Gambling on papal conclaves

Gambling on papal elections has a long history, with betting on 16th-century papal conclaves being among the first documented examples of gambling on election outcomes. It can be inferred that the practice started in the 15th century at the latest. During the same period, gambling was also common on the outcomes of secular Italian elections, such as that of the doge of Venice. Since 1591, it had been an excommunicable offense but was abrogated in 1918.