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History of gambling in Cuba before the revolution (Cuba)
Before the victory of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Havana was one of the main entertainment centers of the western hemisphere. Casinos, cabarets, jazz clubs and luxury hotels formed a "showcase" image of the capital, where tourists from the United States and Latin America flocked. The gambling sector grew at the intersection of three factors: geography (an hour of summer from Florida), political and economic conditions (preferential policies for investors) and cultural attraction (nightlife, music, famous performances).
1) Early forms and pre-revolutionary roots (late XIX - 1930s)
Colonial and republican practices: lotteries, card games and sweepstakes have existed in private clubs and hotels since the end of the 19th century.
Tourist impulse: after the establishment of the Republic of Cuba (1902), the island became a "winter resort" for North Americans; gambling tables met in hotels and private clubs, although their legal status was often "floating."
Prohibition effect in the United States (1920-1933): the prohibition of alcohol stimulated the flow of Americans to Havana. Casinos, bars and cabarets legally offered what was not available in the United States - this laid the foundation for the future boom segment.
2) 1940s: The consolidation of tourism and the show industry
Infrastructure and style: Hotels in Malecon and Vedado, private clubs and cabarets cement Havana's reputation as the "Paris of the Caribbean."
Music and stage: Afro-Cuban rhythms, big bands and dance shows become an integral part of the "game package" - dinner, shows, casinos.
Political change: The turnover of governments and the influence of the army on politics made the rules of the game not always stable, but the overall course remained favorable for tourism and entertainment.
3) 1950s: Casino's "golden era"
Since the early 1950s, authorities have relied on foreign investment in hotels and entertainment. For large projects - tax breaks, accelerated licenses and "package" permits, where the casino acted as an "anchor" during the construction of the hotel.
By the middle of the decade, an integrated resort model is taking shape: hotel + casino + fine dining restaurant + cabaret/show. This attracts private capital and strengthens the "Caribbean Vegas agenda."
Landmark venues and clusters (late 1950s)
Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a symbol of luxury, a place of elite rauts and legendary gatherings, with a gambling hall in different periods.
Tropicana is a world-famous open-air cabaret; a game format (tables/roulette, in different years) worked next to the show scene.
Riviera (1957) is a modern casino hotel on the Havana waterfront, considered technological and luxurious.
Capri (1957), Deauville (1957), Habana Hilton (1958) - new complexes with casinos and show programs aimed at the flow of tourists from the United States.
Why Havana was ahead of the alternatives
1. proximity to the United States and convenient logistics;
2. flexible conditions for hotel and gambling business;
3. a powerful cultural scene (jazz, Afro-Cuban music, dancing), which strengthened the "program of the evening";
4. reputation as a safe and "own" place for the American public until the late 1950s.
4) Legal framework and administrative practice
Casino licensing at hotels: permits were often tied to investment and number of rooms to stimulate construction.
Taxes and fees: fixed and interest fees were in effect from tables and machines; part of the income was directed to the budget and municipal needs.
Control and "gray areas": with formal supervision in the industry, dependence on the patronage of high-ranking officials remained, which created a favorable environment for "agreements."
5) Organised crime and corruption: a risk factor
By the mid-1950s, the influence of American criminal networks around large facilities was increasing: they brought casino management practices, capital and personnel, but at the same time - corruption schemes, kickbacks and illegal operations (gaming shuler software, inflated bills, "black box office"). The presence of crime contributed to the rapid growth of the industry, while undermining its legitimacy and creating social tension.
6) Economy and employment
Jobs: Large casino hotels created thousands of jobs - from croupiers and cashiers to artists, cooks and tech staff.
Multiplier: demand for agricultural products, alcohol, transport, tailoring and decoration for the show.
Dollar flow: Tourism and gaming revenues fueled foreign exchange earnings, allowing imports and urban infrastructure to be financed.
Uneven effect: benefits concentrated in Havana; rural regions felt weaker, which increased social contrast.
7) Culture, life and image of Havana
Nightlife as a brand: a bunch of "dinner - show - casino" has become the hallmark of the capital.
Stars and press: celebrities from the USA and Latin America fueled the interest of the press; photos and reports reinforced the myth of "fun Havana."
Social debate: Religious and civic activists have criticized the gambling boom for corruption and moral costs, pitting "window dressing" luxury against real issues of poverty and inequality.
8) What games were offered
Tables: roulette, baccarat, "twenty-one" (blackjack options), bones.
Poker: both tournament and cash formats, often in separate halls.
Slot machines: electromechanical and early electronic models; in the 1950s they spread particularly rapidly.
Betting and betting: on dog runs/cockfighting and sporting events - depending on the site and period.
9) Social costs and conflicts of interest
Corrupt practices undermined trust in the state and laws.
Gambling addiction and domestic crime became the object of press and political criticism.
Unequal income distribution reinforced radical sentiments and the demand for a "moral cleansing" of the economy.
10) End of an Era: 1958-1959
With the intensification of the revolutionary movement, the flow of tourists is reduced, the risk for investors is growing. In 1959, the new leadership headed for the elimination of the "hotbeds of the threshold" as symbols of a corrupt past: casinos are closed, many facilities are nationalized or reorganized, some staff and investors leave the country. The Cuban gambling industry in its former form ceases to exist almost simultaneously.
11) Legacy of pre-revolutionary industry
Architectural and cultural footprint: hotels, concert venues, legends about "night Havana."
Lessons for historians and economists: how a combination of tax incentives, "political rent," and external demand creates "fast" industries - and how they collapse under regime change.
International influence: management practices, personnel and capital partially migrated to other entertainment markets in the region and the United States, accelerating their development in the 1960s.
The history of gambling in Cuba before the revolution is an example of the rapid rise of industry at the intersection of tourism, politics and culture. Havana has become the "Caribbean capital" of entertainment due to its proximity to the United States, flexible conditions for investors and a unique show scene. But dependence on political patronage, corruption and external demand made the model fragile: in 1959, it was dismantled in almost a few months, leaving behind a bright - and controversial - mark on the history of the Caribbean.