city of luck'. Those drawn to the thrill of chance also met at other venues, such as racetracks, where from 1800 onwards, gamblers placed high bets on horses.

Another part of the exhibition focuses on gambling addiction, with other areas of special interest addressing the related topics of criminality and cheating. Nowadays, with the massive advancements in technology, online games such as poker are very popular among players.

The multi-facetted schedule of accompanying events promises to offer visitors an exciting insight in to the world of luck and chance, featuring guided tours and hands-on educational workshops, as well as a ‘lucky night' on 31 May 2008.