Casino in Rome Italy – Gamblers' Blessing or a Sin

Looking for a casino in Rome, Italy, might be a challenging task. We have prepared this article to ease your search and explained why finding gambling locations in the Eternal city is so difficult. Besides this, we added few suggestions of land-based and online casinos in Italy you can try. Stick to the end, and you will find out how old you have to be to play at an Italian casino and more legal information.
Benjamin Webb, Author at BestCasinoSites.net Written by: Benjamin Webb

Published: 21 June 2021

Casino Games in Rome

Our article begins with finding a casino in Rome. You can search through the Internet for information and check the maps for destinations, but we spared you those pains. The first section of this article will introduce the popular land-based casinos and gambling rooms in the past and present days. The extra touch we added are the most popular casinos in the past, now transformed into museums and galleries.

You can also find information about the legal games, gambling age, and the legality of every casino Rome has. In addition to all this, we gave light on why there are so few casinos in Rome and what the church has to say about that. Finally, don’t forget to check the FAQ section at the end of our article and find the answers to questions regarding gambling in Italy.

Best Land-Based Casinos in Italy & the Eternal City Rome

Rome has been a desired destination since before the times of Julius Caesar. Today, besides stalling down the ancient streets, visiting museums, or cultural events, you can also try your luck at a casino in Rome, Italy. This article will tell you about the modern gambling locations in Rome, some ancient locations, and the popular online casinos.

Best Italian Casinos Casino
Best Land Casino in Rome The Ridotto in Venice
All Land Casinos Rome 10+ Gambling Locations

It is our pleasure to take you on a trip around Rome’s online and land-based casinos. This is the moment to inform you that gambling in Italy is not popular entertainment and many people disapprove it. That is due to religion and society morals we will describe in the Vatican City vs gambling section of this article.

Modern Land-Based Gambling in Rome, Italy

If you are looking for one of the largest casinos in the world in Rome, then you are several centuries late. The grand halls and tossing golden coins are now in the past. Today, there are few gambling locations in the Eternal City, but Italy’s grand casinos are in other cities.

If you decide to take a break from sightseeing in a casino in Rome, you can visit Eurobet, Macao Palace, Joker Club, New York 777 Cafè, Terry Bell, and more. Those locations offer slots, video poker, sports betting, and other games. The fans of football can even place a wager on Roma or Lazio’s games and win. Finally, the fans of jumping balls with numbers can visit Bingo Ritz Somalia or Bingo Rouge et Noire.

If you search for one-of-a-kind entertainment, you can also visit some of the casinos on the cruise ships visiting Rome. Depending on the cruise company, you might be able to play for a few hours in the casino, go on an overnight trip, or even take a full tour and enjoy the ship’s casino daily.

Rome’s Ancient Casinos – Are they Still Open Today?

Casino di Villa Medici

Before we get to the best casino in Rome Italy and online gambling Italian players can try today, we will take you back in time. The desire for luxury and comfort has never been more obvious than in the old Roman casino rooms. Just a few centuries ago, gambling in the great palaces was reserved only for nobility, high ranking soldiers, and rich merchants or artisans.

Even the first gambling rooms in Rome were decorated with gold, velvet, marble, and served the best casino drinks and rare foods. They were part of private properties, and the access was restricted. In the table below, we gave examples of popular Roman casinos in the past. Today, those locations are closed, and many are transformed into museums or art galleries.

Popular Casinos in Rome, Italy Alternative Name Year Location Status
Casino dell’Aurora di Villa Ludovisi Boncompagni Villa Aurora or the Casino dell’Aurora 1570 Villa Ludovisi Private home open for tours
Casino Giustiani Casino Massimo Lancellotti 1605 Villa Giustiniani Massimo Franciscan Delegation of the Holy Land
Casino Nobile Casino Principale 1840 Villa Torlonia Museum Villa di Torlonia
Casino del Graziano 1606 Villa Borghese Galleria Borghese 2019
Casino degli ex Uffizi Casino delle Officine 1606 Villa Borghese Nursery School/Kindergarden
Casino dei Giuochi d’Acqua 1606 Villa Borghese Aranciera – Carlo Bilotti Museum
Casino di Villa Medici 1540 Villa Medici Museum
Palazzina dell’Alboreto dei Gelsi Casina di Raffaello 1606 Villa Borghese “Casina di Raffaello” Art and Creativity Space

As you can see, many of the grand casinos of the past are now transformed into museums, galleries, and community centres . This is due to the government’s desire to preserve the centuries-old buildings for future generations. This is done all over the country, and the buildings of many casinos in Italy are considered national treasures.

You might have noticed that many of the casinos at the table are at the same location. In the past it was a common practice rich people to buy the neighbouring estates to expand their own. As a result, there is an entire palazzo that extends through neighbouring houses and combining them into one. We hope that you liked the walk through history, and that is why we will move to modern times and the most popular casino Rome.

