On the Street

Before the establishment of casinos, gambling games were conducted on the streets, in homes, or in private clubs. (The word "casino" comes from the Italian "casa", which means house.) The amount that could be won was limited to the funds of the individual players. By the 17th century however, gambling had become formalized, with special venues that offered players the opportunity to bet against the "house", which would act as banker, paying out all winnings and retaining losing bets. This gave players the advantage of potentially winning more money than they bet.

One of the oldest casinos in Europe, at Baden Baden in Germany, was opened in 1748 by Edouard Benazet, who employed Parisian craftsmen to design the stylish rooms. Despite several closures in its history, the Baden Baden casino still operates today.

1763 - Belgium

The casino at Spa, a Belgian resort town noted for its mineral baths, was built by the Prince Bishop of the province of Liege in 1763.

1857 - France

In 1857, Prince Charles III of Monaco decided to introduce gambling to his Mediterranean principality to boost its finances. Under the auspices of art lover Francoise Blanc and his son Camille, no expense was spared on the "belle epoque building" which was created by a number of architects, among them Charles Garnier, designer of the Paris Opera House.

In the early 20th century Monte Carlo Casino quickly became a fashionable destination for the rich and famous of the day, including the director of the "Ballet Russe" in Paris, Sergei Diaghalev, Britain's King Edward VII, and the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso.