Italy's Casinos — Venice, Sanremo, Campione, and the Saint-Vincent Question
Italy has only four legal land casinos — but one of them is the world's oldest. A short, atmospheric Italian casino tour.
Italy licenses just four land casinos, by historic exception: Casinò di Venezia (the oldest casino in the world, 1638), Casinò di Sanremo (Liguria coast), Casinò di Campione (Italian enclave inside Switzerland), and Saint-Vincent (Aosta Valley, Alps). Tables €5–25 mass-floor; single-zero roulette; Italian-style baccarat (Punto Banco). ID required.
Casinò di Venezia — the original
Founded 1638 in the Ridotto building near San Moisè, then operating in various Venetian palaces over the centuries. Now in Ca' Vendramin Calergi on the Grand Canal — a 15th-century palace where Wagner died in 1883. Plus a modern annex at the Tronchetto airport-side terminal for casual play.
Ca' Vendramin Calergi is the prestige room — frescoed ceilings, gilt mirrors, full European game menu. Worth the entry experience even if you don't play. Jacket required after 8pm.
The Tronchetto annex is more casual — slot-heavy, accessible, no jacket.
Casinò di Sanremo
Liberty-style 1905 building on the Italian Riviera. Sanremo is best known for the music festival; the casino is part of the same belle-époque heritage. Mid-sized floor, full game menu, classic Italian seaside vibe.
Combine with Monte Carlo (15 km) and the broader Riviera.
Casinò di Campione — the enclave
Campione d'Italia is an Italian municipality entirely surrounded by Switzerland, 90 minutes from Milan. The casino was the largest in Europe by floor area until it bankrupted in 2018; reopened 2022 under new management.
Currently smaller than its peak but operating. The architecture is striking — a 9-story Mario Botta–designed building right on Lake Lugano.
Saint-Vincent — the Alps option
In the Aosta Valley, on the way to the Italian Alps. Casino de la Vallée at Saint-Vincent is paired with the Grand Hotel Billia and is the only mountain casino in Italy. Mid-sized floor; full game menu.
Combine with skiing at Cervinia, Courmayeur, or La Thuile.
Rules and play
Italian blackjack typically 3:2, multi-deck, dealer hits soft 17 at most properties (confirm). Single-zero roulette. Punto Banco is the Italian baccarat variant.
Most major casinos also run Trente et Quarante (a French/Italian dice-card hybrid uncommon outside Europe) and Italian three-card poker.
Practical
ID required at entry. Smart-casual dress fine; jacket after 8pm at Venezia main rooms. Currency: Euro.
For a perfect Italian casino-and-culture itinerary: Venice (Casinò di Venezia + St. Mark's + Murano), train to Milan, day trip to Campione, then to Sanremo for the Riviera.
Topics
- italy
- europe