Best Casino in Rome Italy – Visit Amazing Land-Based Casinos

Any online search for “casino Rome Italy” will lead you to the small gambling and betting rooms or the old casinos, now transformed into cultural buildings. However, if you wish to visit a terribly and exciting gambling location and feel the amazing Italian hospitality, check some of the next casinos. There, you can sense the hospitality of the devoted casino hosts and even stay at modern SPA hotels and resorts the casinos are part of.

The Ridotto in Venice – Casino di Venezia

Rodotto in Venice Photo: casinovenezia.it All rights reserved. 2021

The Great Council of Venice ordered the IL Ridotto to open doors for players in 1638 as a private gambling room. This was how to solve the illegal gambling problem and add one more location where the festivities ruled all year round and add an extra touch to the Spring Carnival.

However, even though the casino was open to the public, the stakes were so high that only wealthy people could take part in the games.

It is an interesting fact that the players wore three-cornered hats and masks.

Some say it is tradition, and others say it is a casino requirement; either way, no one wants to be recognised when he (or she) starts losing money or win big. In the beginning, the most popular game was basetta, before being replaced by faro. You can read more about the games and the casino in our Casino di Venezia article.

Casino de la Valle – Saint-Vincent Resort & Casino

Casino de la Valle is one of the gambling casinos in Rome Italy locations in parts of the world-renowned resort Saint-Vincent Resort & Casino. In this current gambling location, players can try 400+ slot machines and a wide range of popular table and card games. Besides gambling, players can enjoy the extras of the resort and see how well gambling and pastries match when offered by skilful Italian professionals.

The Casino di Sanremo – For Pleasure and For Fun

Casino di Sanremo Photo: casinosanremo.it All rights reserved. 2021

Another great Italian gambling location is Casino di Sanremo. This establishment opened in 1905 and has the distinguishable style of Art Nuovo Deco.

This establishment offers slots, and the most popular table games, including roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and more. Besides the tournaments, many players also like to try their luck with the 80+ jackpot slots and keno.

Casino di Sanremo is open to all fond players, but you can still check our casino dress codes and outfit ideas article.

After all, it is always better to play and looks like James Bond instead of walking around with crocks. Tired players can take a seat at bars and restaurants or attend an event.

Online Casinos You Can Play in Rome & Italy

Online Casinos Italy

Sightseeing all day is exhausting, especially when it comes to a giant and ancient city like Rome. Since there are not that many land-based locations, you can try the online gambling sites Italy has. Our Italy online casino guide can give you gambling details and list of operators, so go on and have a look.

Every online casino Rome Italy, or any other country has is unique and delivers one of a kind gambling experience. When a player chooses a gambling site, there are multiple criteria to be met by the operator. For example, the gambling site needs to offer variety of games, tournaments, and have some of the top online casino bonuses in Italy.

If you are still wondering why gambling locations in Italy are hard to find, continue reading the next chapter. Next, we will tell you how the first casinos in Rome were created and explain why they are so few today.

Casino in Rome, Italy – From Ancient Rome to XXI Century

Many of the modern casinos in Italy have not only land-based and online versions but also offer some of the top online casino apps in Italy. Modern technology makes access to casino games easy, but this was not so in the past. This section of our article will briefly go over the history of the Eternal City’s casinos and tell you what Vatican’s opinion on gambling is.

Evolution of Roman Casinos

Colosseum Ancient Rome

Perhaps the first forms of gambling and betting appeared when the primitive people saw their fellows running away from the wild beasts. As time went by, the wagers changed, and the games became more civilised. The ancient works are the earliest signs of the Roman civilisation of poets, rulers, and travellers to the Eternal City. The first records of gambling in Italy are lotto and gladiator games in Ancient Rome organised by the dictators, Caesars, and nobility.

With the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Catholic Church, interest in betting diminished. There are few records of gambling games during the Dark Ages, but it is known that gambling dens were the local taverns or rich people’s private-operated rooms. There is no known casino in Rome during that time, and gambling in Italy was also not at the center of attention.

Gambling in the ancient times was revived in Europe after the 14th century when card games drew attention and spread like wildfire. The rulers of different countries had to accept the new trend and take measures. Since in the past major part of Italy was organised as city-states, the Council or the Dodge of every city had to decide if gambling is legal. That led to establishing the first casino in Venice, Il Ridotto, in 1638, which solved the illegal gambling problem.

Soon after the first casino appeared, many other city-states legalised casinos. As a result, Italian gambling locations began to grow in numbers and dazzled the visitors with style. During the wars, gambling reached new low levels, but soon after, the interest spiked again. With modern technologies and online casinos, gambling in Italy is yet to spread and draw even more attention in the future.

Gambling Casinos in Rome Italy & the Vatican City

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:24

In the first part of this article, we gave you the names of the most popular land-based gambling locations in Italy. Now, we will tell you why there is not a single grand casino in Rome, Italy, which can rival popular gambling establishments in Las Vegas, Monaco, or Macao.

