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Casino Baden-Baden

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aardwhite
aardwhite
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4 out of 5
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1
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Casino Baden-Baden

  • August 29, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by aardwhite from London, United Kingdom
Casino Baden-Baden

The casino in Baden-Baden must not be missed if you are in town. It is exactly what all casinos look like in your minds eye. This is not the dull, almost corporate world of modern casinos; it is not like Las Vegas. This is very much the casino of the super-spy. This is where James Bond orders his Martinis, whilst simultaneously winning at baccarat and seducing glamorous women.

The décor is that deep deep red, in the walls and the lush velvet. There are huge works of art in gilded frames and no ordinary pillars, everything is ornate. The customers are of the finest EuroTrash. The only reason that they haven’t all come direct from their yachts is that the town is landlocked. Palls of cigar smoke hang in the air across the many and various gaming tables and thousands and thousands of Euros change hands on the turn of a card.

This may not be the place of your dreams, for there is much to be criticised in what is a nightly orgy of conspicuous consumption, but it is the casino of your imagination.

Some things you might need to know: you will need to take a passport or Photo ID of some kind to be given a temporary membership. Unlike UK casinos these formalities can be completed on the day of your visit. Gentlemen need to wear a jacket and tie, these are available for hire from the front of house, but you will look a little like the boy who forgot his gym gear and was kitted out from the school laundry.

It all sounds very exclusive and expensive, but really it’s not. There are, amongst the dozen or so roulette tables, a few with a minimum stake of just €2. In addition there is the standard range of blackjack, baccarat, and poker. I don’t remember seeing any craps and there are no slots. There is a separate ‘electric’ casino in the basement that covers these bases.

I usually set myself a strict limit of €40 for the evening (and believe me I am a keen gambler) and when that’s gone, there’s more than enough scope for just kicking back and people watching.

Completing the picture there is a lovely champagne and piano bar where the high rollers go to give back to the casino all the money they have just won at the tables, or to drink away their losses. Again, even here it is not prohibitively expensive. As I recall two glasses of champagne came to just 9 euros last time I was there. This is surprising given the obvious wealth of many of the patrons.

There are guided tours available during the day when the casino itself is not operating but I would recommend a night visit. Even if you spend no more than the entrance fee and just go for the people watching and to look at the opulent rooms, it’s worth it. A fabulous experience.

From journal Baden-Baden - Relaxation? You Bet!

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