For a long time, the people of Wiesbaden were not allowed to gamble in their casino. Until 1986, there was a ban on residents, and only non-residents were allowed to try their luck in the casino. After all, the "big game" has its risks. No matter how high or low the stakes and odds, one thing is certain: Wiesbaden's casino in the Kurhaus has one of the most beautiful casino rooms in Germany. Roulette, poker and blackjack are played here under gleaming chandeliers.

For those who like it louder and more lively: the one-armed bandits are right next door in the "Kleines Spiel" in the colonnade building. Even in the old Kurhaus dating back to 1811, good society used to meet up for a good game of chance. This was doubly fortunate for Wiesbaden. On the one hand, the guests enjoyed the thrill, and on the other, the casino brought in revenue for the city, which was used to finance parks and magnificent buildings.

One person who lost everything here was Fyodor Dostoyevsky. In 1865, he gambled away his entire travel fund at the roulette table and saved himself by writing. He wrote the novel "The Gambler" within weeks in order to get new money from his publisher. And although the writer was also a guest in many other casinos, experts believe that Wiesbaden was the real model for Dostoyevsky's role model Roulettenburg.

Anyone who places a bet on roulette in Wiesbaden today at least has better chances than Dostoyevsky: Wiesbaden's casino has its own patented super number rule, which ensures that the chances of winning here are a little higher than elsewhere.

Address:

Kurhausplatz 1
65189 Wiesbaden