Europe has always been one of the most popular tourist spots in the world, with people from all across the planet preferring to spend their vacations in the many beautiful cities of the continent. The beautiful weather, combined with the rich cultural and historical value of these cities attracts millions of people every year. Wealthy nations with highly developed infrastructure while maintaining their historical beauty is a very tempting combination for tourists. Along with many nightlife options, these cities also offer some of the most beautiful and scenic casinos in the world, each with their own set of rules and traditions, some carrying down since centuries.
In fact, to outsiders from the west, the city was often described as Asia’s Monte Carlo, one of the first European casinos, or simply the Las Vegas of the East, but that only happened in the 20 th century. None of these descriptions do the city justice today because Macau is the gambling capital of the world and there is little doubt about that.
- Are you planning to make a trip across Europe anytime soon?
- Are you a habitual gambler looking for ideal casinos in Europe?
- Are you searching for cities with a strong casino culture in Europe?
- All posts tagged 'H2 Gambling Capital' CEEGC 2020 4 months ago. Gaming in Central and Eastern Europe in focus at #EGC2020VE with +10 industry experts from the region. Central and Eastern Europe in focus at European Gaming Congress VE (Virtual Edition). #EGC2020ve – The CEE gaming industry has been in the highlights of many media.
- Well before Las Vegas became a thing, the small European principality of Monaco was the gambling capital of the world, and the name “Monte Carlo” was synonymous with gambling.
Well, don’t you worry, because we have got you covered, as we have discussed in detail the top 12 European cities famous for their casinos.
1. Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Country : Monaco (Partially France)
Number Of Casinos : 4
Population : 15,000
Language : French
Climate : Temperate
Monte-Carlo, in the independent state of Monaco, is one of the world’s biggest gambling oriented cities. It is home to the Casino De Monte-Carlo, one of the most impressive and popular casinos in the world. Located along the French Riviera, it is a beautiful recreational city with stunning visuals all around.
The Casino De Monte-Carlo is a grand gambling complex with 3 other casinos built within including the Casino Café de Paris and Sun Casino. As a whole, this casino complex offers the most complete set of table games in Europe. The casino was also prominently featured in 2 of James Bond’s movies Golden Eye and Never Say Never Again. The city’s main gambling center is known as Place du Casino, and is primarily responsible for Monaco being termed as the premier international destination for extravagance and reckless dispersal of accumulated wealth.
Apart from Casinos, Monaco is also the sports betting capital of Europe, with major international events such as The Monaco Grand Prix (The most prestigious F1 race on the circuit), World Championship Bocing matches, European PGA tours, as well as the European Poker Tour Grand final taking place every year. Gambling overall is the primary contributor to the region’s economy.
2. London, England
Country : England
Number Of Casinos : 24
Population : 8.7 million
Language : English
Climate : Temperate/ Cold
One of the grandest and most influential cities in the world, London is a true metropolis, in every sense of the world. It is a multi-cultural hub and is widely regarded as the most important city in the world. Boasting of the biggest airport in the world as well as the oldest railway network in the world, London is a historic city, which also houses the British Royal Family, at the Buckingham Palace.
There are more than 20 major casinos in London, from cheaper ones in North London to extravagant complexes in Mayfair and Piccadilly such as The Ritz Club Casino and The Playboy club. The largest and most popular casino in the city is The Hippodrome Casino. It has 3 full floors of gambling, along with various dedicated sections for live entertainment. Multiple live screens show several sports as well, while steak houses and theatres ensure there’s something for everyone at the complex.
In total, London has around 670 slot machines and 360 table games across all its casinos. The Poker scene in London is also very well organized, with more than 99 live tables across the city.
3. Paris, France
Country : France
Number Of Casinos : 8
Population : 2.2 million
Area : 41 square miles
Language : French
Climate : Temperate
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is the largest city as well as the capital of one of the most prosperous countries in the continent. Over the years, Paris has evolved into a major hub for commerce, finance, entertainment, arts, sports and gambling. The prosperity of the region is well known, with the City having the 3rd highest GDP in the world, as per a 2013/14 study. A highly romantic city, Paris is full of historic monuments and cultural heritage.
