Culture and history

The historical roots of Tunisia's gambling scene are associated with the European influence of the protectorate era: clubs and salons at hotels on the coast, secular resort life.

After gaining independence and strengthening religious and social norms, gambling for citizens became socially and legally unacceptable, and casinos were preserved only as a niche for tourists - according to their passports and, as a rule, at hotels.

Domestically, the cultural code has shifted to "social" games without money: tawla (backgammon), dominoes, cards, chess in cafes and terraces, where meeting and conversation are more important than risk.

Festival and resort culture (Hammamet, Sus, Djerba) forms the background for a foreign audience, but for local excitement remains on the periphery.

So the duality was entrenched: for tourists - a casino as part of the resort service; for Tunisians - the usual cafe rituals and family entertainment without bets.