The History
The Casino de Monte Carlo was founded in 1865 during the ruling of Prince Charles III in Monaco. The country was on the verge of bankruptcy and Princess Caroline had the idea to open a casino. This was designed with the idea in mind to bring prosperity and money back into the country so it could flourish once again. However, a law was quickly put into place that all Monégasque citizens and the employees at the Casino de Monte Carlo would be forbidden to place bets as it was supposed to bring prosperity from tourists around the world rather than bring misfortune to the Monaco citizens.
When the casino was first built, there were no hotels around for miles and it was only accessible by boat and so the grand clock on the outside of the casino was put into place to ensure no customers missed their last boat home at the end of each day. You can still see these boats travelling along the Riviera and ferrying visitors from the windows today. At the time, the royal family realised this was a chance for another business opportunity and so in 1862, the Hotel de Paris was the first of many hotels to be built right next door which allowed guests to stay even longer.
Princess Caroline discovered François Blanc, who was a French entrepreneur and operator of several European casinos and brought him to Monte Carlo so he could work his magic and build an impressive casino with his company Societe des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers that still manages the casino to this day. He later earned the nickname “the Magician of Monte Carlo”. The principality of Monaco had to raise money for the construction of the casino and did this by selling 80% of the land to France in return for a train line and main road to be built from Nice to Monaco to make it easier for guests to visit the area.
Prince Charles III even abolished tax for all of his citizens as the casino was beginning to bring in enough profit for the principality and this is still true today. The Casino de Monte Carlo has become a tax free haven for many guests as all of the winnings are exempt from taxation which is very popular for both the casual gamblers and the high rollers. Monaco had to first legalise gambling as there was no tourism in the principality before and they needed to entice more people to visit and spend their money to boost the economy.
The Attractions
Now in 2023, the Casino de Monte Carlo is one of the most famous casinos in the world and after many developments and extensions, offers a stunning entertainment complex filled with attractions. There are 5 hotels including the original Hotel de Paris and Hotel Hermitage, restaurants, lounge bars and night clubs, entertainment spaces for shows and concerts, a shopping centre and relaxing spas as well as a loyalty programme for returning customers. With so much to do that is not just about visiting and gambling at the Casino de Monte Carlo, it is the perfect location for a weekend getaway to enjoy a full schedule of entertainment in a luxury setting.
The Casino de Monte Carlo welcomes millions of guests each year and the gaming revenue for 2022 was at its highest of €215.4 million, a 7% increase from €200.8 million in 2021.
The main casino entrance is flanked by stunning marble columns that welcome guests before entering the gaming rooms which offer plush carpets, beautiful Belle Époque decor and bright chandeliers to enhance the gambling experience.
The Games
The Casino de Monte Carlo focuses on creating “a celebration of the spirit of the game” and offers a huge selection of games rivaling online casinos including 600 slot machines such as jackpot slots and video slots which pay out around €117,000,000 every year. Many slot machines have wild symbols and multiple pay lines to boost your chance of winning and so it is vital to choose the ideal slot game for you.
There are also over 50 gambling tables available that offer a fantastic array of games including Poker Texas Hold ‘em Ultimate, English and French Roulette, Punto Banco, Trente et Quarante, Craps, Split Aces and Blackjack which all offer thrills and entertainment for players of all levels to enjoy with a truly unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss.
There are also the incredible Supers Privés and Salons Privés for only the most elite and high rolling customers as well as the royalty and celebrities that visit the casino. This is a complete VIP experience in which guests can be taken to a private gaming suite or a hidden room which hosts a roulette table and guests are able to request anything they like within the law.
The Biggest Win
The Casino de Monte Carlo has witnessed many wins and losses over the 160 years it has been open and the biggest win on record occurred in 1974. An unknown Italian won $1,092,000 on the roulette and there hasn’t been a win as big as this since.
Another impressive winner was Charles Wells in 1891 who some believe was a fraudster due to his suspicious win of €13 million on the roulette. He broke the casino bank six times over three days as he used the unique strategy of doubling his next bet every time he lost one. He achieved a roulette winning streak of 23 out of 30 and became the inspiration for the song “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo’.
1913 Gambler’s Fallacy
The gambler’s fallacy is the belief that past events can influence future events if the past events have happened more frequently as it is less likely to happen again. This is an incorrect belief as the probability of events is not dependent on the past events. This is often linked to gambling, for example, if a coin toss lands on heads twice in a row, the next toss is due to land on tails.
The Casino de Monte Carlo was involved in the most famous gambler’s fallacy during a roulette game in 1913. The ball landed in the black 26 times in a row which is a very uncommon event. Many gamblers thought that betting on red during this streak would have to be successful as the probability that it would continuously land on black was low but instead they lost millions of francs. It was thought that the randomness of the wheel had been affected by the black streak creating an imbalance and that it should have been followed by a streak of red.
James Bond
The Casino de Monte-Carlo has been the inspiration for a number of books and films and the fictional character James Bond is heavily associated with the casino. The first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was inspired by the casino and the films Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye were also filmed at the casino.
The Salle Blanche bar in the casino is famous for its dry vodka martinis which is influenced by Bond’s favourite drink that is ‘shaken, not stirred’ and many guests do ask for this particular drink and enjoy sitting in the same place as Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye.
So why is the casino de Monte Carlo so famous?
The Casino de Monte Carlo is a huge name in the world of casinos and people visit from all over the world to experience the elegance and opulent setting on the beautiful coast of Monaco. From gourmet restaurants and luxury hotel suites to an outstanding casino venue with many games to play, guests are sure to have an amazing time in the most exquisite location. If you want to see the Casino de Monte Carlo for yourself, book a plane ticket and a hotel today and experience the wonder of the most famous casino in the world.
