The architect behind the building was Charles Garnier and he built the Monte Carlo Casino in 1863. The building of the Casino de Monte-Carlo

Poor accessibility meant visitor numbers were minimal after it opened. The immense success of his business exploits earned him the flattering moniker of the ‘Wizard of Monte Carlo’.ĭid you know? Monte Carlo Casino was not initially a success. He went on to invest more of this fortune back into Monaco by building more gambling establishments and helping to develop business in the state. It was a move that would make him a significant amount of money. Ever the entrepreneur, though, Blanc seized on a seasonal trend and the news that Monaco had recently legalized gambling and moved there to make his fortune. Blanc came to specialise in gambling businesses after, somewhat randomly, going on a circus tour around the south of France with his twin brother, Louis, and learning all the gambling tricks that had been on display at the circus.īlanc opened a business in Homberg, Germany, and enjoyed immense success before Homberg turned against gambling, leaving Blanc out of work. The Monte Carlo was founded by a French entrepreneur named Francois Blanc, who was a native of Provence originally.

In fact, even the world’s most famous spy, James Bond, has gambled at the casino. The casino, owned by the Societé des Bains de Mer, transformed Monaco into a fashionable tourist destination and since then, the state has been renowned for its opulence and gaming facilities.

This legendary casino has been entertaining guests for more than a century and marked a change in the state’s fortunes, by attracting wealthy visitors looking for new places to gamble. If you’re heading out to Monaco for a taste of the opulence, you’ll want to pay the Monte Carlo Casino a visit.

French card game in casinos