Gambling in Paris has been substantial over the years, with the rich and famous of the city regularly indulging in high stakes games at the top casinos in the region. There are 8 casinos in Paris, more than any other city in France. Primarily famous for Poker, Paris is also home to one of the most famous and elegant Poker rooms in the world, known as The Aviation Club de France, with 24/7 access to 20 different poker tables, attracting all kinds of players. Many A-list Hollywood celebrities are also members of this luxurious casino. The club regularly hosts prestigious tournaments such as the Grand Prix de Paris Poker and the World Poker Tournament.
4. Berlin, Germany
Country : Germany
Number Of Casinos : 5
Population : 3.47 million
Area : 341 square miles
Language : German
Climate : Temperate/ Cold
Berlin is one of the largest and most developed cities in Europe. Germany as a whole is a prosperous and wealthy nation, with Berlin being at the center of intense development in the areas of automobile manufacturing and beer production. It is a true metropolis with several high-rise buildings combined with famous historical sights and well maintained museums. It is regarded as one of the most innovative cities in Europe. With the collapse of the Berlin wall, the city’s population and area expanded more than 2 folds and it became the most powerful city in the region.
The nightlife in Berlin in booming, with swanky nightclubs and sophisticated adult entertainment complexes spread out throughout the city. The historic square of the city lies in Alexanderplatz, which also houses 2 elegant casinos, among several shopping malls and dining avenues. The biggest casino in Berlin is the Spielbank Berlin Casino, with a footage of 118,000 square feet and more than 350 different gaming machines. In all, the city boasts of 5 major casinos, with 770 slots and machines in total, combined with 21 tables games and 16 live Poker tables.
5. Lisbon, Portugal
Country : Portugal
Number Of Casinos : 5
Population : 0.5 million
Area : 38.5 square miles
Language : Portuguese
Climate : Sub-tropical/ Mediterranean
Lisbon is the largest city of Portugal, and is also its capital. Though Portugal isn’t one of the wealthier nations in Europe, Lisbon is a developed metropolis, with high-rise buildings and thriving industries. With a population of more than half a million spread across 38.5 square miles, Lisbon is a powerful region of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is rich in architecture, with a myriad of inspirations to choose from. A couple of UNESCO World Heritage sights also add value to the tourism aspect of the city. It is the country’s chief seaport as well, highlighting its historical importance to the region.
Gambling in Lisbon has been prevalent since the 16th century, however currently there are only 2 major casinos in the city. Casino Lisboa, which is also the largest casino in Europe and one of the biggest in the world as well, boasts of a staggering 1100 gaming machines and 26 different tables. 2 live poker tables are also available at the site, along with several multi cuisine restaurants to entertain the whole family. The casino covers an area of 650,000 square feet. The other main casino in the region is the Estoril Casino, also formerly the biggest casino in Europe, which was greatly affected by the opening of the Casino Lisboa.
6. Cannes, France
Country : France
Number Of Casinos : 3
Population : 73,600
Area : 7.6 square miles
Language : French
Climate : Temperate
Cannes is the ultimate holiday destination in France, being one of the most well known cities of that region. Glitz and glamour are second nature in this city, as it is world famous for hosting the Cannes Film Festival every year, which is well attended by most of the top celebrities all over the world. The city is located on the scenic French Riviera, and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Many luxury hotels and beach houses add to the extravagant feel of the city.
Cannes is a hotspot for high-rolling gamblers from across the world. As festivals such as The Cannes Film Festival sees many big names in the world of entertainment arrive in the city, the city’s Casinos are generally full. There are 3 major casinos in Cannes, including the massive Casino Barriere Les Princes, which has over 320 gaming machines and 16 different table games. 4 award winning restaurants also complete the complex. In total, Cannes boasts of 655 slots and gaming machines and more than 60 different table games. However, there are no live poker tables as of now. Another famous casino is the 2.13 Casino, which is the largest casino in the city in terms of square footage.
7. Tallinn, Estonia
Country : Estonia
Number Of Casinos : 35
Population : 0.44 million
Area : 61.5 square miles
Language : Estonian Climate : Cold/ Frigid
Tallinn is the largest city as well as the capital of Estonia. With a population of close to half a million and an area covering more than 60 square miles, Tallinn is a major European city which is a brilliant mix of urban development and historical monuments. The Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the continent, with beautiful architecture on display.
