| Casinobeoordeling in Nederland
1
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Tot €450 + 250 Gratis Spins
Min Dep:
€20
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2
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Welkomstpakket €450 + 250 Gratis Spins
Min Dep:
€20
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This article is about the casino in Monaco. For the casino in Las Vegas formerly known as the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, see Park MGM.
| Monte Carlo Casino Casino de Monte-Carlo (French) | |
|---|---|
Front view of Casino de Monte-Carlo | |
| Location | Place du Casino Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Opening date | July 1865; 159 years ago |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Société des Bains de Mer |
| Coordinates | 43°44′22″N 7°25′44″E / 43.73944°N 7.42889°E |
| Website | casinomontecarlo |
The Monte Carlo Casino, officially named Casino de Monte-Carlo, is a gambling and entertainment complex located in Monaco. It includes a casino, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and the office of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.[1]
The Casino de Monte-Carlo is owned and operated by the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a public company in which the government of Monaco and the ruling princely family have a majority interest. The company also owns the principal hotels, sports clubs, foodservice establishments, and nightclubs throughout the Principality.
The citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the gaming rooms of the casino.[2] The rule banning all Monegasques from gambling or working at the casino was an initiative of Princess Caroline, the de facto regent of Monaco, who amended the rules on moral grounds. The idea that the casino was intended only for foreigners was even emphasized in the name of the company that was formed to operate the gambling business, the Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers (English: Company of Sea Baths and of the Circle of Foreigners).[3]
The ambitious notion of opening a gambling casino in Monaco originated with Princess Caroline,[4] the astute, business-savvy spouse of Prince Florestan. The envisioned revenues from this proposed venture were intended to rescue the House of Grimaldi from a dire state of bankruptcy. The financial woes of the ruling family intensified significantly after losing tax revenue from two breakaway towns, Menton and Roquebrune, which declared independence from Monaco in 1848 and subsequently refused to pay taxes imposed on olives and fruits by the Grimaldis.[citation needed]
In 1854, Charles, Florestan's son and future Prince of Monaco, assembled a team of Frenchmen (writer Albert Aubert and businessman Napoleon Langlois) to devise a comprehensive development plan and draft a prospectus to attract a substantial sum of 4 million francs intended for the construction of a spa catering to various ailments, a gambling casino modeled after the illustrious Bad Homburg casino, and a series of luxurious English-style villas.[citation needed] After being granted a 30-year concession to operate both a bathing establishment and gaming tables, Aubert and Langlois successfully opened the first casino on December 14, 1856, within the modest Villa Bellevue.[citation needed] Initially intended to be a temporary location, this building was merely a modest mansion located in La Condamine.
During the latter part of the 1850s, Monaco was an unlikely venue for a resort to flourish. The absence of proper road connections between Monaco and Nice as well as all of Europe, coupled with insufficient accommodation and a lack of efforts by concessionaires to promote the new resort, resulted in a significantly lower customer turnout than initially projected. Faced with insurmountable financial difficulties in keeping the venture operational, Aubert and Langlois relinquished their rights to Frossard de Lilbonne, who subsequently passed control to Pierre Auguste Daval in 1857.[5]
Seaside facade before 1878
General plan by Garnier and Dutrou, 1879
During its initial operational phase, the casino experienced multiple relocations until it ultimately settled in the renowned area known as Les Spelugues (translating to The Caves). Construction in this location commenced on May 13, 1858 under the design guidance of Parisian architect Gobineau de la Bretonnerie[6] and was finalized in 1863. Gobineau de la Bretonnerie also crafted the design for the adjacent Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (constructed in 1862).[7]
Though the casino began to generate a profit in 1859, Daval struggled to meet the expectations outlined by Princess Caroline. Similar to his predecessors, he exhibited incompetence and failed to scale the gambling operation to the level envisioned. Frustrated with the outcome, she assigned her personal secretary M. Eyneaud to travel to Germany, with hopes of enticing François Blanc, a prominent French entrepreneur known for managing the Bad Homburg casino. Initially, Blanc declined the invitation, but due to a prolonged effort from Princess Caroline to sway his decision, he ultimately accepted the role in Monaco. Caroline even appealed to Madame Blanc, forging a bond during her inaugural visit to Bad Homburg, suggesting that Monaco's temperate climate would benefit Madame Blanc's frail health.
