Festival gambling has long been part of celebrations like Saturnalia in ancient...

https://www.4shared.com/office/jkP4aDxIge/pdf-21642-27049.html

Festival gambling has long been part of celebrations like Saturnalia in ancient Rome, Diwali’s teen patti games, Lunar New Year mahjong, and Spain’s Christmas lottery. Calendars helped set clear end dates for these activities to keep risks in check