Tallinn is a major tourism hub in the region, with more than 4.3 million tourists arriving every year on average. This is primarily due to the vast number of museums and historical value attached to the city. This increase in tourism led to the creation of a Vegas style casino strip in the city, with a single long road flanked by 35 different casinos, which is unmatched in Europe. The casinos have more than a thousand different slots and game machines in total, along with 14 different table games. 15 live poker tables also attract the high rollers from around the world.
The largest casino in the city is The Olympic Park Casino, with an area covering 17,200 square feet, fitted with nearly a hundred gaming machines and several poker tables.
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Country : Netherlands
Number Of Casinos : 12
Population : 2.4 million
Area : 105 square miles
Language : Dutch
Climate : Temperate/Cold
Amsterdam is one of the most populous cities in Europe, with 2.4 million people in the metropolis. It is the capital of the Netherlands and is considered as one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. It is a very historic city with plenty of monuments in between modern architectural marvels. It is considered as the cultural capital of The Netherlands as well, and is also the most multicultural city in the world, with 177 different nationalities represented.
The most distinct feature of the city, however, is that it is the first major capital city in the world to have legalized the sale and consumption of marijuana in all its forms, leading to a remarkable growth in tourism as more than 5 million revelers travel down to the city every single year. It also houses the oldest stock exchange in the world, along with several famous museums and the infamous red-light district, which is the hub of adult entertainment and nightlife in the city. There are 12 casinos in the city, all situated near the centraal station. The casinos have a combined total of 700 slots and machines, along with 116 table games and around 10 live poker tables.
The undisputed king of casinos in the city is the Holland Casino Amsterdam, which boasts of nearly 600 of the total 694 slots and machines in the city, and also all 10 poker tables available.
9. Prague, Czech Republic
Country : Czech Republic
Number Of Casinos : 14
Population : 1.25 million
Area : 192 square miles
Language : Czech
Climate : Temperate
Prague is a beautiful city, which is the capital of Czech Republic and amongst the larger cities of Europe. It is one of the most important cities of the region and is regarded as the cultural, social, political and economic centre of Central Europe. Rich cultural attractions and numerous age-old museums add to the city’s charms as Prague regularly features amongst the top 10 must visit cities in the world.
Prague is a huge city, covering nearly 200 square miles and has a population way above the 1 million mark, thereby qualifying as a metropolis. The vast potential in tourism in the city has seen a number of nightlife options pop up in recent years, especially casinos. There are 14 different major casinos in Prague, with a combined total of 341 slots and game machines and 49 table games across the city. There are also 21 live poker tables in the city, and it has hosted many prominent World Series Of Poker matchups in recent years, highlighting the game’s popularity in the region.
The largest casino in the city is Casino Happy Day, with 100 gaming machines and 5 table games operational. The casino is a popular venue for high profile poker matches between international high rollers as well.
10. Madrid, Spain
Country : Spain
Number Of Casinos : 6
Population : 6.5 million
Area : 233 square miles
Language : Spanish
Climate : Tropical
One of the most populous as well as popular cities in the world, with 6.5 million inhabitants, Madrid is the largest city as well as the capital of Spain. It is the 3rd largest city in Europe after London and Berlin, covering a massive area of 233 square miles. With the Spanish parliament as well as the Royal Family based in the city, it is the cultural, economical and political centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is also considered as the major financial centre of entire Southern Europe. Though overall Spain is not considered a very wealthy and prosperous nation, Madrid’s infrastructure is world class, and combined with a bevy of historic monuments, gives the city a very sophisticated and elite look.
Tourism in Madrid has always been a major contributor to the economy. The headquarters of the World Tourism Organization also lie in the city. Naturally, the nightlife and adult entertainment options are numerous, to cater to the needs of the millions of tourists every year. Gambling has always been synonymous with entertainment in Spain, and its capital city has 6 massive casinos, with more than 350 slots and gaming machines along with 88 table games. The largest Casino in the city is Casino Gran Madrid Torelodones, with over 200 gaming machines and 38 tables. Poker is very popular in the city too, with 25 live tables spread across the metropolis.
