Ask most people about leisure activity in the Ancient World and they will probably mention the sport of hunting, Greek athletics, or the cruel contests staged between Roman gladiators and wild animals. It will therefore come as a surprise to many that one of today’s most popular games – backgammon – actually has a history going back some five thousand years. Nobody knows for such who was the first person to invent the backgammon game but scholars believe it was devised or developed in the area today occupied by Iran and Iraq.

Since written descriptions of how to play backgammon had not yet been discovered, it is hard to know for sure that the backgammon rules of ancient Persia were similar to the ones we are familiar with today. The fact that the design of the backgammon board with the twenty four narrow divisions known as points, and the fifteen round counters, and the dice whose throws determine the counter movements, were all part of the ancient game, does suggest it had a great deal in common with the contemporary version.

Backgammon was popularized further by the Romans and became a favorite game of the Emperor Claudius, and the fate of the opponent foolish enough to let Claudius lose can only be imagined. The Roman version of backgammon, known as tabula (from the Latin for table) was played exclusively for money, what we would today term backgammon gambling. The thought of going to play backgammon for the fun alone does not seem to have been part of that cultural milieu.

The spread of the backgammon game around the world continued after the collapse of the Roman Empire, however it was not until the 1740’s that the backgammon rules were first published. The introduction of commercially produced backgammon sets at a price that most people could easily afford, also played a role in making the game available to people all around the world.

The developments in the first five thousand years of backgammon gave no inkling of that at the end of the twentieth century, backgammon stood on the verge of a major revolution. The introduction of online backgammon has initiated a major explosion in interest in the game, and brought it to a whole new, predominantly young audience. The ability to download Internet backgammon as free backgammon has meant there is no longer any need to even buy a backgammon set but you can have a high quality 3-D backgammon game setup on your own computer. Although the long-lasting appeal of backgammon gambling has given a major push to the popularity of the backgammon online games, the chance to play against a sophisticated backgammon computer and play against players from all around the world, are also key attractions. In addition the online game allows players to play at a time that suits them, and from the comfort of their own home. All the information required to learn the rules of the game and understand backgammon strategy is now available online – players have never had it easier.

The game of backgammon has been played for an estimated five thousand years. From its early beginnings in the area of the world today occupied by Iran and Iraq, with the help of the Romans the game spread around the world. In the course of all the centuries that have gone by since the collapse of the Roman Empire, backgammon has extended its reach far beyond the bounds of the ancient civilized world. It would be hard to explain the way one of the earliest recorded games has not only continued to be played but seems to be continually increasing in popularity. The obvious explanation for its success is the shared experience of all generations that to play backgammon is such a pleasure.

The joys of playing the backgammon game are many since the game requires strategy in a uniquely captivating manner. The simplicity of the backgammon rules contributes the enjoyment of the game since it does not take long for even young players to acquire the skills needed to play. This helps explain how the backgammon board and backgammon set of checkers, dice and dice shaker, are now found in homes throughout the world. To play backgammon has become a social activity enjoyed by millions of people of all ages. Once children get hooked on the game at home, as their skills improve they often continue to join backgammon clubs. Sometimes their interests in the game and success at playing lead them to take part in tournaments.

Internet gaming developers have not been slow to recognize the joys of backgammon and online backgammon has taken its place as one of their leading offerings. Internet backgammon has certainly been propelled into a high profile by backgammon gambling. Contrary to what some people might think the gambling element in backgammon was not an invention of Internet gaming but it has been an integral feature of the game from the beginning. The game of Tabula (as the Roman version of backgammon was called) was entirely centered on gambling. Gambling for many backgammon players contributes to the excitement of the game. When money is at stake a player feels more motivated to play well whether they are convinced that they are about to win a substantial amount from their fellow players, or perhaps they fear losing their own stake!

In any event, the flourishing of online backgammon has been a wonderful gift for backgammon addicts worldwide. Prior to the introduction of backgammon to the Internet, opportunities to play the game were limited to the hours clubs met, or when a friend was interested in a game. Now keen players can connect to a backgammon site and can be guaranteed they can always find a game at the skill level they are looking for. If anyone is planning on making a survey on the extent that backgammon players enjoy their game, they need only investigate the numbers of people logging onto such sites and the times they log on and stay online, to get a good idea of its popularity.