As one of Europe's premier winter sports destinations, Austria welcomes
millions of foreign visitors every year, and many of them enjoy a visit
to a casino as part of their stay. Austria casinos are to be found
throughout the country, not only in the capital, Vienna, and other major
cities, but also in popular tourist destinations like Salzburg and
Baden, and ski resorts such as Kitzbuhel and Innsbruck. Additionally,
Austria casinos are very popular with Austrian nationals, who share the
German love of card games that has made casinos so popular in that
country in recent years.
Austria casinos are owned and operated by Casinos Austria, which was
founded in 1967 and based in the Palais Ephrussi in Vienna. In addition
to 12 casinos in Austria, Casinos Austria also operates casino
facilities in other countries, including several European countries, but
also Canada, Argentina, Egypt, and South Africa, and even a casino in
the Palestinian territories, though this is currently closed due to the
security situation. Casinos Austria also offers online gaming
facilities, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of
use and convenience.
Austria casinos, like casinos in most other European countries, usually
have a dress code for players at the gaming tables. Admission is free,
and most casinos offer a "bonus ticket," which gives guests a small
number of additional chips to play with when they purchase a certain
amount of credit. As with many other countries, a photographic ID is
required for registration purposes, though this can be done on the spot,
and guests must be over 18. Several Austria casinos are situated in
hotels, and special packages are available for visitors.
Austria casinos are open every day except Christmas Eve, apart from the
seasonal casino at Bad Gastein, which only opens during the winter
months to cater to the foreign tourist trade. Many casinos have
"teaching tables," where novices can learn the various games without
risking their shirt on the spin of the wheel! All the usual games are
available, including American and French Roulette, blackjack, poker, and
baccarat, and of course, the usual range of slot machines.
The largest casino in Austria is the Casino Baden, which has 36 gaming
tables and over 300 slot machines. In addition, there are casinos in
Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, and Vienna, which are popular with visitors
and locals alike. Austria casinos are extremely professionally run and a
worthwhile addition to any visit to the country.