Well before Las Vegas became a thing, the small European principality of Monaco was the gambling capital of the world, and the name “Monte Carlo” was synonymous with gambling.
Since opening in 1863, the Monte Carlo Casino has remained one of the the finest European casinos to this day: a gambling icon on a mountain top overlooking Monaco, attracting tourists and gamblers from all over the world.
There’s no doubt that the Monte Carlo is one of the oldest such places in the world, and one of the most beautiful … but are there others that exceed its gleam and history?
There are at least two!
The Oldest: The Venice Casino
Casinò di Venezia, founded in 1638, is recognized as the oldest gambling establishment in the world – it was originally a theatre called the Theatre Saint Moses, which had a wing for gambling during the intermissions of plays.
Known as the Ridotto (Italian for ‘private room’), it was set up to control gambling during the Venice carnival season, but by 1770 it was closed down, leaving Venice without a legal gambling house until 1930 (the city felt gambling was impoverishing the local nobles).
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Back then, if you weren’t a patron of the theater, it was prohibited to gamble in an organized setting, but by 1744, Venice was well and truly experiencing a casino craze; the city had more than 120 different (illegal) gambling houses.
After being brought back into commission in the 1930’s, Casinò di Venezia today sits in the Ca ‘Vendramin Calergi – a centuries-old palazzo in the city’s historic center. Completed in 1509, this is the oldest building home to a casino today.
Over the centuries, the Ca ‘Vendramin Calergi changed hand several times and was home to crowned heads and famous faces ranging from Duke Eric II of Brunswick-Calenberg to German composer Richard Wagner who lived his last two years among its walls.
The Venice Casino Today
Today, the Venice Casino actually sites in two locations, but it’s signature venue is the Ca’ Vendramin Calergi on the Grand Canal. The other venue is Ca’ Noghera, near the Marco Polo airport.
There are hundreds of ways to gamble here, from blackjack to roulette and poker, all hosted by dealers in tuxedos, alongside 600 slot machines and ongoing tournaments for pros, like the World Poker Tour.
Though even if you’re not interested in gambling, you can dine at the renowned Wagner Restaurant, or simply visit the sophisticated building for the glamour; a perfect example of a renaissance style stately home.
The Ca’ Vendramin Calergi has been used for many Hollywood sets, and is often home to Venice Film Festival events. So many people head here for celebrity spotting. It was also the main inspiration for the Bond film Casino Royale.
The dress code is smart casual; you can dress in casual clothes, but must dress respectfully. Beachwear is not allowed in the summer, and you should not wear short trousers, tank tops, sandals, flip-flops, slippers and / or tracksuits.
The Most Beautiful: The Wiesbaden Casino
Image: Martin Kraft(photo.martinkraft.com) / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Wiesbaden (Germany) has a long history as a spa town – the curative properties of its thermal springs were known to the Romans conquering the area, and at one time, Wiesbaden boasted 26 hot springs.
Gambling followed bathing in the 19th century, and in the 1800’s Wiesbaden quickly became famous for both. Its casino (Spielbank) was known to rival Bad Homburg, Baden-Baden, and even Monaco, set up in the city’s main Kurhaus (spa house).
Gambling Capital Of Europe Currency
The casino closed down in 1872, when the government closed down all German gambling houses. When it reopened in 1949 the Kurhaus building was beautiful, but relatively small, and couldn’t accommodate the influx of tourists during the coming century.
Gambling Capital Of Europe Countries
A new building was commissioned between 1903 and 1905, and the old spa house was demolished to make way for the new. Architect Friedrich von Thiersch created what Kaiser Wilhelm II called “the most beautiful spa building in the world” at it’s opening ceremony.
The casino today sits inside the former wine hall of the Kurhaus. In addition to roulette and American roulette, black jack and poker are also played. And you can choose from 170 slot machines.
Today, the Wiesbaden Spielbank is considered by many to be the most beautiful casino in the world with its Art Nouveau architectural style, lush interior decorations, statues, and traditional gaming options (combined with modern-day games as well).
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