Gambling in Monte Carlo: How, Where and When
Introduction: Gambling in Monte Carlo
So you want to go gambling in Monte Carlo? Now, if you wanted to go gambling 150 years ago, there was a drastic limit to your choices. Las Vegas was still a pipe dream and Macau was a distant Portuguese trading post. The only gamble to be made on these two destinations was that you’d probably die on your way there to play. But since the mid-1800’s the more practical and civilized location of Monte Carlo was providing gambling opportunities for the wealthy across Europe.
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Where is Monte Carlo?
Situated between the French and Italian Rivieras, Monte Carlo sits within the principality of Monaco. Famed for its wealth as an offshore banking destination, the independent state houses a mere 30,000 inhabitants. Of course, most of the official population of Monaco don’t actually live there, they just maintain an address for tax reasons. Monte Carlo is one of Monaco’s five districts. The others being La Condamine, Fontvieille, Monaco-Ville, and Moneghetti.
How Do I Get There?
It’s true that Monte Carlo isn’t the easiest destination to reach. Being on the coast does help somewhat, but being completely surrounded by rugged mountains doesn’t. When you think about just how easy it is to drive or fly into Las Vegas, well, this is really the polar opposite. There’s an airport at Nice-Côte d’Azur, which is the closest for international flights. From there you can catch a cab or grab an Uber. It’s a pleasant 25-minute ride, but keep in mind that it’s still going to be pretty expensive with little change from $100. If you want to arrive in style, then you can be picked up by helicopter from the airport. It’s a spectacular ride and well worth the $150 per person.
Hop-On The Bus
Then there’s the bus. Not so glamorous, but it’ll do the job just fine. All buses are spotlessly clean, regular, and have hostesses for serving drinks and snacks. All rather civilized. A bus ticket is anywhere between $30 – $40.Flying into Paris is another option as that’ll allow you to see a great deal of the French countryside as you take the fast train. Once again, everything is clean, and very proper, with a delightfully formal restaurant car along with waiting for staff and even a Sommelier to help ensure only the best. Yes, we know, Paris is 600 miles from Monaco, but as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination”. Though you may be spending more money on such a journey, we feel it’s well worth it in particular if you are coming from abroad.
What Casinos Are Available in Monte Carlo?
Monte Carlo is probably synonymous with casinos as it is with glamour and panache. Many people make the assumption that the town is filled with casinos. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there are but only four casinos to win the jackpot. They are the Casino de Monte Carlo, the Casino Le Café de Paris, the Monte Carlo Bay Casino, and the Sun Casino. First opened in 1863, the Casino de Monte Carlo is both the best known and the most popular. In fact, it’s featured in the fictional spy stories of James Bond. Here you’ll find the largest number of slots in the whole city, as well as table games for the discerning. And all clothed in a breathtaking opulence, which is the real deal. In particular when compared with the cheap, fake, plastic, and vulgar monstrosities found in Las Vegas.
The Café de Paris is both a slots parlor as well as serving as an outdoor café. There are over 500 video poker and slot machines on the premises. The Bay Casino offers a slots parlor but has no table games. Heading over to the Fairmont Hotel, you’ll find both jackpot slots and table games in the establishment.
What Casino Games Can You Play in Monte Carlo?
Though there are only four casinos, they do try their best to accommodate as many casino games as possible for their customers. To that end, you’ll find all your usual fair including; Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, European Roulette, Stud Poker, and Texas Hold’em. They say that playing roulette here is particularly good, as they use the European wheel along with partage rules. As you probably already know, the European wheel features a total of 37 numbers and offers a 2.70% house advantage. This is a much more favorable combination than that in the US, which will help you to increase your jackpot winning chances. There, the roulette wheel offers up 38 slots with a house edge of a whopping 5.26%.
The Partage Rule in Roulette
The partage rule, which again is totally foreign to US players, pays back half your wager on even money bets when the ball falls into the zero slots. This brings the house edge down even further to a minuscule 1.35%. If roulette isn’t really your cup of tea, then have a go at the blackjack table. As with roulette, the blackjack games in Monte Carlo are very favorable towards the player. Having said that, you will not be able to count cards on any table with bets of less than $100. This is because most of the tables have embraced the continuous shuffling machines, which make the counting of cards all but impossible.
We can’t really recommend the video poker machines. On the whole, the betting requirements are very high, with 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54% RTP) if you’re happy to bet €1 per coin (€5 for the full five coins). That’s very expensive when you compare it to the US game, with many only requiring a wager of $0.25 per coin in order to play exactly the same jackpot game. One thing to keep in mind is that you’ll be needing to change your dollars into Euro before you can gamble. We suggest that you use a simple conversion app on your phone to keep an eye on the exchange rate.
How Much Do You Have to Pay to Stay at the Casinos?
Monte Carlo is not the place to visit unless you’re pretty flush with cash. It’s a beautiful city, and you’ll have to pay for the privilege of walking its streets. Just to stay in a lowly three-star hotel will set you back hundreds of dollars each night. Booking is also different here. For example, there are no refunds. And you need to call in advance to maintain your booking. All accommodation across the principality is going to be a great deal more than you’d pay for a hotel in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. But on the other hand, here you’ll find a real quality, along with windows that actually open.
On the whole, most gamblers here will dress well, but informally so. This does not translate as flip-flops and shorts. You’ll need a minimum of a freshly ironed shirt and slacks. The formal private gambling rooms all require formal dress, with a morning suit and bow tie de rigueur. Also, keep in mind that these private games will have a minimum betting level set at €100. So you’ll need to bring a sizable bankroll with you, or your night will end very early indeed.
How Are Monte Carlo Casinos Different From Others?
In certain countries, casinos are banned completely. You can read about the whys here, now let’s learn more about Monte Carlo and the rest of the world of casinos! In the US, most casinos use psychological tricks in order to keep you gambling and for them to keep winning. For example, there are no clocks or windows allowing you to gauge the time you’ve spent in the casino. Monte Carlo doesn’t need to debase itself with such shallow parlor tricks. You’ll find ornate clocks in every room of the casino, as well as huge windows offering spectacular views. Another difference between the States and Monte Carlo is that in the latter you’ll find many fewer slot machines. On the whole, the focus here is more geared towards table games, as these are the casino’s biggest earners.
This also is a testament to the type of players they want to attract. In the States, most of the casino floor space is taken up with slots and video poker machines. These tend to be of favor to the great unwashed and the working poor. Conversely, Monte Carlo has its root deeply embedded in an aristocratic history. And they like to keep it that way.
The Proletariat Are Not Welcome
Monte Carlo has no interest in this below stairs demographic and so focuses more on table games. This in turn leads to a quieter casino, without the constant noise from slot machines. Compared with other gambling venues around the globe, Monte Carlo comes out of the way in front when it comes to a ratified and culturally elite environment. Here you’ll find the real taste and a style of decoration fitting to its status as a playground for old money. There’s nothing flashy or crude. In the same manner, all the dealers and staff are clad in formal wear. This combination, of formally dressed staff coupled with exquisite surroundings, creates an atmosphere of timeless elegance. One could almost believe that you’ve stepped into the 1800s, into a refined and rarefied past.
Conclusion: Gambling in Monte Carlo
If you’re gambling experiences are limited to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, then you’ll be in for a treat when you visit Monte Carlo. It’s certainly not your standard gambling trip. For one thing, it’s going to be much more expensive, with everything from the hotels to the minimum bets costing an arm and a leg. You’ll be needing to bring a much larger bankroll along with money for essentials like eating out, travel and sightseeing. But once you’re there, you certainly will not be disappointed.
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