The history of casinos in the Savoy region in Annecy, Evian and Aix-les-Bains
Savoie and Haute-Savoie have been tourist departments for nearly two centuries. Magnificent casinos have been built. What is the history of these emblematic places?
Places for betting and gambling: an ancient history
France had 190 casinos in 2016. Some like those in Nice, Monaco, Aix-les-Bains and Annecy are architectural marvels. Throughout history, there have always been places to try your luck by betting or gambling. 3,000 years before our era, bone dice were used for this purpose. From 2,300 years BC, the Chinese practiced gambling. The term “casino” appeared in Italy, it designates the small secluded house where you could play away from prying eyes.
The first real casino was opened in Venice in 1638. Nicknamed “Ridotto”, it designates a secluded place. At that time, gambling was banned by the Church, but many Venetians practiced it in secret. In France, it was at the Palace of Versailles that the nobles played the most. In England, gambling was practiced in casinos located in seaside resorts, such as Bath. In the 19th century, many casinos were built in France, such as the one in Monte Carlo, which attracted many celebrities. In the United States, games were first practiced in saloons. Then, the city of Las Vegas became the gambling capital of the world.
In the countries of Savoy, tourism first developed around hydrotherapy and winter sports. Splendid casinos are built in Aix-Les-Bains, Annecy, Chamonix and Evian-les-bains.
The Grand Cercle Casino of Aix-les-Bains
It is one of the most famous casinos in France. It was the architect Charles Pellegrini who won the competition to build the building in 1845. Jean-Victor Bias brought his support to complete the financing. The financial state of the Société du Cercle does not allow for the development of a garden and outbuildings. The building was repaired in 1869.
In 1874, the construction of a veranda around the large living room began. Then in 1878, the two pavilions of the casino were enlarged to allow the creation of a new games and reading room. The casino of Aix-les-Bains then offers a large audience. The layout of the garden and the construction of a theater were decided in 1880. Two years later, the hipped roof was replaced by a magnificent domed roof. A larger veranda and the reconstruction of the porch were completed in 1883. In 1906, the owners realized that a global strategy had to be defined in terms of architecture to ensure the homogeneity of the whole. A correspondence room and a chat room are created. In the 1930s, cars could access the entrance via a double ramp.
From 1950 to 1990, the casino continued to evolve with the creation of the Victoria and Lamartine lounges, then with the opening of a pub and a nightclub. Nowadays, it hosts a large park of slot machines, gaming tables and poker tournaments. Despite the development of online betting, the Aix-les-Bains casino is still very popular with gamblers for its unique setting.
Annecy Casino
The Annecy casino was not always located at the Imperial Palace. Initially, it is on the Pâquier. In 1826, a performance hall was built on the banks of the Vassé canal. Almost a century later, it is complemented by a magnificent municipal casino which attracts many gamblers to the Alpine seaside resort. It was rebuilt several times until 1955 with the creation of a cinema. In 1980, it was destroyed to open up a perspective on the lake when the Bonlieu center was built. For 10 years, the inhabitants of Annecy did without a casino.
In 1988, the Imperial Palace was rebuilt after a fire. In 1991, the casino moved to this emblematic site in Annecy, on the Albigny peninsula. It offers players: French roulette, blackjack, baccarat, English roulette and craps. In 1992, a new room with 101 slot machines was shut down. A restaurant and a café are then integrated into the play area.
The Evian Casino
In 1870, a first casino was built opposite Lake Geneva. It replaced the modest casino of Amphion-les-Bains. In 1884, a theater was built. It is connected to the casino by a metal glass walkway. To arrive at the current architecture, it was necessary to wait until 1909. The architect Jean-Albert Hébrard won the competition. The casino looks like a big wedding cake inspired by Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia. The double cap of the central dome is typical of the Orientalist style in vogue at that time.
Currently the Evian casino offers 234 slot machines (poker and reel machines), 30 electronic roulettes, 10 classic table games (English and French roulette, blackjack and ultimate Texas hold’em poker) and 5 restaurants. It integrates the luxurious complex of the Evian Resort which includes: an 18-hole golf course, spas, thermal baths and a luxury hotel.
The turbulent history of Chamonix casinos
At the beginning of the 20th century, the village of Chamonix was transformed into a winter sports resort created by many personalities. To entertain this wealthy public, several casinos have emerged. The first gaming activity dates back to the Belle Epoque, in the salons of the Hôtel de l’Union. To expand, the games are transferred opposite, to the Villa des Fleurs. In 1905, a municipal casino was created in the Bois du Bouchet. Poorly heated, it had difficulty finding customers. It closed in 1928.
In the absence of sufficient funding, the games are set up in the salons of the Chamonix Palace. It is a great success thanks to its central location and its panoramic view of the Mont-Blanc massif. In 1926, a new establishment was built: the Mont Blanc casino, Michel Croz room. It will remain in this location until 1970. From this date, it is housed in the former Hôtel Royal de Chamonix. It currently offers players: 70 slot machines (with mechanical reels, video and poker), 4 table games (English roulette, blackjack and Texas hold’em ultimate) and electronic games (English roulette and backjack).
The countries of Savoy have offered a variety of leisure activities to tourists for more than a century. And casinos are part of the entertainment landscape.
Article produced in partnership with the company NetBet.