First casinos in Poland

The first decades of the 20th century became a time of formation for Polish gambling culture. Between the two world wars, when the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth rapidly developed tourism and resort infrastructure, casinos were formed primarily as part of social life and the "showcase" of resorts. Roulette, baccarat, "chemin de fer," salon orchestras and evening rounds - all this created a special style, which today is perceived as a golden mirage of interwar Europe.

1) Context: Resorts and the secular economy

Resort card. Gambling salons gravitated to fashionable resorts and coastal/mountain cities: Baltika, Krakow-Tatra region, mineral springs of Lesser Poland.

Anchor function. The casino acted as a center of attraction for the wealthy public, supporting hotels, restaurants, balls and concerts.

European influence. The layout of the halls, dress code and entertainment repertoire were inspired by Monte Carlo, Baden-Baden and the Viennese traditions of salon culture.

2) Legal framework and municipal permits

Local regulation. Access to the games was provided through permits from authorities and resort administrations; emphasis was placed on the "respected public," order and public morality.

Taxes and fees. Casinos were considered as a source of replenishment of local budgets and resort development funds: fees, rent of halls, interest on turnover.

Control and reputation. An important part of the policy was the rules of conduct, working hours, restrictions for military personnel and youth.

3) Architecture and atmosphere of the halls

Space. Large halls with colonnades and galleries, separate rooms for "high rates," smoking rooms and buffets.

Music and light. String ensembles, jazz evenings, soft electric lighting, mirrors and gilding - all for the sake of the impression of prosperity and celebration.

Dress code. Evening gowns, tuxedos and doorman uniforms; in resort towns - a freer style during the day and strict in the evening.

4) Games and rituals

Roulette. The central table and the visual "circle" around the croupier; betting shaped the rhythm of the evening.

Baccarat and "chmen de fer." Elite audience, etiquette and neat large bank.

Poker and bridge. Separate salons for permanent companies; part of the "club" culture with membership and recommendations.

Lottery nights and dances. For the general public - charity circulations, dance programs, cabarets.

5) Social geography of the public

Gentry and bourgeoisie. Landowners, industrialists, bank employees, officers on vacation.

Intelligentsia and artists. After theatrical premieres - visits to casinos/salons, where patrons and the press met.

Foreigners. Tourists from Germany, Austria, the Baltic countries - the holiday season made the halls international.

6) Economic effect

Multipliers. Hotel occupancy, restaurants, taxis, atelier, photo studio, flower shops.

Jobs. Croupier, inspectors, cashiers, musicians, cooks, receptionists, night shifts of guards and equipment.

Seasonality. Peak in summer by the sea and in winter in the mountains; offseason supported balls, exhibitions, club tournaments.

7) The trauma of war and the "pause" in the post-war years

1939–1945. The war crossed out the resort economy: the buildings were damaged, some of the halls were redesigned.

Socialist period. After the war, the focus shifted towards controlled forms of leisure and the state lottery; salon casinos in the usual interwar form disappeared.

Legal thread. The culture of ballroom/club evenings, restaurants at resorts has been preserved, but gambling was severely limited and was put into state circulation and sweepstakes.

8) Legacy and impact on modernity

Image and style. The design of modern halls - from chandeliers to the distance between tables - often refers to interwar aesthetics.

Resort logic. The idea of ​ ​ "casino as an anchor location" continues to work: today it is conferences, gastronomy, SPA and event management.

Cultural memory. In museum displays, postcards and cinema, the interwar casino is a symbol of elegance and "lost time" that helps brands build the history of a place.

9) What a "typical evening" looked like in an interwar casino

1. Rendezvous on the boardwalk and early dinner.

2. First bets at roulette, familiar faces at the bar, news exchanges.

3. Music and dancing in between tours, a charity mini lototron.

4. Culmination at the baccarat/chemin de fera, quiet applause for the "big bank."

5. Late coffee and walk - meetings again tomorrow, beach bathing/skiing, concerts and salon talks.

10) Chronological sketch of the 20th century (very briefly)

Beginning of the century - 1910s. Salon games in resort hotels and clubs, mainly a private format.

1918–1939. Peak development: casino as a resort showcase, system permits and fees, international public.

1945-1980s. Break and transformation: state lottery, resort culture without "salon excitement."

Since the late 1980s. The return to modern forms of casinos is already in the new legal architecture of the post-socialist era.

The first casinos of the 20th century in Poland were not just halls with roulette - they became social scenes of resorts, supported the local economy and set the image of the country as part of the European secular map. The war and the socialist model interrupted this tradition, but its aesthetics and "resort logic" survived the era and partly rethought in modern recreation and entertainment spaces.