Classic Casinos: The Oldest Gambling Establishments in the World

Since ancient times, men and women all over the world have enjoyed making wagers. To begin with, they probably bet on educated guesses or the outcomes of events. “I bet your goat is more than 150 lbs! He’s so fat”, or “Let’s play shah mat (early chess) or dice and the loser will pay up”, or maybe even “I’m sure that Jacob will win the race. What will you give me if I’m right?” Before long, betting was such a regular activity that some of the games people bet on were moved to one location for entertainment and convenience. These locations would have been the earliest casinos. 

The Greeks, Romans, and Chinese were among the first nationalities to take gambling seriously, so naturally, the history of gambling in these countries is a long one. The first legal gaming house opened in Venice in the 1600s, and since then, casinos have popped up all over the world. We’ve done some research and found out where the oldest casinos (still standing) are in the world today. Let’s learn about them.

1. Casinò di Venezia – Venice, Italy. Opened in 1638.

Hovering above one of the many canals that make Venice one of the most unique cities in the world sits a Renaissance-era palace that first opened its doors in the 17th century. The Casino di Venezia is the oldest standing casino in the world. When it first opened in slightly more modest lodgings, attendees referred to it as ’Il Ridotto di San Moisè’, which means the private room of San Moisè. 

Venice has worn many masks over the years and gone through many changes, and a locale like a casino could never have survived the campaign of reformer Giorgio Pisani, who decided it was necessary to close all such houses of entertainment and “vice” to preserve the piety of the Floating City. In 1774, the Venezia was closed, but it would be reopened again, in a grander style than before, in an even more stunning location- the castle where it is found today. The casino’s current location, the Ca’ Vendramin Calergi palace, was originally built as a home for royalty but today houses both the casino and a museum dedicated to preserving all things Richard Wagner (the famous composer), who was a regular visitor to the historic, beautiful location. 

If you visit the casino today you can play table games like blackjack, roulette, chemin de fer, and punto blanco, not to mention video slots and video poker.

2. Casino de Spa – Spa, Belgium. Opened in 1763.

Thermal bath houses were once considered not only the height of style but also a place to see, be seen, and get in a little rest and relaxation to boot. The second oldest casino in the world resides in Belgium and shares both its name and location with one of these bathhouses- the Casino de Spa. Originally only a bathhouse, this gambling institution was known as one of the most beautiful and well-maintained in all of Europe. 

The beautiful and unusual casino closed for a time in 1872 when a number of gambling bans came into place. The First World War followed this closure, and significant damage was done to the structure as it raged. It wasn’t until 1918 that casinos became a point of focus again, and a number of closed, dilapidated ones were restored to their former selves.

If you’re in Belgium today and wish to pay a visit to this casino, you’ll be able to play poker and blackjack at regular tables and even enter a poker tournament or two if you feel you’re a good enough player. There have been slot machines on the premises since 2004, and now visitors can choose from over 100 different options.

3. Casino Wiesbaden – Wiesbaden, Germany. Opened in 1771.

To look at the outside of this casino, you’d think you were on the extensive grounds of a library or wedding venue! A fountain bubbles into a large, low, geometric pond. There’s green grass all around, and the sun floods the stone steps and pillars that welcome you in. Casino Wiesbaden is the oldest casino in Germany, having been granted its licence by the power of the time, the Duke of Nassau-Usingen, in 1771. 

The casino drew in many famous visitors, all of whom came to take a chance and try their luck at one casino game or another. Gamblers at this location included the likes of Fyodor Dostoevsky, the famed Russian Novelist. They say this is where he gained the inspiration for his book “The Gambler” after a particularly unlucky streak in which he lost everything but the shirt on his back.

These days, if you stop by for a visit, you’ll find classic games like roulette, poker, and blackjack laid out across the west floor of the sprawling building. If you like slots, you’re in luck too. At Wiesbaden, there are over 190 slot machines paying out winnings in the region of €2.5 million every day.

4. Casino Interlaken – Bern, Switzerland. Opened in 1859.

The Casino Interlaken is undoubtedly the quaintest, most unique casino on our list. It is set on bright green lawns surrounded by neatly clipped box hedges and placed against a background of exquisite mountains. The casino’s first stint was a short one, as it shut down shortly after it opened when gambling was outlawed in the canton. It opened again in 1883, but inconsistent Swiss laws caused its closure again in the 1920s. 

When the gambling ban was lifted once more in the ‘90s, the Interlaken Casino started its long, hard slog back to getting a licence and opening its doors, which it did in 2002. You can visit it in Switzerland today and enjoy slot machines and electronic roulette from midday and poker, roulette, and blackjack from 8 in the evening until the wee hours of the morning.

6. Casino de Monte-Carlo – Monte Carlo, Monaco. Opened in 1863.

Any gambling fan anywhere in the world will tell you they know about Monaco- a glittering oasis for the beautiful and wealthy city of high-rolling casinos. The oldest and most famous of those casinos is the Casino de Monte Carlo. It looks like something out of a fairytale. Turrets scratching against the sky, cleverly lit from below in the evenings. Gorgeous grounds, freshly cut green grass… It is something of a paradise. 

This incredibly glamorous casino is said to have been the brainchild of Princess Caroline- and a move that would save the royal family from looming bankruptcy. Built in the style of the Bad Homburg, the casino welcomed incredibly wealthy patrons and went on to more than solve the problem it had been created to solve- it became the primary source of income in the tiny country. The first iteration of the casino was built in 1856 in La Comandine- a shadow of the building that was to come. The current casino is built on ‘Les Spelugues’ (The Caves) and was created under the stern eye of famous French architect Gobineau de la Bretonnerie and opened in 1863.

Today, this legendary casino offers one of the most extensive collections of casino games on our list. You can try your hand at blackjack, all the different kinds of roulette, craps, poker, and close to 600 different kinds of slot machines.

7. Golden Gate Casino – Las Vegas, U.S.A. Opened in 1906.

You didn’t think we’d leave Las Vegas off the list, did you? Though Vegas is a relatively new gambling destination, as they go, its oldest casino is the Golden Gate. The year after it was opened, the first telephone in the city was installed in the casino’s hotel. A few years later, in 1910, gambling was outlawed in Nevada until 1931. Since then, the Golden Gate has not stopped operating, and it has become a landmark on Fremont Street.

Today, craps is probably the casino game most commonly associated with Vegas, and it’s one you can still play at this casino. You can also try a game of roulette or blackjack, 3-card Poker, Let It Ride, and a number of slot machines.

Wrap Up

The oldest casinos in the world have seen a lot in their time. Fashions have come and gone and come again. Transport has gone from horses and carts to modern cars. Gambling has been legal and illegal, and the lives of their patrons have started and ended. These impressive and, in some cases, centuries-old locations have stood the test of time thus far. Let’s hope they’ll stand for centuries more!