Facade on the Place du Casino after the expansion of 1878–79
Eastern elevation (c. 1878–80) of the Trente-Quarante Gaming Room with the theatre to the left and behind
In 1863, François Blanc finally conceded to take over Monaco's casino operations. For the management of this new enterprise, a company (the Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers) was established, boasting an impressive capital of 15 million francs. Esteemed investors included Charles-Bonaventure-François Theuret, Bishop of Monaco, and the future Pope Leo XIII.[citation needed] Blanc emerged as the majority shareholder in the corporation, acquiring a concession lasting 50 years, which would continue until 1913. Utilizing his extensive connections within the financial sector, Blanc effectively secured the necessary capital and initiated major construction projects. Under Blanc's directive, the area known as Spelugues, where the gambling venue was situated, was renamed to enhance its appeal to casino patrons. After careful consideration of several choices, the name Monte Carlo was ultimately selected in honor of Prince Charles.
In 1878–79, the casino underwent a significant transformation and expansion, overseen by architects Jules Dutrou (1819–1885) and Charles Garnier, the visionary behind the opulent Paris opera house, now recognized as the Palais Garnier. François Blanc possessed a relationship with Garnier due to having previously provided a loan of 4.9 million gold francs to the financially strained government of the French Third Republic, enabling the completion of the opera house which had commenced construction in 1861 and opened its doors in 1875. The extensive alterations made to the Casino de Monte-Carlo included the incorporation of a concert hall (envisioned by Garnier and later designated as the Salle Garnier), strategically positioned on the side of the casino facing the expansive sea, as well as the redesign and enhancement of gaming rooms and public spaces, predominantly executed by Dutrou on the side of the casino adjacent to the Place du Casino, where both the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and Café de Paris are also situated.[9]
In 1880–81, the casino observed yet another expansion, this time extending to the east of Dutrou's Moorish Room, with the addition of the Trente-et-Quarante Gaming Room, also masterminded by Garnier. Subsequent renovations and enhancements, alongside the remodeling of the Trente-et-Quarante Gaming Room into the Salle des Américains, have largely obscured Garnier's contributions to this segment of the casino, with the exception of a few ceiling decorations that remain intact.[10] In 1898–99, the Salle Garnier underwent renovations led by architect Henri Schmit, focusing mainly on the stage area to enhance its suitability for opera and ballet shows. Despite these modifications, the original facade designed by Garnier and elements of the auditorium's interior still remain preserved.[9] Despite the multitude of later additions and alterations, the casino retains a distinctly recognizable Beaux Arts architectural style.
In 1921, the first Women’s Olympiad was hosted in the lush casino gardens.[11][12]
Up until recent years, the Casino de Monte-Carlo has served as the primary revenue source for the esteemed House of Grimaldi and the broader Monegasque economy.
The casino boasts facilities where a diverse array of games can be played, which include:
- Various forms of roulette
- Stud poker
- Blackjack
- Trente et Quarante
- Craps
- Baccarat
- Video poker
- Slot machines
1913 gambler's fallacy
- In 1873, Joseph Jagger gained significant publicity for the casino by successfully 'breaking the bank at Monte Carlo,' having discovered and leveraged a bias present in one of the casino's roulette wheels. Technically, the bank in this context referred to the funds maintained on the table by the croupier. An article from The Times in the late 19th century reported that it was possible to 'break the bank' multiple times. The popular 1892 song 'The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo', famously performed by the music hall singer and comedian Charles Coborn, was likely inspired by the exploits of Charles Wells, who repeatedly 'broke the bank' over his first two trips.[14]
- According to the book Busting Vegas authored by Ben Mezrich, a team of blackjack players from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, led by Victor Cassius and Semyon Dukach, attempted to replicate the success of 'breaking the bank' at Monte Carlo through a team-play-based system. The narrative details the casino management's response to the team's impressive results. Semyon corroborated that the account in Busting Vegas was accurate, with the team consisting of himself, Andy Bloch, and another individual he refers to as 'Katie'.[15]