Venice is full of secrets, but one of the most surprising is this:
the world’s first casino was born right here, centuries before Las Vegas, Monte Carlo or Macau were even imagined.
In 1638, during one of the richest periods of the Venetian Republic, the government opened the Ridotto, a state-controlled gaming house inside Palazzo Dandolo, steps away from St. Mark’s Square. The word ridotto means “restricted room” — and that’s exactly what it was: a luxurious, exclusive space where nobles, merchants, diplomats and travelers played behind masks, often from sunset to sunrise.
Nothing about it looked like a modern casino.
It was more elegant, more theatrical… and definitely more dangerous.
🎭 A City of Masks, Gold and Intrigue
Venice in the 1600s was the European capital of entertainment.
Opera houses, private salons, masked parties, secret clubs, theatres and taverns filled the city from Carnival to Lent. Gambling was everywhere — in palaces, inns, boats and even in the streets.
So the Republic decided to do something very Venetian:
legalize gambling → centralize it → tax it.
The Ridotto became a controlled luxury environment where the State could monitor visitors and collect revenue.
Inside, everyone wore the same outfit:
- black cloak
- tricorn hat
- the iconic white bauta mask
This anonymity meant anyone could sit next to anyone — a powerful noble, a courtesan, a foreign spy, or a wealthy traveler. The social rules of Europe melted inside the Ridotto. It was glamorous, dangerous and irresistible.
🃏 The Forgotten Venetian Games
The games of the world’s first casino have almost disappeared today, but at the Ridotto they decided fortunes in minutes:
Biribisso
A fast-paced mix between roulette and lottery, played with cards and drawings.
Huge wins, faster losses.
Bassetta
The most aristocratic game — and the one that ruined more families.
Farò
Simple rules, high stakes. Foreign visitors loved it.
Zara (Ancient Venetian Dice)
Quick, risky, noisy. Popular among locals.
Tables were surrounded by candlelight, mirrors, whispers and masked faces trying to read each other without ever showing emotion.
Players often lost everything.
Some won fortunes.
Most came back the next night.
💰 Why Venice Invented the Casino
People imagine Venice as romantic and dreamy — but the Republic was one of the most efficient governments in Europe.
The logic behind the Ridotto was brilliant:
- gambling already existed everywhere
- the State couldn’t stop it
so they controlled it and made money from it.
Visitors arrived from all over Europe just to play at the Ridotto.
Gambling became tourism.
Tourism became revenue.
Revenue became power.
Sound familiar?
Yes — the business model of modern casino cities was literally invented in Venice.
🏛️ Where to Find the Ridotto Today
The original Ridotto was inside Palazzo Dandolo, which today forms part of Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, right near Piazza San Marco.
If you enter the main hall, you can still see:
- frescoes
- stuccoes
- tall mirrors
- Venetian chandeliers
- baroque decorations
It is one of the few places on Earth where you can stand in the exact room that changed the history of gambling forever — and nobody around you will even know.
Most tourists walk past without realizing they’re looking at the birthplace of the world’s first casino.
🔎 Want More Hidden Stories?
Explore the full guide here → Hidden Venice: Fascinating Facts You Won’t Find in Guidebooks
Continue exploring Venice:
🍂 How Venice’s Streets Work: Calle, Campi, Fondamente & Local Names
🏘️ The Sestieri of Venice – A Local Guide to the Soul of the City
🍽️ Traditional Venetian Food Guide: What to Eat in Venice (Local Insights)