The main reason for the lack of gambling locations in Rome is the strong grip of the Catholic church. To the devoted religious Italians, a combination between church and gaming rooms is unacceptable. The control over casino activity is exceptionally high because the Vatican City is in Rome. Being so close to the Pope and worrying that God is watching your every action can beat the addictive psychology of gambling.

All religions worldwide have an opinion about gambling, and if you are curious check our gambling and religion article. To avoid offending our readers with different religions, we will complete the article with the legal information about gambling, the legal games, and players allowed in every casino Rome & Italy has.

Gambling Laws in Italy & Legal Gambling Games

Italian Gambling Laws

Every known and open to the public casino in Rome has a licence and is checked by the government. The regulations were created during the last century. As a result, Romans can enter a gambling room for the first time in centuries without worrying about prosecution by the state or the church. Knowing this, you have to know that the gambling laws in Italy are just as fair and strict as in any other country.

If you are decided to play at a casino in Italy, you need to get familiar with the laws and regulations. The most important thing is to know that the gambling legal age is 18 years old, and you will have to provide ID upon entry in the gaming location. This requirement for every best casino in Rome Italy stands just as strong with the online gambling in Italy. When you register at an online casino, you need to confirm your identity and be at legal age to play.

Once you pass that first requirement, the doors of every online and land-based casino in Rome, Italy, can open for you. The legit and regulated casinos offer only legal games in Italy. The official list of legal casino games is long and detailed with instructions and gameplays. We shortened it down to the most popular games you can play at a gambling location in Rome and entire Italy:

  1. Slots
  2. Poker
  3. Roulette
  4. Blackjack
  5. Baccarat
  6. Keno
  7. Lotto
  8. Scratchcards
  9. Video Poker

The fans of ancient casino games can find interesting information about the games, dice, and cards used in the past. If you wish to go into details, Neapolitan cards will be of much interest to you! You can also find the rules of old games like Fado, Biribi, Sette a Mezzo, dice games, or roulette, and have an Ancient Roman gambling evening.

Popular Questions About Casinos in Rome, Italy

If you need information about the gambling location or casino Rome & Italy players can visit, our article is the light reading for you. In this section, we will answer the popular questions regarding legal gambling, games, and casinos in Rome and the rest of Italy.

🇮🇹 Are there casinos in Rome Italy?

You can visit a few gambling and sports betting locations in the Eternal city. The land-based casinos in Italy are great destinations to start your gambling journey. We also added few casinos in Rome, Italy, which was the "talk of the town" in the past and now is transformed into amazing museums, galleries, and community centres.

🏛️ Was there gambling in ancient Rome?

The first written records of the history of gambling in Rome, Italy begins over two millenniums ago during the time of the Roman Emperors. Back then, it was normal to wager on dice, gladiator games, or chariot races. Gambling was everywhere and all the time, but the Colosseum was perhaps the first casino Rome, Italy, had.

🍕 Is there a casino in Rome, Italy for online players?

For those of you who can't find a casino in Rome, or you live too far from the city, there are great alternatives in the form of the top online casinos in Italy. All major gambling locations in the country offer online casinos or betting sites. You can sit in the comfort of your home and enjoy the Italian casinos.

⚖️ Are casinos in Rome, Italy legal?

The gambling laws in Italy are exceptionally strict, and the gambling community is also closely monitored by the church. This double monitoring means that the casinos in Italy have licences to operate, offer only legal games, and don't accept underage players. Therefore, our recommendation is to visit the legit locations and avoid underground gambling establishments.

⛪ Does the church approve casinos in Rome, Italy?

Before you hit the tables at a casino in Rome, you need to be aware of the Catholic church's opinion on gambling. Today, the Vatican City establishment has a liberal view on gambling and even encourage charitable raffles. For many centuries, all casinos in Italy were banned, and players were chased as sinners and criminals.

🎰 Which casino games are legal in Rome and in Italy?

Entering a casino in Rome, Italy, can lead to adventures, especially if you have not picked a legal gambling location. We recommend that you play legal games in legit Italian casinos, which can pay out your winnings. The best operators offer the most popular games, including slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and more.

🏺 Which is the oldest casino in Rome or Italy?

Every casino Rome had in the past was private room with gambling games, part of rich peoples' palaces, opened for their guests. Some of those gaming rooms were found in taverns, brothels, and other entertainment establishments. The first-ever real casino in Italy is il Ridotto di Venezia, established in 1638, in the city of Venice.

🛑 Was there a time gambling was forbidden in Rome?

Betting and wagering have always drawn crowds of curious observers and players. Gambling casinos in Rome Italy includes locations and games have changed through time. During the evolution of casinos in Rome and in Italy, gambling has been banned by authorities and church many times. Despite that, modern times make it accessible via online casinos and land-based casino resorts.

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