Casino di Campione history
When the first Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia opened in 1917, the primary motive was for the establishment to be used as a grounds for espionage during the First World War. It stayed open for two years and then closed in 1919. On 2nd March 1933, the casino reopened and in 2013, it celebrated its 80th anniversary.
However, soon after, in 2018, the Court of Como declared the casino bankrupt. The Como prosecutor presented the bankruptcy request following the casino’s inability to pay the fees due to its sole shareholder, the Municipality of Campione, causing its financial distress.
When the casino closed, it resulted in the loss of 500 direct jobs and another 300 jobs in affiliated businesses. As the casino was the main attraction, the number of tourists and visitors dropped, leading to many shops, bars and restaurants having to close their doors for good. When the Coronavirus pandemic struck, the situation in Campione d’Italia worsened.
In 2021, a court in the Lombardy town of Como approved a rescue plan that enabled the casino to reopen by 26th January, 2022. 174 people have been hired to work in the casino for now, with more hiring plans for the next five years to service one of the largest casinos in the world.
The new Casino di Campione d’Italia
The Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia reopened in 2021 with new “all-in-one” technology that allows you to enter the gaming rooms, play, and participate in the numerous promotions on offer with a simple quick touch. By simply registering at the first entrance, players will be able to access all the services of the casino without queues or waiting.
The large spaces of the Casinò di Campione d’Italia places it amongst the few casinos able to maintain distances between guests in compliance with coronavirus safety precautions. Customers have fun while also remaining safe without the charm of the game rooms being disturbed in any way. The aim of the new Casinò di Campione d’Italia is to offer entertainment across the board and to host large events, art exhibitions, and luxury commercial spaces. Dedicated areas that were previously used for casino activities will be handed over to new activities and new proposals that are emerging.
Games at the Casino di Campione d’Italia
As one of the largest casinos in the world, the Casino di Campione d’Italia has a huge selection of games. With 56 tables and 778 electronic gaming machines, you will be spoilt for choice. Here’s what you can expect when you visit.
Table Games
Apart from blackjack and roulette variants like Free Bet Blackjack, French Roulette and more, there are a vast number of table games available to play at Casino di Campione d’Italia. These include Punto Banco, Caribbean Stud Poker, Russian Poker, Texas Hold’Em, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and French games like Chemin de Fer and Trente-Quarantine.
Casino di Campione d’Italia is also a hotspot for poker players. Casino poker players of all levels, from amateur to professional, flock to the iconic casino in large numbers. The Italian Poker Open, sponsored by PokerStars, regularly holds events here. During the weekends, there are also tournaments held at 3 PM, 8 PM and 9 PM that can accommodate as many as 25 players each. Cash games of Texas Hold’em are also held everyday. These start at 3 PM and continue on until the casino closes. Multiple tables hold ten players each and minimum buy-ins range from €100 to €500.
Slots and Video Poker
The 778 electronic gaming machines on the main floor of the Casino di Campione d’Italia include 140 slot machines that are in a separate smoking area of the casino. Novomatic and other leading casino game developers are credited for the technology behind the electronic machines at the Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia.
Amongst these are some of the finest electronic gaming machines including video slots, video poker machines, multi-game machines, horse racing terminals, progressive jackpot slots and even electronic roulette terminals that can seat multiple players. More than one million euro is won daily from these gaming machines.
Stay and Restaurants at the Casino di Campione d’Italia
Despite being one of the largest casinos in the world, the Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia itself has no accommodation. However, you will find an array of hotels located in close proximity. Some of the hotels you can find nearby are:
- Melia Campione
- The Hotel Admiral
- The View Lugano
- The Hotel Atlantico
There is a restaurant and a snack bar at the Casino Municipale di Campione d’Italia for anyone that wants to grab a bite to eat. The Seven Restaurant seats up to 200 people and serves a wide range of delicious dishes such as Italian and popular international cuisine. If you want something quick or small, the snack bar in the casino has light meals, snacks, and sandwiches available around the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Due to the Casino di Campione d’Italia shutting down and reopening multiple times, there is still a lot of unfamiliarity and uncertainty with this iconic casino amongst gamblers and tourists. Even so, this casino is touted to be a must-see for all casino enthusiasts. We have included some of the most frequently asked questions about the Casino di Campione d’Italia below. Click here for other guides related to the casino world.
What is the Biggest Casino in Europe?
The Casino Municipale di Campione d’Italia is the biggest and oldest casino in Europe. It spans over 55,000 square meters with 3 levels of underground parking, four escalators and 28 elevators. The new building of the casino was designed and built by the architect Mario Botta, and is nine floors high and covered in golden stone. It consists of multiple sections, the center of which is the gaming floor covered in slots and gaming tables.
Where is the Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia?
Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia is located in Campione in the Como province of Italy. The province is an enclave that is completely surrounded by Switzerland on all sides. Campione provides many attractions alongside the massive Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia. The nearest airport is in Switzerland, and Campione is a twenty-minute ride from the airport.
What games are in Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia?
The Casinò Municipale di Campione d’Italia has an array of table and slot games across multiple floors. The table games offered here are French Roulette, Trente-Quarante, Chemin de Fer, Fair Roulette, Russian Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, Free Bet Blackjack and Punto Banco. The 778 game machines offer games like slots, poker, roulette and more.
