digging into the history of old Italian casinos

Return to Index Gallery Index Read Responses

The Chip Board Recent Archive

VIAREGGIO

]

Viareggio and gambling - a combination that has deep roots in the history of the city, from the eighteenth century, when the nobles of Lucca had built its palaces and villas to spend the season. Gambling continues in Viareggio in the nineteenth century, with the establishment of a casino .
On 1834, a first regulation of the Casino in the City of Viareggio was established , being the the opening period the summer season and the days of Carnival.
On 1905 the gambling was banned, but
continued to be practiced illegally. On June 1907, in France, the government issued a law that suppressed clandestine gambling dens and authorized the establishment of casinos and private clubs where, legally, gambling could be practiced.
The echo of this provision reached Viareggio and so on 1908 the Viareggio City Council, resolved to request that the Parliament vote on a law governing gambling, liberalizing it in thermal and climatic seaside resorts.
However, for many years to come, gambling continued to be prohibited by law, despite
illegal gambling dens everywhere continued to thrive.
In 1924, the Royal Decree n. 636 of 27.4.1924, provided that in cities, which have been recognized as health resorts, bathing establishments or spas for at least 10 years and which were not close to centers with populations exceeding 200 thousand inhabitants, the opening of gambling houses was allowed.
Viareggio had all the characteristics required by law and also a historical vocation in the gambling. The Municipal Council agreed to the opening a gambling house in Viareggio, to increase the number of tourists, who already went to Viareggio, and to increase the coffers of the municipality for use in public works and charity.
For the gambling house, the large Kursaal tourist complex was chosen, built about ten years earlier and equipped with necessary spaces , including a large theater, dance hall, shops, a restaurant, a café, etc.
However Viareggio been recognized as a seaside resort, the 10 years of activity was missing.
The gambling house was not established, but at least the Kursaal obtained temporary permits to practice gambling.
On 1937 the Prefect of Lucca decreed the closure of gambling activities.
Gambling in Viareggio worked for a few months, after the end of WWII, with the establishment of a Municipal Casino, established to contribute to the reconstruction of the city damaged by the war events.

From https://www.complianceturin.it/ftp/gettonineisecoli/10_CASINO.pdf