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Nowadays, almost every major city has casinos. The oldest casinos in the world are nearly as old as games such as blackjack and roulette, with histories that often date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The most famous and largest casinos today are primarily found in Las Vegas and Macau.
Casino games of all kinds are more popular than ever. This is partly due to the rise of online casinos, where games can be played not only on a computer via a standard browser, but also through smartphone apps, often supported by incentives such as a Richard Casino free chip that allows players to explore digital casino games with added value. Nevertheless, the origins of casino gaming lie in historic establishments, which we will take a closer look at below.
Casinò di Venezia – the world's first casino
The Casinò di Venezia first opened its doors in 1638. As far as historical records indicate, it is considered the world’s first official gaming venue. At the time, political leaders promoted the project in an effort to establish Venice as the entertainment capital of Europe.
Despite its age, the casino still offers roulette, blackjack, poker, and a wide selection of slot machines. Although the Casinò di Venezia has survived centuries of changing operators and historical upheavals, its future is now uncertain. Rising sea levels pose a serious threat, making it unlikely that this iconic casino will endure for another 400 years.
The Bellagio in Las Vegas
The Bellagio features around 2,700 slot machines and more than 170 table games spread across approximately 14,500 square metres. In 2013, the resort opened Villa Privé, an exclusive casino wing designed specifically for high rollers. In addition to its gaming areas, the Bellagio is home to numerous restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and a luxury hotel.
The Bellagio is also known for the legendary Bobby’s Room, where the Big Game takes place—high-stakes poker with a minimum buy-in of $20,000 per player. The room was named after Bobby Baldwin, a four-time WSOP bracelet winner who also served as the Bellagio’s general manager from its opening in 1998. Following Baldwin’s departure, the venue was renamed the Legends Room two years later.
Casino de Spa in Belgium
Few would expect Belgium to be home to one of the oldest casinos in the world. Nevertheless, the project was driven forward by two local mayors, and in 1763 the Casino de Spa was officially inaugurated. After a devastating fire in 1917, the casino had to be completely rebuilt. Today, the Casino de Spa offers roulette, poker, blackjack, and bingo, as well as more than 100 slot machines.
Casino Wiesbaden – Germany's first gaming venue
Although Germany was not among the first countries to establish casinos, the Wiesbaden Casino can look back on a long and distinguished history. In 1771, Prince Karl von Nassau-Usingen granted permission for licensed gambling in Wiesbaden. Before the casino officially opened in the Old Kurhaus in 1810, gambling activities took place mainly in restaurants.
Today, the casino offers card games, roulette, and slot machines. Particularly noteworthy is the Wiesbaden Superzahl, a special roulette feature that allows for higher payouts. If pairs of numbers appear on the table, players receive double payouts on bets placed on those numbers. Triplets, quadruplets, and quintuplets lead to correspondingly higher winnings.
The Venetian Macao – the most famous Chinese casino
Macau is a Chinese Special Administrative Region and relies heavily on gambling as a source of income. Located there, The Venetian Macao is one of the largest casinos in the world. It features around 3,400 slot machines and approximately 800 gaming tables spread across 51,000 square metres. The resort was modelled after The Venetian in Las Vegas, whose founders were also responsible for the development of the Macao property.
In addition to its gaming areas, the resort offers a wide range of dining options, including Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisine. The Venetian Macao complex also includes conference centres, theatres, ballrooms, spas, and a hotel with more than 3,000 rooms.
Monte Carlo Casino
The history of the Monte Carlo Casino dates back to 1854, when the principality was searching for new sources of income. At the end of 1856, the casino finally opened its doors—doors that, despite repeated financial setbacks, have remained open ever since. A noteworthy detail is that residents of Monaco, including members of the royal family, are legally prohibited from participating in casino games.
The casino is located next to Monaco’s famous Formula 1 race track.
In 1913, the Casino de Monte-Carlo famously demonstrated that numbers have no memory. During a roulette session, the ball landed on black 26 times in a row. Many players fell victim to the belief that the streak would end in the next round and that red was “due” to appear. This assumption is understandable, as the probability of 26 consecutive black outcomes is roughly 1 in 66.6 million. Nevertheless, the probability of red appearing on the 27th spin remained unchanged at 48.6%, illustrating the classic gambler’s fallacy.
Caesars Palace – a casino in the style of ancient Rome
It is no coincidence that Caesars Palace bears the name of the Roman statesman Gaius Julius Caesar. The resort deliberately evokes the grandeur of ancient Rome and has become one of the most recognisable themed casinos in the world. Filmmakers have used the venue as a setting for productions such as Rain Man and The Hangover. Numerous world-famous artists, including Frank Sinatra, Elton John, and Mariah Carey, have performed at Caesars Palace. Between 2011 and 2018, Céline Dion also held a long-running and highly successful residency there.
Caesars Palace offers a wide range of games, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, pai gow, poker, and hundreds of slot machines. The resort was founded in 1966 and is located on the Las Vegas Strip between the Bellagio and The Mirage.
Hundreds of slot machines help create the distinctive casino atmosphere.
The oldest casinos have been around for centuries
Despite political upheavals, economic crises, and changing social attitudes, many of the world’s oldest casinos have survived to the present day. Across the globe, there are magnificent historic buildings where visitors continue to engage in gambling. The most famous casinos are often complemented by theatres, concert halls, and event venues, offering entertainment far beyond slot machines and card games.