Casino de Spa

The oldest casino in the world, opened in 1763 in the heart of the original spa town

The Casino de Spa sits in the heart of the town and claims to be the oldest casino in the world, with its origins in 1763. The current building is a handsome neoclassical structure, and while the gambling rooms are modest compared to Monte Carlo, the history is remarkable.

Even if you're not gambling, the casino operates a restaurant and hosts concerts and events throughout the year. The building is worth seeing from the outside — it faces the main square where the Pouhon spring is located, and the whole cluster of historic spa buildings in this part of town gives a sense of what the 18th-century resort must have looked like at its peak.

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The Casino de Spa claims to be the oldest casino in the world, licensed in 1763. It predates the famous casinos of Baden-Baden and Monaco by several decades. In its 18th-century heyday it was the social hub for the European aristocracy who came to take the waters — Victor Hugo, Charles II of England, and Peter the Great all visited Spa, if not the casino itself.

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