The World’s First Casino Was Established in Venice, Italy
Long before neon lights, slot machines, and destination resorts, organized gambling already had a home—and it was in Venice. In 1638, the city officially opened what is widely regarded as the world’s first casino, which helped shift gambling from informal, often illegal gatherings to a regulated public institution.
The same casino still exists today. It’s known as the Casino di Venezia, and holds the distinction of being the oldest gambling house in the world.
Why Venice Created the First Casino
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By the early 17th century, Venice was one of Europe’s wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities. Trade routes funneled money, art, and people through the lagoon, and gambling flourished alongside them. Card games, dice, and betting were already common among the nobility, typically taking place in private palaces or exclusive social gatherings.
The concern for Venetian authorities was not gambling itself, but the disorder that accompanied unregulated play. Debt, scandal, and social disruption became difficult to control. Rather than imposing a ban, the government opted for regulation. In 1638, gambling was legalized within a single, state-sanctioned venue: the Ridotto di San Moisè, a formal gambling space associated with the Teatro di San Moisè.
Admission to the Ridotto was restricted, dress codes were enforced, and games were closely supervised. The environment reflected Venetian ideals of decorum and hierarchy. Gambling became part of a managed public life rather than a private vice.
From the Ridotto to the Grand Canal
At the time, the word casino did not carry its modern meaning. In Venetian society, a casino referred to a small house or room used for social interaction, conversation, music, and entertainment. Gambling was just one element within a broader cultural setting.
The Ridotto reflected this tradition. It functioned as a refined gathering place during Carnival season that combined theatergoing, social exchange, and games of chance. By formalizing such an environment under state control, Venice established a model that would influence later gambling institutions.
While the Ridotto closed in the late 18th century as political and moral attitudes shifted, Venice’s association with legalized gambling stayed. In the twentieth century, the city reestablished an official casino in Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, a Renaissance palace on the Grand Canal, which was initially built in the 15th century.
Ca’ Vendramin Calergi itself holds deep cultural significance. It was designed by architect Mauro Codussi and commissioned by nobleman Andrea Loredan. It also later became the final residence of composer Richard Wagner, who lived there from 1858 until he died in 1883. Today, the building includes a museum dedicated to his life and work.
The Municipality of Venice then purchased the palace in 1946. After renovations, it opened in 1959 as the modern Casino di Venezia. Although separated by centuries from the Ridotto, the institution traces its origins directly to the legalization of gambling in 1638.
Gambling as a Cultural Institution
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What sets the Venetian casino apart from later gambling houses is intent. It was not designed purely for profit or spectacle. It was created as a civic solution to channel an existing social behavior into a space governed by rules, etiquette, and oversight.
Once Venice demonstrated that gambling could be regulated rather than suppressed, other European cities followed suit. By the mid-eighteenth century, Venice alone reportedly hosted more than 100 gambling houses, all inspired by the original Ridotto framework.
Today, the Casino di Venezia operates with modern games and technology, but its historical importance remains unmatched, even after more than three centuries.