Gambling in the Hansa Federation

Gambling in the Hansa Federation has existed for centuries and has taken on many forms. It dates back to the days of the pre Daresian games when various Hanseatic tribes would play games for fun. However it was not until the Daresian Empire until organised games really started. Though throughout the medieval era there were probably various forms of gambling, the first gambling house, "Kauffmanhaus", opened in Visby in 1695, as a way to raise extra funds, during the financial disaster that was the Wilsonia project. Games played were, Konteswenien (which eventually morphed into the lottery), and other various card games. Though it was open to all, the rich in particular took various measures to ensure poor people were kept out.

In the countryside and other Hansan cities various houses resembling early bingo halls were founded, the largest being in Maisenberg.

Gambling Law

According to Hansan criminal law, gambling without a permit is illegal. At the same time, Marvin v Hanseatic Casinos LLC (1987) established a legal sepereation between games of luck and games of skill. Sports-betting, lotteries, and various other activities also fall into the legal category of gambling.

Only the National Business Assosciation has the authority to give permits to casinos and gambling. (Something which Kinderlanden Business Associations do not have). Other authority the National Business Association has is regulation and manage punishment for breaking said laws.

Hansa, has historically been liberal with gambling as it remained a good source of tax revenue. In the 1970s the conservative movement and culture wars of the 80s and early 90s saw gambling enarly banned. However the landmark case Marvin v Hanseatic Casinos LLC (1987) set a lot of legal precident and resticted a casino monopoly to the government.

Later on the advent of video poker was not very controversial due to the very liberal Byrd administration who continued the previous poilices. However in 2013 exact legalisation of specifics types of gambling was brought to the control of the Kinderlanden. (Though the national government can still only give out permits). Note: no Kinderlanden has activley banned gambling.

Types

Commercial Casinos

Though commerical casinos are officially owned by the state governments, day to day operations are ran by private companies, with the profits going to the state. There are approxxamitly 95 casinos spread throughout the Hansa Federation.

Lotteries

The classic Hanseatic lottery is a drawing in which each contestant buys a *ticket*^1 which has a code of numbers on it it. The lottery organisation then draws the winning combination using a super secret randomizer.There are three levels of lottieries, county, state and national which dictates where half of the winning proceeds go to. There is only one winner per lottery, and proceeds are won as a yearly annuity.

The national lottery is the largest lottery in the nation due to the greatest reach it has. The national lottery drawing is a major event held on September 20th.

Scratchcard Games

Scratchcard games are essentially another form of lottery held on the format of a scratchcard. However these are permitted to be played in bars and other drinking establishments.

Sports Betting

Historically sports betting has been legal in the Hansa Federation until 1912, over moral concerns of dog racing^2. It was relegalised again in 1964 as a way to raise money but subsequently banned in 1979.(Though most forms of animal racing and fighting are still banned). Due to the independent nature of the practice it remained banned until 2006 when the practice was legalized with the exception of college sports. Betting on college sports remains a contentious issue to 2024. However there is a strong movement to legalize the practice.

Notes

1: The ticket is gold. 1: King Fredrick II was an animal rights activist.