What’s the oldest casino in the world?

The world moved on at such as pace, and in these tough times you’re more likely to find me at jokaroom casino then a bricks and mortar equivilant. Still, I’m sure you agree that there is something about casino venues that draws us in all. The oldest casino in the world is Casinò di Venezia or, in English, Venice Casino, which is housed in a Renaissance-style palace, known as Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, on the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio district of northern Venice. Ca’ Vendramin Calergi was constructed over a twenty-eight-year period during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, but did not become the home of Casinò di Venezia until 1959, after it was bought and renovated by the City of Venice.

Casinò di Venezia first opened its doors in 1638, in a wing of Palazzo Dandolo – a Venetian Gothic palace near Piazza San Marco, or ‘St. Mark’s Square’ – formerly known as Il Ridotto, or ‘The Private Room’. Under the auspices of the City of Venice, the space was converted into the first legal, commercial casino to be open to the public in Western Europe. Casinò di Venezia soon became famous, or infamous, as a centre for entertainment and, although it was closed in its original location in 1774 at the behest of the Venetian authorities, has existed, in one form or another, ever since.

The modern Casinò di Venezia is an eclectic mix of the old and the new, offering olde worlde style and sophistication, without a hint of stuffiness. Tuxedo-clad dealers operate against a background of modern décor, illuminated by cool, atmospheric lighting and the range of table games, which includes blackjack, poker and roulette, and slots should be sufficient to satisfy even the most ardent gambler. Whether you’re looking for the modernity and convenience of jeux de casino of a walk through casino history at Casinò di Venezia there is something for everyone and a line joining the past to the casino present.