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Viking Gambling Games – How The Norse Tribes Loved A Punt

All Vikings loved bloody battles, and spent a lot of time at sea, roving European coastlines for plunder, they did in fact have a fair amount of downtime. This would be spent in their giant communal halls during the Winter season when adverse weather conditions made sailing dangerous. To entertain themselves they would turn to games of chance. And though we tend to view Vikings as uneducated and uncouth, nothing could be further from the truth. As proved by the complexity of their games.

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How Vikings Used To Gamble

Today we’ll discuss the historical practices of gambling among the Vikings hordes. However, we won’t be discussing any modern sports organisations with Vikings names this time, due to the fact that they are popular on Norwegian online gaming sites today. But we’re going to talk about the Vikings of early history who are no longer around. They were regarded as among the most ferocious warriors in human history. In many ways, the Vikings shared similar traits with pirates who appeared many centuries later.

When it comes to Vikings, what they did and how they made their living wasn’t necessarily wholesome and good. However, hundreds of people, if not thousands, adhered to the religion of the Vikings. In the UK, they are remembered in history books for appearing in their long boats and scavenging the British coastlines, before sailing away with goods and women. Additionally, the Vikings also found towns where they did not cause many issues. As a result, there were occasions when Vikings simply went in to relax, eat, and gamble.

Some Viking History

Before we talk about the Vikings’ history of gambling, let’s start by discussing who the Vikings were. Essentially, they were a maritime people with Scandinavian ancestry who were looking for a place to call home. However, the Viking culture, with its strong undertones of violence, was a product of their hard lives leading to, what we might class today, as bizarre conduct. This was because they didn’t value integration and or the law. As a result, they stole and plundered, becoming the scourge of Europe in the process. Oh, and they occasionally had fun.

They weren’t precisely like pirates. because they engaged in more brutal land-based combat. They were also the tribes who delivered the Nordic runes to us. As a result, we have a complete board game based on their design. The National Museum of Denmark has a complete Viking gaming board in its possession. There is also an antique item that might represent the Norse God Freyr in the form of a gambling piece.

Rune Charms

The magazine, “Life as a Human”, claims that Vikings also engaged in more cerebral activities. According to them, Vikings weren’t just mindless savages. They were a mix of dumb brutes, yet historically speaking, outstanding strategists and navigators. So this all starts to make sense. After all, battle and strategy planning plays a significant role in both their faith and history. So let’s talk about the Vikings’ history with gambling. We should start by saying that their style was somewhat removed from an exquisite James Bond cooly playing at a luxurious casino in Monaco.

As an alternative, you can simply picture a group of loud and grubby individuals playing a board game while having money on the table. Of course, if this was a contemporary tableau, you may even see a man betting on his phone at 22Bet Casino, trying to win the jackpot online. But firstly, we should discuss the subject of runes, thanks to the Vikings’ passion for rune charms. Usually, these come in the form of bones or pebbles with a rune word engraved on them. Or they were necklace pendants. The belief was they were full of strength, good fortune, or safety, which would then pass on to the wearer.

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Hnefatafl – Vikings Gambling Games

Common dice jackpot games were popular and were manufactured from bones and stones. Additionally, it has been established that they played several older gaming variations that bore a similarity to today’s game of jackpot poker. Probably the most intriguing game is what’s commonly known as “The Viking Game”, or to give it its real name, “Hnefatafl.” It comes from a class of Nordic games referred to as “Tafl” games. Like virtually all gamblers, the Vikings would bet to gain both reputation and money. As a result, we suggest that chess and this tabletop game are comparable in many ways. Interestingly enough, many state that chess is the easier option. Furthermore, Hnefatafl and chess were both games of military strategy. Typically, when you hear of a game like this, you rightly assume it’s a test for the mind.

But though the game involves considerable mental dexterity, the Vikings also loved taking mad chances. The “Game of Kings” was another name for Hnefatafl, according to the Nordic Travel Magazine. The strategy of this game was not easy to grasp. To that end, a lot of people think that the white pieces offer more benefits. Nevertheless, winning with the wooden figurines was the ultimate glory back in the time of the Vikings.

Playing With The Gods At The Table

When we’re discussing the ancient Viking practices of gambling, we should not forget to add that they enjoyed toying with gods. As a result, there were and are many different religions. The Gods of Gambling were part of the Norse pantheon. You’ll find that Lofn, the Goddess of Forbidden Love and gambling, was welcome among the Vikings. If they gambled, they frequently left an open seat for Lofn to take her place at the table. In this manner, she bestowed good fortune on the winner of the game. But she was more than just the gambling goddess. She was thus also the goddess of marriage and love. This made her a more sympathetic character.

Taking Chances In Vikings Gambling Games

Though it sounds rather improbable thanks to our fixed ideas about old Norse culture revolving around violence, the Vikings did in fact cherish the ideals of honour and fair play. In some ways, we can see this attitude throughout history with all warrior classes. This is partly because a good battle only counts if all parties received their fair share of glory. However, if we discuss how Vikings engaged in gambling, we can see that they were at times something more akin to reckless behaviour. According to Nordic legend, a game of dice was used to determine who would own the river Island of Hisingen. As a result, Vikings were known for taking chances, whilst at the same time understanding good jackpot winning strategies. Additionally, their religion believed in Gods who existed concurrently. So the gods stood in real-time behind the victor of both battles and games.

Viking Gambling Games – Modern Online Slots

Though Vikings were living on land, they were famous for sailing as their wealth and living came from plundering. Nevertheless, historians say they were honourable. To make life easy and stop any inter-tribal disputes, there were laws that prohibited gambling. However, we’re talking about Vikings here. So many simply ignored the law and indulged. As a result, risk-taking Vikings gambled and won wealth including islands.

Thankfully Vikings no longer exist. Even Techno Viking, who was ripping up the streets of Berlin, is but a distant memory. Yet all Nordic-speaking countries still have a choice when it comes to gambling activities. This is thanks to a large number of online casinos available, like 22Bet Casino. Here you’ll find numerous slot machine games with a Viking theme available. Runes, swords, long boats, horned helmets, or sculptures of Viking heads, all serve as the game’s icons on its reels in place of traditional ones. These include Viking Fall, Hall of Gods, Thor; The Mighty Avenger, Vikings go Berserk, Vikings Go To Hell, and Dragon Ship to name but a few. They all offer things like multipliers, wilds, and scatters which will help increase your jackpot winning chances.