History of Gambling in Monaco

➤ Overview 

➤ Gambling History

➤ History of casinos in Monaco

Overview 

Monaco began life in the early 13th century as a colony belonging to the Italian city-state of Genoa, before French Revolutionary forces captured it in the 18th century. However, Monaco became the city-state that passed itself from country to country, since it was gifted to Sardinia after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, when it was given to the island as protectorate. But things were not smooth sailing for Monaco’s ruling families the Grimaldis, since conflict with Sardinia led to monetary problems.


Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state and microstate located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. Monaco shares borders with France on 3 sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Monaco is the second smallest country of the world (after the Vatican). Monaco has an estimated population of 37,800 and it is the most densely populated country in the world. Monaco is a well-known country around the world due to its status as the playground for rich people. Similarly to Zürich and Genova, 30% of Monaco’s population is made up of millionaires.

Gambling History

The history of the gambling ban itself is a large part of why Monaco has the identity it does today. Charles III, Prince of Monaco in the late 1800s, created the restriction during a fiscal crisis. With the country on its knees financially, Charles took to studying the economics of neighbouring countries and hatched a plan to create a gaming industry targeting, amongst others, the English upper class. To allow his own citizens to gamble would've been counter productive to his aim of bringing money into the country, so he banned them. His idea worked so well that Monaco paid off its current debts and had such sustainability from their gambling industry that they were in a position to abolish taxes.


Monaco might have the reputation for being the playground for the rich and famous, but the small principality has not always been so flush. To understand how Monaco and its capital Monte Carlo have become the iconic gambling hub it is today, it’s important to understand a bit about Monaco’s past.


The James Bond movies, notably Golden Eye where Bond is portrayed in a Monaco casino, and Dr. No, where Bond first uses the name “James Bond”, also brought popular attention to this tiny city-state of allure and adventure. And no wonder, as the history of Monaco resonates with mystery and legend dating back to the 6th century BC when it was founded by the seafaring Phocaeans as an important Mediterranean coastal port.

History of casinos in Monaco

The most popular and at the same time one of the oldest casinos in Europe is the Monte Carlo Casino, owned by the public company supervised by the government and the royal family - Société des Bains de Mer de Monaco. 카지노사이트 The company also owns hotels, sports clubs, restaurants and  nightclubs throughout Monaco. The casino was built in 1863, designed by Charles Garnier, the author of building project of the famous Opera Garnier in Paris. Monte Carlo’s Casino since the beginning has been attracting affluent visitors from many European countries. Also today the casino is thriving, acting not only as a paradise for players. Now, despite the fact that in the Principality of Monaco there are only four casinos located in Monte Carlo, this place still is considerable as the gambling capital of Europe.