When one thinks of casino gambling in the Monte Carlo section of Monaco, one usually thinks of the elegant Casino de Monte-Carlo, built in 1878, designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the opera house in Paris. Practically overnight, this building turned Europe's poorest country into a premier destination for high society.

The “atrium” of this magnificent building is paved in marble and surrounded by 28 Greek columns made from onyx. The atrium leads into the “Salle Garnier,” the auditorium of Monaco's Opera House, decorated in shades of red and gold, with a large number of bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures. For more than one hundred years, international audiences have enjoyed performances of opera, ballet and concerts here.

The casino's “gaming rooms” include many rooms featuring stained glass windows, intricate decorations, sculptures, paintings and bronze lamps.

The casino is open every day of the year. One must be at least 18 years of age to enter.

Dress Code

Those who enter the casino must present a passport or some other valid form of picture identification. There is a dress code; men are required to wear a jacket and tie. Women are forbidden from wearing short shorts. (Short skirts, however, are permitted.)

The casino's European Rooms (Salons Européens or Salon Ordinaire ) feature slot machines that may be played after 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and after noon on Saturday and Sunday. Players may also take part in roulette and trente et quarante after noon each day. There is a charge of 10 Euros per person for entrance. Adjoining this is the Pink Salon Bar, the ceiling of which features female nudes smoking cigarettes.

Private Rooms are the Most Glamorous

The most glamorous of the Monte Carlo gambling rooms are the Private Rooms (Salons Privés), which are more richly-decorated than the European Rooms. Visitors may play European roulette, English roulette, trente et quarante, chemin de fer, blackjack, and craps. The doors open after 3 p.m. from November to May. From June to October, they are open after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and after 3 p.m. on weekends. Punto Banco is played only after 10:00 p.m. The entrance fee is 20 Euros per person. The English Club features blackjack and English roulette after 10:00 p.m.