Baden-Baden Spielbank Legal Gambling in Germany

Baden-Baden is famous for its hot springs and spas but legal gambling in its classy casino has been part of the Baden-Baden experience for most of the past 250 years. Legal gambling here started in Baden-Baden in 1748.

From Spa Town to Europe’s Top Casino

In 1848, a year of revolutions and upheaval in most of Europe, Edouard Bénazet took control of the casino business in Baden-Baden. He quickly expanded gaming, redecorated the casino in the neo-Baroque Grand Epoch style, and invited top musicians to Baden-Baden. The rich and famous followed.

For the following two decades, Baden-Baden in the Black Forest was more famous for gambling than for its spas. The European nobility and artists loved the place, the cultural events, the gossip, the waters, and the gambling.

Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky won a fortune in Wiesbaden but lost all of it, including the shirt off his back, in Baden-Baden. This experience inspired his book The Gambler.

It was long a law in parts of Germany that a gambler could only lose as much as he had on him at the moment of placing the bet. “On him” included overcoat and shirt but not underwear and pants!

In 1872, the prudish Prussians managed to ban gambling throughout the German empire. In Baden-Baden, the focus went back to the hot waters. Dedicated gamblers had to abandon German casinos such as Baden-Baden, Bad Homburg, and Wiesbaden but rather than give up the game, created the enduring new casino paradise in Monte Carlo.

Gambling in Baden-Baden resumed in 1933 – top Nazis always knew how to separate public propriety and prudishness from private pleasure and licentiousness. The casino stayed open until 1944, closing only in the dying months of the Second World War. Gambling resumed in 1950.

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Spielbank Baden-Baden Casino

Baden-Baden’s Spielbank (casino) is in the neo-Classical Kurhaus erected in 1824 by Friedrich Weinbrenner. The casino in the Kurhaus is physically (and mentally) divided into two sections: the Großes Spiel (tables) on the ground floor and the Automatenspiel (slot machine) in the vaulted cellars.

Games available at the tables are roulette (French, American, and Eurolette), Black Jack, and Poker (Texas Hold'em and Tropical). Minimum (usually €2 to €10) and maximum bets (up to €10,000) are displayed at each individual table.

Gambling in Germany is generally an upmarket experience and particularly at the BK8 casino. The atmosphere at the tables is more James Bond 007 than slot machines at a truck stop. Although a tuxedo is not essential to enter the main room, for men jackets and ties (available at reception) are.

Things are more casual at the slot machines where informal dress is allowed. Around 130 machines are available with minimum bets of 10c or 50c.

Opening Hours & Admission to Spielbank Baden-Baden Casino in Germany

General opening hours are daily from 2 pm, closing at 2 am (3 am on Friday and Saturday nights). Poker and black jack are played from early evening.

Admission to the tables’ room is €3 and to the slot machine room €1.

The minimum age for admission and gambling is 21 years – passports or official IDs (driving licenses not valid) are checked at reception.

Baden-Baden has many other attractions other than gambling in its casino. Day spas are very popular while guests in its top luxury hotels can enjoy exquisite private spas and beauty salons. Cheap flights are available from many parts of Europe to the conveniently located Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) only minutes from the Spielbank (casino).

Posh Surroundings and Peaceful Seclusion

On the banks of the Oos River, in the foothills of the Black Forest, lies a town with an advantageous setting. Nestled in a valley, the spot has drawn visitors from all over Europe for centuries. It’s hot springs gave the city its name, as “bad” means “bath” in German.

The Casino and a Resort Arrive

With the fashionable elite converging on Baden Baden to share their leisure time, in 1853 a Parisian, Jacques Benazet, persuaded the town to build gambling rooms for evening entertainment. Thus an elaborately decorated establishment was erected, followed by other venues such as a concert hall, drinking hall, and racecourse.

Today, the casino offers daily tours in the morning before the gambling operation begins and even invites tour participants to return at a reduced rate later in the day. Richly adorned rooms offer traditional table games such as roulette and black jack, as well as more recent diversions including Texas Hold’em Poker.

Gaming rooms dating from the 1855 renovation and addition include the Red Room, the Winter Garden and the Pompadour Salon. Many rich and famous have entered these rooms including Kaiser Wilhelm I, Chancellor Bismarck, the Aga Khan, Marlene Dietrich, continuing to the Saudi Arabian princes of today. In 2003, a major cleaning and restoration was completed bringing renewed beauty to the surroundings.

Parks and Paths Evoke Wellness

With its commitment to maintaining good health, the spa town of Baden Baden includes several walking paths and parks. Shielded from the sun, refreshed by the breeze from the nearby hills, and well maintained by the crew of gardeners, these paths offer respite from the everyday world.

Most famous is the Lichtentaler Allee in the center of town, where walkers, joggers, bikers, and strollers of all ages may be found. Here, a large variety of roses permeate the air with their fragrance during the summer months. The picturesque Russian Church is nearby and can be visited for a nominal fee.

Most hotels offer a spa plan with treatments and meals related to the wellness theme. The sloping streets offer a gentle transition in terrain as the visitor wanders the neighborhoods admiring the homes and views. For the serious walker, a hike into the surrounding hills or to Lichtental Convent affords a pleasant outing.

Visiting Baden Baden

Baden Baden encompasses a wide range of options for dining and lodging. In the downtown area, there are many cafes with outdoor tables and even a McDonald’s. More upscale dining can be found in French, German, and Italian restaurants. Lodging choices range from the stately hotels with luxury suites to the simpler and less costly modest inns. Whatever option is selected, the area has much to offer.

Many high-end shopping areas can be found in the town. Jewelry, clothing, antiques, leather, and fashionable accessories abound. The web of streets, some pedestrian only, invite window shopping.

Thermal baths are available in several locations, the most famous being the Friedrichsbad, dating from the 19th century. This pool allows mixed nude bathing so it is not for everyone. Nearby is the Caracalla-Therme, built in the 1980’s and featuring pools, saunas, Jacuzzis, and fitness areas.

Just as the Romans found a place of rejuvenation in this area of Germany, so may the visitor of today. Posh and peaceful, Baden Baden is worth a trip.