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First modern casinos
The 20th century for Greece was the time when gambling halls from a rare resort exotic turned into a recognizable part of the tourist economy. "Modern" casinos - with a clear dress code, European tables, a restaurant card and a control system - first appeared as a showcase of elite recreation for diplomats, sea magnates and art stars, and by the end of the century they began to work for the mass tourist. Below is a map of this path: key places, eras and practices.
1) Interwar foundation: resorts and island storefronts
Mediterranean resort fashion. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Eastern Mediterranean adopted the European "fashion for baths and rivieres." Casinos become part of the "grand hotel + salons + park" complexes, where the game is adjacent to balls and concerts.
Island "scenes." In the interwar period, it is the islands (including the Dodecanese) that form the image of the "Greek night" - evening promenades, orchestras, restaurants and roulette/baccarat halls. For local authorities, casinos are a way to attract wealthy audiences and overwintering Europeans.
Etiquette and customers. Invitation entry, tuxedos, evening gowns, French and Italian cuisine. The game hall is a continuation of the secular salon, where the bet is an element of "bonne manière," and not an attempt to "get rich."
2) After the war: the state and tourism as a strategy
Tourism as a policy of recovery. In the 1950s and 1960s, Greece relied on tourism: resorts, ports, infrastructure were developing. Casinos are seen as a "night anchor" for affluent guests, conferences and cruises.
Government projects. The country builds a reputation as a safe European resort around the flagship halls: control, standards, staff with languages, strict separation of play and public areas.
Interiors and service. Marble halls, panoramic restaurants, terraces over the sea, concert stages - casinos show Greece as the "art de vivre" of the Eastern Mediterranean.
3) Iconic locations and their role
Athens/Parnypha (Mont Parnes). The mountain casino above the capital is a symbol of the "official" glamor of the 1960s: a view of Attica, European etiquette, roulette and baccarat, a stage for receiving delegations and stars.
Rhodes. The historical island of the Mediterranean turns into an "evening showcase" of elite recreation: the casino is integrated into the resort complex, where nearby are embankments, gardens, balls, concerts.
Corfu. Ionic chic: palaces, villas, yachts and chamber halls. The casino is built into the "aristocratic" route - dinner, music, then tables and terraces.
Mainland resorts. Baths and coastal cities are drawn to the "grand hotel + casino" format to keep the tourist in the evening and raise the average trip check.
4) Games, formats and technologies of that time
Tables. Roulette, baccarat (and its variations), shemin de fer, later - blackjack; poker is more often in indoor rooms or club format.
Slots. The first wave of mechanical automata is rare and "divertissement"; the main driver is board games and cabin atmosphere.
Control and safety. Surveillance cameras are being introduced gradually; before - pits (pits) with inspectors, strict change of dealers, signed chips.
Service. Orchestras, dance nights, international bandstand; cuisine with a focus on local produce and European classics.
5) Social optics and regulation
Public morality vs. elite leisure. Society looked at gaming halls with dual optics: "evening culture for the wealthy" is permissible, street excitement is condemned.
Age, dress code, documents. Admission is strictly by certificates, the dress code is controlled at the entrance; in the hall - emphasized politeness and distance.
Restriction periods. Political crises and conservative twists led to temporary tightening of regulations, reduced advertising and increased oversight of the game. Casinos survived due to the status of a "tourist showcase" and ties with the hotel business.
6) First casino economy
Hall revenues. The main contribution is board games and related gastronomy/events. Slots give growth only by the end of the 20th century, when electronic panels and wider lines appear.
Guest packages. Hotel + dinner + concert + game night: An early form of "integrated resort" long before the ubiquitous term IR.
Personnel. Multilingual dealers, maître d," orchestras, chefs, concierges - casinos form a new culture of service and become a staff school for the entire tourist cluster.
7) The ethics of gaming and the birth of Responsible Gaming
Norms of that era. The responsible game has not yet been formalized in today's protocols, but there are "soft" social barriers: restrictions on visible "intemperance," tactful prompts from staff, closed recreation areas.
Transition to rules. Towards the end of the century, clear admission standards, age filters, the first information materials, and more explicit control of advertising promises appear.
8) Late XX century: from the "salon" to mass tourism
Tourism boom. The 1970s and 1990s bring the growth of charters and cruises: a new audience comes to the halls - couples, groups of friends, conference groups.
Technology. Electronic tables, video slots, automation of cash desks and accounting for chips, video control. Spacious slot zones appear next to traditional pits.
New venues. At the end of the century, modern halls open on the mainland and resorts, which are already focused on a mixed audience and a wide price of entertainment - from tournaments to thematic weekends.
9) 20th Century Legacy for the 21st Century Market
Architectural code. Front entrances, panoramas, terraces - the aesthetics of the Greek halls remains "Mediterranean" today.
Integration with tourism. The habit of collecting the "evening package" (dinner + show + game) has passed into the modern model of a casino resort and collaboration with cruise lines.
Service culture. The school of dealers, maître d" and concierges of the 20th century has become the personnel foundation for large hotel chains and modern operators.
Regulatory evolution. From etiquette and "good manner" to strict license, RG procedures, KYC/AML and digital reporting: what was a salon practice in the 20th century became law and standard in the 21st century.
10) A short chronicle of the era (sketch)
1. 1920s-1930s: island and resort halls as a symbol of social life; European etiquette, chamber formats.
2. 1950s-1960s: government tourism rate; flagship sites in Athens/Parnife and the islands; playrooms are the "showcase" of the country.
3. 1970s-1980s: audience expansion, more music and shows, gradual "democratization" of the hall.
4. 1990s: technological upgrade, large slot zones, standardization of procedures, increase in events.
Conclusion: The first modern casinos in Greece of the 20th century were born at the junction of an elite resort and a state tourism strategy. They set the style - panoramas, orchestras, roulette and baccarat - and created a culture of service from which the entire subsequent market grew. By the end of the century, casinos became not only a symbol of an elegant evening, but also an infrastructure of mass tourism, setting the stage for a mature, regulated and technological market of the 21st century.