Gambling in Monaco has been high on my list ever since I saw watching all the James Bond movies. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a big gambler in general, but I feel like it’s something you have to do at least once. Even though there are a couple of casinos to choose from, I wanted to go to the world-famous Casino de Monte-Carlo (aka Monte Carlo casino).

 

Gambling in Monaco

My overall experience of gambling in Monaco was a very positive one. Even though it was kind of intimidating, I’m still glad that I got to go and enjoy it. It probably also helped that I made a little bit of money too! I couldn’t find a lot of information about gambling in Monaco before I left for my trip so I wanted to make this blog post to help other people. Also, the pictures below were taken during a James Bond premiere so if you’re wondering this is always there, it’s not.

 

Where is the Monte Carlo Casino Located?

You really can’t miss the building. It sits at the head of Casino Square which is the main plaza where everything is happening. Also, if you are staying in Nice, it’s only about a 30-minute Uber ride or train ride. If you need money exchange places in Nice, I’ve written a whole blog post about it here.

 

What Hours is the Monte Carlo Casino Open?

Casino hours are from 2:00 pm to 4:00 am every day. Times may change so please always double-check their website here.

 

How Old Do You Have to Be to Gamble in Monaco?

You have to be at least 18 years or older to enter the casino portion. For the Monte Carlo casino specifically, anyone can enter the lounge area where you pay for your entrance fee. To get to the actual casino part, you will have to be 18 years or older.

 

What Does the Monte Carlo Casino Look Like?

Outside

 

Lobby/Lounge Area

 

Casino Area

 

What is the Difference between Gambling in Monaco vs. Las Vegas?

From what I encountered, there are a couple of major differences between gambling in Monaco vs. Las Vegas. First, the legal age to gamble in Monaco is 18 whereas, in Las Vegas, it’s 21. Second, there is an entrance fee to get into the Monte Carlo Casino. I’m not sure if it goes for all casinos but if you want to gamble at this one, you will have to pay. The third is the setup of the casino. Specifically, in regards to the Monte Carlo Casino, there are certain rooms if you want to play certain games. Whereas in Vegas, I feel like everything is out in the open and all connected. The last biggest difference I noticed is how little the casino really was. I thought it was going to be this huge mega casino but it turned out to be really small. I guess it’s more about the quality of experience than the quantity.

 

What is the Entrance Fee?

During the time that I went (Sept 2021), the entrance fee for the Monte Carlo casino was 17 euros to get in. I thought this was crazy since, in Las Vegas, they are practically begging you to come and spend money at their casinos. Even though there was a fee, the casino was running a promotion where you can pick a special offer with your entrance. You had four choices and I decided to pick the 10 euro slot machine credit. So, technically, I only had to really pay 7 euros for the entrance fee.

Another good thing to note is that you can pay the entrance fee with a credit card. I was floored! I was literally using credit to get euros to gamble with. This worked out for me since I didn’t have a lot of euros to begin with so I didn’t want to waste it paying the entrance fee.

 

Is There a Dress Code to Enter the Monte Carlo Casino?

Gambling in Monaco is an overall experience and getting dressed up is encouraged. I saw women in full-on ball gowns and gentlemen in tuxedos. With that being said, I personally was dressed in regular clothes and I had no problems getting in. Granted, I did go earlier on the day (around 5:00 pm) so it probably wasn’t a big deal. I feel like the later the night goes on, the more expected you are to dress up. Either way, if you have a chance, you should. You’re in Monaco after all!

 

What Type of Games Do They Have?

They have every typical gambling game you can imagine. Slot machines, card games, dice games, etc.

Photo courtesy of https://www.montecarlosbm.com/en/casino-monaco/casino-monte-carlo

 

What is the Minimum?

First of all, you will be gambling in euros so make sure you know your own conversion rate. Second, there is an exchange place inside but the rates are horrible! Make sure you have euros before you go in. The minimum all depends on the games you play. I played a slot machine and my minimum was 50 cents per spin. The table games have higher minimums than what you would typically see in Vegas casinos.

Something I noticed is that there is an overall minimum spend for the Monte Carlo Casino. This is strange since no one told me about it. I just noticed it literally as I’m writing this blog post. On my entrance ticket, it says that everyone needs to spend at least 30 euros/person. I definitely didn’t gamble 30 euros (I think) but I don’t even know how they would be able to enforce that. Overall, what I’m saying is that I don’t think you need to be worried about the 30 euros/person if you’re trying to save money.

 

Did I Win?

Yes, I did win! Since I was by myself, I was too scared to play any of the table games so I stuck with the slot machines. I put 10 euros in (from my special offer deal) and I won back 32.50 euros. I know it’s not that much but I consider this a win either way. It was enough to cover my entrance fee and made a little on top too.