Analysing the location of many casinos, both in Italy and abroad, it is easy to see that most establishments are located near the sea, large rivers or coastal areas. While nowadays, people interested in casino games can simply go online and use bonus codes such as Sportingbet bonuses without leaving home, today we wanted to talk about this specific phenomenon.
To realise this, one only has to think of renowned casinos such as those in Venice, San Remo, Saint Vincent, Monte Carlo, but also of casinos on cruise ships or casinos built on boats docked along the Mississippi River or in the Gulf of Florida.
There are two main reasons for this particular location: a historical-legislative reason and a tourism reason.
With regard to the first aspect, it must be said that, in many states, especially American ones, there has historically been a ban on any territorial structure dedicated to betting and gambling.
The proximity to the sea or international waters therefore represents a ploy to circumvent the regulations and to open a casino even where national law would not allow it.
A glaring example is the so-called ‘riverboat casinos’ that rise along the banks of the Mississippi and in the Gulf of Florida.
These floating gambling houses set sail daily at specific times and, once in international waters, start the betting.
For years, many American associations have been fighting to ask governments for clearer and more consistent legislation on betting and gambling.
On the other hand, the issue of ‘international waters’ and waterways belonging to more than one state, is an argument that is not easy to solve: this legislative loophole creates the possibility for large holding companies and gambling tycoons to open casinos even where the state would not allow it.
In addition to this historical and regulatory motivation, there is also another that relates, purely, to a tourism motivation: casinos are often linked to hotels, resorts and specific holiday packages.
Precisely for this reason, casinos are generally located in areas that are very popular from a tourist point of view, such as the already mentioned cases of Venice, San Remo, Saint Vincent or Monte Carlo.
In other cases, then, it is precisely the presence of the numerous casinos that has fostered the fame of the various tourist resorts.
An emblematic example is the area along the Mississippi that has become a favourite destination for gambling enthusiasts.
Another significant example is Macao, the only location in East Asia where gambling is legal.
This region has made gambling and betting its main source of income, so much so that it has been dubbed the ‘Las Vegas of the East’.
In Italy, too, there are numerous holiday packages that allow you to combine entry to the casino with a stay at numerous local hotels.
In Venice, for example, if you stay at a hotel in the city, you receive free admission to the casino.
At the European level, there is still no uniform regulation on gambling and much is delegated to the individual Member States even though, in numerous recommendations, the EU Parliament has asked the EU countries to adopt maximum protection for sensitive persons.
In Italy there is a ban on gambling for minors under the age of 18 who cannot access either land-based or online casinos.
Italian legislation on betting and gambling is very strict and it is forbidden to open any gambling house near places considered ‘sensitive’ such as schools, children’s sports centres, hospitals and churches.
In addition, all gambling halls and casinos must receive a licence issued by the AAMS and must clearly publish the details of the licence on their official websites.