| The backgammon game is one leisure activity that has | | | | changes in the backgammon rules. Backgammon is |
| been enjoyed by millions of people from around the | | | | played to the same rules on the Internet as it has been |
| world for thousands of years. It is hard to believe that | | | | played in the physical game. Internet gaming sites have |
| the backgammon set we know today has been in | | | | even brought to a wider public some of the versions |
| existence for some five thousand years. The | | | | of backgammon played around the world, for example, |
| backgammon board with its twenty-four alternately | | | | the Turkish version of the game. The skills needed to |
| colored and triangular-shaped divisions, the dice and | | | | play backgammon online are precisely the same as |
| the cup used to shake the dice are not inventions of | | | | those required in traditional offline play. Even the many |
| some Victorian toy manufacturer, but a legacy from | | | | opportunities provided for backgammon gambling do |
| the various earliest days of recorded history. Certainly | | | | not represent a departure from the way the game |
| the materials used to make the sets have changed - | | | | has commonly been played but simply their transferal |
| plastic has replaced wood, bone and clay, or in Internet | | | | to a new technological format. |
| backgammon, a virtual board and pieces have | | | | For all the aspects of the game that Internet |
| replaced their physical equivalents, but the basic ideas | | | | backgammon has left unchanged, it has also produced |
| of how to play backgammon have demonstrated a | | | | major changes worthy of note. Today anyone who |
| remarkable endurance over the centuries. | | | | has an Internet connection is able to download |
| From its beginnings in the lands that we now call Iraq | | | | backgammon software and start playing. There is no |
| and Iran, the ancient empires spread the game of | | | | need even to go out and buy a book to learn how to |
| backgammon around the world. The popularity of the | | | | play since backgammon rules are displayed and |
| Roman version of backgammon, or tabula as it was | | | | explained on these sites. In addition, the possibilities of |
| known, appears to have been a key stage in the | | | | playing backgammon against a computer have |
| transference of backgammon from its Middle-Eastern | | | | presented many new opportunities for learning how to |
| heartland into Europe. With the European settlement of | | | | play the game that have not been available in previous |
| the American continent, and African and Asian | | | | generations. Also, online backgammon has made the |
| countries backgammon was well on the way to | | | | game available at times and places to suit every |
| becoming the internationally known game that we | | | | player's convenience. There is no need to call round |
| know today. | | | | any more for a friend to come and play backgammon |
| So what has been the impact of online backgammon | | | | with you, or to go and see if a game is available at the |
| on the games and its players? Certainly without doubt | | | | local café, whenever you feel like playing you |
| the world of backgammon has been radically changed | | | | are able to do so and you need go no further than |
| by the introduction of Internet backgammon. However, | | | | your own home or office to take part. |
| the effects have not manifested themselves in any | | | | |