"Smart casual", "elegant attire", "jacket required": casino dress codes are often vague, and they change with the time of day, the room and the venue. Here is what the best-known casinos have asked for, and how to dress so the question never comes up.
A word of caution first. Policies change, and individual rooms within the same building can have different rules. Always check the venue's own website before you travel. What follows is a guide to what these casinos have published or are known for, not a guarantee.
At a glance
| Venue | What to expect | Safe choice for men |
|---|---|---|
| Casino de Monte-Carlo | Relaxed in the morning, much stricter in the evening; men have been asked to wear a jacket after 7pm in some rooms | Suit or blazer, collared shirt, leather shoes |
| Casino Baden-Baden | Jacket required for men in the classic gaming area; tie welcome | Suit and tie |
| Mayfair private clubs, London | Members' clubs with smart, often formal, expectations | Suit, tie usually expected |
| Las Vegas casino floors | No formal dress code on the main floor | Smart casual; blazer for high-limit rooms and fine dining |
Casino de Monte-Carlo
The Belle Époque casino on Place du Casino, opened in 1863 and extended by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opéra, is the most famous gambling house in the world. Visitors must be adults and show photo ID, and there is an entrance fee to the gaming rooms. Monégasque citizens themselves are not allowed to gamble there.
The dress code depends on the hour. The casino's operator has said that in the morning visitors may come in smart shorts, T-shirts and sports shoes, but that after 7pm shorts, T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts and sweatshirts are not allowed and men must wear a jacket. The private salons are more formal still. If you arrive without a jacket, do not count on borrowing one; bring your own.
Casino Baden-Baden
Housed in the Kurhaus of the German spa town, Baden-Baden's casino is one of the grandest in Europe, with gaming rooms decorated in the style of French royal palaces. For the classic gaming area with roulette, blackjack and poker, gentlemen must wear a jacket, and a shirt and tie are encouraged. The casino has offered jackets to borrow at reception for a small fee. The slot machine area is more relaxed and accepts smart casual clothes. Jeans, T-shirts and trainers are a bad idea in the classic rooms.
Mayfair's private gaming clubs
London's most exclusive casinos are private members' clubs clustered in Mayfair, such as Les Ambassadeurs on Hamilton Place, whose history as a club goes back to 1941, and Aspinall's. Entry generally depends on membership or being signed in by a member. Their dress codes are not always published, but the expectation is smart, and a suit and tie is the norm on most evenings. The larger public casinos in the West End are more relaxed and usually ask for smart casual dress.
Las Vegas high-limit rooms
Las Vegas is the opposite of Monte Carlo: on the main casino floor of almost every resort there is no formal dress code, and you will see everything from shorts to sequins. High-limit rooms, where minimum bets can run to hundreds of dollars a hand, rarely have written dress codes either, but players and staff tend to dress up, and a blazer gets you treated as a serious guest. The strict rules in Vegas are at the nightclubs and some fine-dining rooms. Our Vegas weekend packing list covers those.
The universal casino outfit
- A navy or charcoal suit, or a navy blazer with grey trousers.
- A white or pale blue shirt with a collar.
- A tie in your pocket, to put on if the room asks for it.
- Polished leather shoes. Monk shoes or plain Oxfords are ideal.
- For the grandest nights, a tailored dinner suit.
The best casino outfit is the one that lets you forget about the door and think about the game. Dress one level above what you think is required.
