KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Short Answer
The Casino de Monte-Carlo is open to visitors in two different ways. In the morning it welcomes paying sightseers, and from 14:00 its gaming rooms open to adults who meet the entry rules. A visitor must be at least 18, show a valid passport or national identity card, and follow the dress code, according to Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), the operator.
These rules are set by the operator and Monaco’s authorities, and they apply to everyone. Monaco residents are not permitted to play in the gaming rooms. U.S. citizens also need to plan the trip into Europe, because Monaco’s entry formalities follow French and Schengen-area rules.
This guide explains the age and ID rules, what the dress code says, what entry costs as of October 2026, how a visit works through the day, and how U.S. travelers get into Monaco. It also compares the Casino de Monte-Carlo with the Casino Café de Paris on posted figures. SBM can change prices, hours and conditions without notice, so confirm everything on its official site before you go.
Entry Rules at a Glance
Most questions visitors ask are about who can enter and what to bring. The table summarizes the rules SBM and the Monaco government publish, with each item dated October 2026.
| Rule | What the sources say (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 years old; SBM’s admission page says at least 18 years and one day |
| Accepted ID | Valid passport, or national identity card for EU residents; photocopies and digital documents are not accepted |
| Not accepted as ID | Driving licenses and other documents, according to an SBM notice |
| Monaco residents | Cannot take part in the gaming rooms, directly or through a third party |
| Also barred | Uniformed soldiers, religious ministers, intoxicated persons and excluded individuals |
| Devices | Cameras, recording equipment and mobile phones are prohibited in gaming rooms; free cloakrooms are provided |
| Currency | Euro |
The rules also say that anyone entering the gaming lounges must go through an identification procedure. Bring the original passport, because SBM states that copies are not accepted. The same rules allow guided tours when the gaming rooms are closed, including for minors accompanied by an adult, staggered from 10 am to 1 pm.
Dress Code, Rooms and Money
Dress rules vary by time of day. SBM’s admission page asks for appropriate clothing and lists what is not allowed for gaming: shorts, Bermuda shorts, ripped jeans, sportswear, running shoes, flip-flops, men’s sandals, tank tops and beachwear. From 19:00, T-shirts and sweatshirts are also not allowed. SBM’s page for the Salle Europe lists dark jeans, dark sports shoes or casual but chic shoes as allowed in the evening. Its pages for some other rooms add that men must wear a jacket.
The Casino de Monte-Carlo has several rooms with different roles. The Salle Europe holds table games and a lounge bar with live music from Thursday evenings, according to SBM. The Salle des Amériques and the Salle Renaissance are slot rooms. The Salles Touzet host table-game tournaments and are open to visitors for morning tours. Room pages list different opening times, so check the page for the room you want.
Money is straightforward. The slot page lists a minimum bet of €0.01 at both the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Casino Café de Paris, and says staff personally hand over winnings of €1,500 or more. SBM’s blackjack page lists table limits in bands, from €10 to €500 up to €100 to €5,000 at the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Limits vary by table and can change, so confirm them on site.
Planning Your Visit
A visit has two parts. In the morning, SBM runs paid visits from 10:00 to 13:00, with the last entry at 12:15. Adults pay €20, ages 13 to 17 pay €15, and children aged 6 to 12 go free, according to SBM’s admission page. From 14:00, the gaming rooms and bars open to adults, and entry costs €20, including €10 to use at the slot machines, the bar or Le Salon Rose. Restaurant use requires a minimum order of €40. Members of the My Monte-Carlo program at Silver, Gold or Platinum level enter free.
For travelers, the airport is Nice. The Monaco government says the Principality is 22 km from Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, about 25 minutes by motorway, with a direct shuttle service. VisitMonaco says Monaco covers 2.08 square kilometers, so the Principality is compact.
Plan the money before you go. The example below is hypothetical and uses SBM’s October 2026 entry fee. It assumes one afternoon visit with €30 for drinks and a €100 gambling budget, spread across two sessions.
where: entry fee = €20; drinks and food = €30; gambling budget = €100 (€50 per session); included credit used = €10. So €20 + €30 + €100 − €10 = €140. Gambling is paid entertainment, and the budget is a limit, not a target. Convert euros at the current exchange rate before you travel.
Casino de Monte-Carlo and Casino Café de Paris Compared
SBM runs more than one casino in Monte-Carlo, and its own pages let you compare two of them on posted figures. The table uses explicit criteria: the minimum slot bet and the blackjack table limit bands SBM lists, as of October 2026. No ranking is implied.
| Criterion | Casino de Monte-Carlo | Casino Café de Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum slot bet | €0.01 | €0.01 |
| Lowest blackjack band | €10 to €500 | €10 to €500 |
| Highest blackjack band listed | €100 to €5,000 | €50 to €2,500 |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 (gaming rooms, per SBM FAQ) |
On these figures, the top blackjack band differs: the Casino de Monte-Carlo lists a maximum of €5,000 and the Casino Café de Paris lists €2,500. SBM’s 2022 editorial described the Café de Paris as hosting almost 150 slot machines on its smoking terraces, playable from 10 a.m., but that piece is dated, so check current hours. The Café de Paris has its own access rules page, so read it separately before you visit.
Tips, Rules and Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is arriving with the wrong ID. A driving license is not accepted, and neither is a photocopy or a digital document, according to SBM. Bring the original passport or, for EU residents, a national identity card.
Another is dressing for the morning and staying into the evening. Rules tighten from 19:00, and room pages differ, so check the page for the room you plan to use. Phones and cameras must be left in the cloakroom, which SBM says is free, so do not plan to photograph the gaming floor.
Visitors also forget the entry trip. A valid passport is required, and the Schengen area’s rules for stays apply. Check the passport’s validity well before departure, since the U.S. State Department says it must be valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure.
Finally, decide your gambling budget before you walk in, stick to it, and keep it separate from meals and hotel costs. SBM’s rules also allow it to refuse entry, so arrive sober and follow staff instructions. Nothing here is a way around any rule.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Operator | Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| ID required | Valid passport or national identity card with photo; originals only |
| Morning visits | 10:00 to 13:00; last entry 12:15; adults €20, ages 13 to 17 €15, ages 6 to 12 free |
| Gaming rooms | Open from 14:00; entry €20 including €10 credit |
| Slot minimum bet | €0.01 |
| Dress code | No shorts, sportswear or flip-flops; no T-shirts or sweatshirts from 19:00 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airport | Nice Côte d’Azur, 22 km |
Hours, prices and conditions can change without notice, so confirm them on SBM’s official site before you visit.
Related Guides
If you are comparing destinations, the Macau casino entry rules guide and the Singapore casino entry rules guide cover how two other destinations handle ID, money and entry. For another country with provincial age rules, see casino age in Canada.
Before you book, the casino trip budget guide shows how to set a gambling budget in advance, and the casino tipping etiquette guide explains tipping customs at land-based casinos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Gaming room rules (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — FAQ (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Admission prices and dress code (Italian-language page) (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Salle Europe (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Getting to know you better (ID notice) (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Slot machines (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — Black Jack (accessed October 2026)
- Monte-Carlo SBM — The Casinos of Monaco (2022) (accessed October 2026)
- Government of Monaco — Visiting Monaco (accessed October 2026)
- VisitMonaco — Informations pratiques (accessed October 2026)
- U.S. Department of State — U.S. Travelers in Europe (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission — Main differences between the EES and ETIAS (April 2026) (accessed October 2026)
