I came to backgammon recently, though the game itself has been around for millennia, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. A friend invited me to play a few times, and I found myself drawn in, not just to the rattle of the dice or the race of the checkers across the board, but to the atmosphere it creates. Sitting across from someone, half focused on the strategy, half lost in conversation, you realise it is as much about presence as it is about play.
Famous Backgammon Fans
The more I played, the more it stirred up old images. Roger Moore played James Bond in Octopussy, staring down Kamal Khan across a backgammon set, a scene that became popular with players despite mangling the rules. Slim Aarons captured bronzed bodies and glossy boards by the pool in his photographs. Hugh Hefner was presiding over marathon games at the Playboy Mansion. In the 1970s, the game became as popular as the hustle or the Harvey Wallbanger in New York and Los Angeles nightclubs. A list of fans included Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Paul Newman, Cher, Bob Dylan, and Lucille Ball.
Backgammon Clubs All Over the World
What surprised me was how alive it feels now. Clubs such as Join the Gammon Game in Barcelona attract individuals who might otherwise spend their time glued to their phones. In New York, the New York Backgammon Club is drawing in younger crowds, and in Los Angeles, the Venice Backgammon Club is seeing the game slide back into the city’s DNA. I have attended these nights, and what consistently strikes me is how quickly the board becomes the focal point. Conversation flows differently when there are dice between you.
Luxury Backgammon Sets
Luxury brands clearly see the same appeal. Tiffany, Cartier, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Riva and Brunello Cucinelli have all released backgammon boards that are as many objets d'art as gaming sets. Independent makers like Maremosso and Backgammon Beauty are creating their own variations, blurring the line between furniture, jewellery, and play. Having one of these boards in your home is not just practical; it is a statement. I admit, after a few games, I started to look at them differently too. They sit there, ready for play, but also as beautiful objects in their own right.
Part of the game’s charm is its pace. It is quick enough to be exciting, unpredictable enough to keep you engaged, but light enough to leave space for conversation. You can engage in conversation, flirt, and joke while maintaining a close watch on the dice. The doubling cube, that little innovation from 20th-century New York, adds just enough drama to make every match feel like it could tip into something bigger. There is risk, but it is elegant risk, with leather dice cups and polished pieces instead of cards and chips.
The truth is, backgammon has always been more than a game. It is a stage. This includes references from Bond films to Slim Aarons' photography, as well as Instagram posts by Dua Lipa and to the boards displayed in luxury stores; this concept embodies a certain performance. When you sit down to play, you are not only competing; you are part of a scene. That performative edge, I think, is what makes it feel timeless.
A Game that Fits Everywhere
I have come to appreciate backgammon not just as a pastime, but as a kind of cultural thread. It ties together history and style, leisure and theatre. It connects the ancient with the modern in a way that very few things do. And it works in so many contexts: a rooftop at sunset, a quiet corner of a bar, a living room on a rainy evening. It's always the same dice, the same checkers, and the same sense of anticipation.
I don't know if this revival will last or fade and return, as it has before. But that may be the point. Backgammon adapts. It survives. It resurfaces in new guises, in new settings, for new generations. For me, it started with a friend’s invitation and a couple of casual games. For others, it may be a Bond film, or a photograph, or a beautiful board on a coffee table. Regardless of how you get there, the result is the same: you are drawn into a ritual that has been going on for millennia. And once the dice are rolling, you'll realise why they never really go away.
Read more:
- Arquiste Parfumeur, aromas built on modernity to recall moments in history
- Bang & Olufsen Atelier: A New Era of Personalised Luxury Audio
Last Updated on October 9, 2025 by Editorial Team
