Top 5 Gambling Destinations in Europe

Monte Carlo is the premier destination in Europe for people looking for a luxurious, high-end casino experience. Those who watched James Bond movies will no doubt remember the Casino Monte Carlo, which was featured in Goldeneye as well as Never Say Never Again.

If you didn’t know already, Monaco is a city-state located in the southeastern area of France. It’s the second smallest country after the Vatican. Don’t let the small size fool you; Monte Carlo is packed with excitement and great places to visit.

Gambling and the casino industry is ultimately one of the main drivers of the economy here. Some of the most notable casinos are the Casino de Monte Carlo, Sun Casino, and Casino Cafe de Paris. Monte Carlo is also home to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, where exotic cars race through the streets. 

Casino de Monte Carlo

This is perhaps the most well-known and luxurious casino in town. It was initially built in 1863, making it something of a historical site as well. Interestingly though, Monaco residents are not allowed to gamble here. The casino offers a complete gambling experience with all games being available.

Paris is well-known for the Eiffel tower and being the capital of France. It’s also called the city of love and romance. Paris is an important cultural and business center not just in France but all of Europe.

It might surprise some people to hear that gambling is also quite prominent here. Yes, casinos have been a part of French life going back decades. One of the most popular casino games of all time, roulette, was born right here. Since then, it’s spawned numerous other variations.

Paris has a total of eight casinos for people to choose from. Although roulette was invented in Paris, it’s surprisingly poker that’s the most popular game in town. Paris even hosted the World Poker Tour and the Grand Prix Poker Tournament.

Club Circus Paris

The Club Circus Paris is the largest casino in Paris. It operates primarily from 6 pm to 5 am. The main games you’ll find here are poker and variations such as Texas Hold’Em. Other important amenities include a restaurant and bar.

What do you imagine when you think of Venice? Striking architecture, various waterways, exquisite cuisine, and a city with a rich history. You might not think of it as a gambling destination, but there are several reasons to visit.

Interestingly, Venice is home to some of the oldest casinos in all of Europe. Those who enjoy the historical aspects of gambling will no doubt want to come here and explore. Let’s cover one of those casinos below.

Casino di Venezia

The Casino di Venezia dates back to 1638. It’s situated right on the Grand Canal channel so that you can arrive here by water taxi for a more exciting experience. As the oldest casino in Europe, it’s interesting to think this was at one point the only palace on the continent to gamble.

The casino initially opened in a theatre named Theatre Saint Moses. It was its own wing where patrons could pass the time gambling throughout the intermission of plays. The casino went through several changes over the years, at one point serving as a home to royalty. Today, it still offers a great gambling experience to visitors.

As the capital of England, London is undoubtedly one of the world’s largest and most exciting cities. It’s a true metropolis with countless activities to take part in. London is home to Buckingham Palace and other important sites.

When it comes to casinos, there are 20 different ones you can visit. London offers a much larger selection than any of the previous entries on our list. You’ve got a mix of smaller casinos to more massive ones, such as the Hippodrome Casino. Across the city, there are more than 360 game tables and 665 slot machines.

Hippodrome Casino

The Hippodrome is easily the most massive and luxurious casino in London. It has 3 levels with multiple entertainment venues. There’s something for every kind of gambler, regardless of your tastes. You’ll even find large TV screens for watching sporting events that you can bet on.

Now we come to the last entry on our list. Portugal is one of the smaller countries in Europe but still has many attractions. For one, it’s home to several UNESCO World Heritage sights. It also has the principal seaport of Portugal, which has historically made it vitally important.  

The city has a long history of gambling which goes back as far as the 16th century. Readers may be surprised to learn Lisbon is home to the largest casino in all of Europe, the Casino Lisboa.

Casino Lisboa

Casino Lisboa boasts an impressive size of 650,000-square feet, making it the largest casino in Europe. Besides the table games and slots, it also has a theater, 3 restaurants, and 4 bars.

Interestingly the casino is not owned by anyone in Portugal. Instead, the parent company is based in Macau, China. Macau itself is another prime casino destination.