The home of roulette, France is one of the greatest casino destinations in the world. The guys and girls at Lucky Nugget Casino have therefore stepped up to discover the best French casinos – for anyone looking to visit, or who just wants to learn more about the country which brought us classic games.
There’s 186 legal gambling facilities in France, spread across 175 cities. Very few areas have more than one casino: even Paris, the capital city, only has one casino alongside its five other gambling venues. Casinos in France also tend to be small and intimate, like their British counterparts: they’ll take up the floor of a hotel rather than an entire city block. If you’re looking for a more personal touch to your gaming, Paris has got you covered.
Palais de la Méditerranée, Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image via Flickr
The Palais de la Méditerranée is not a big casino by any means: there are 17 table games, with eight roulette wheels, and only a few slot machines. The draw of the casino comes from its grandeur and majesty: it’s located in one of Nice’s premier landmarks, a stunning nine-story luxury hotel on the Nice waterfront.
Built in 1929, the hotel has undergone a few changes since its inception, but it still remains a paradigm of class. Everything about it exudes a sense of glamour. Get a fancy cocktail at the bar and feel like you’re back in the 1930s. Try and visit while the casino is hosting a 1930s gala: it’ll show you just how grand and magnificent the casino was back then, as well as showcasing its present-day beauty.
Casino de Divonnes les Baines, Divonnes-le-Bains, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Divonnes-les-Bains is close to the French border with Switzerland, so many high-rollers from Geneva come over to experience the delights of this casino. It’s the largest casino in France in terms of games on offer: there’s a poker room, 13 table games, and 355 video gaming machines (including 244 slots).
The casino is open until 3am, while patrons can enter from noon during the week and 11am at the weekend. There’s plenty of room to wander around and take in the sights. And, like many of the other best French casinos, appearance is key: the grand hotel is a 4* paradise, and two restaurants offer a variety of cuisine for the discerning palate.
Casino Barrière d’Enghein-les-Bains, Enghein-les-Bains, Paris
As the only casino in the Île-de-France region, all the gamers visiting Paris make a stop at this luxurious establishment. So it’s no wonder that it’s a large casino, designed to cater to all of Paris’s tourists and businessmen who want to play games of chance. It’s also home to the only slot machines for miles around!
Step up to one of the 280 gaming machines to play slots or video poker, or play at one of the 38 table games. There’s all the casino classics like Roulette and Blackjack, but you could also try something different – chemin de fer is the original French version of Baccarat, and still the most popular version in the country. Try it out, and see if you can beat the banker.
Casino le Lyon Vert, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Image via Casinos Lyon
No list of best French casinos would be complete without mentioning Casino le Lyon Vert. It’s truly a luxurious gaming destination, boasting 334 slot machines, 15 table games and regular bingo draws to entertain the country’s third biggest city. And the casino is open until 4am to accommodate all the city’s night owls.
There’s a 9,688 square foot spa at the venue, too – which is larger than many of France’s casinos. Step away from the game floor to visit the fantastic restaurants and soak up the atmosphere. However, if Lyon’s a bit of a trek for you, the casino also has an online option: you can feel like you’re actually there, while staying in the comfort of your own home. So long as your French is good enough, that is!
Monte Carlo Casino, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Yes, we know – Monaco is a separate country, but it occupies a strange kind of limbo: it’s so famous that we must mention it, but we can’t dedicate a whole blog to just one casino. As a compromise, we’ve included it with French casinos — after all, citizens of Monaco are banned from entering the games rooms, so it’s a favourite of wealthy French tourists looking to splash some cash.
The casino opened in 1863 and is famous for many reasons – its style, its elegance, its history, and for hosting the national Opera. It’s been the inspiration for many James Bond locations, and served as a filming location for Ocean’s Twelve. There’s 108,000 square feet of gaming spaces, around 300 slot machines, and endless table games. You can even play them on the Terrace, for gambling with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. Now that’s something worth making a trip for!
No matter where you’re looking to go in France, there will be a casino that suits your needs. But if you’re looking for the crème de la crème, then these are the five best casinos in France (and Monaco). Bonne chance!
