Discover the history of casino dress codes, from James Bond-style tuxedos to today's more casual attire with the rise of online casinos.
If you are planning on visiting a land-based casino you might have visions of dressing up as smart as you can imagine to even gain entry to play casino games. The glitz and the glamour of the casino is something that we’ve all thought about in the past, with the history of Monte Carlo and the allure of the James Bond movie franchise making us consider a trip to the casino a really big fancy night out. How true is this and how has the dress code for casinos changed over the years?
For Australian players looking for online casinos like these ones, where you don’t need a strict dress code and can wear whatever you want when playing the casino online at home or on the move, a list of the best online casinos in Australia would be beneficial.
Even though the dress code for physical casinos is not as strict as it once was, what’s better than playing online casino at home in your leisure and relaxation wear, rather than needing to get fully dressed up and out to the casino? As much as playing online casinos is convenient for many reasons, one of those is that you are not restricted by what you are wearing to gain access and play your favourite casino games.
One of the major reasons why the public has a certain perception of how and why to dress smartly to play in a casino is based on the movies that have been produced over the last century or more. Some of these films are incredibly stylish, some are action movies and gangster movies, but all portray the glitz and glamour of casino life, whether in Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, or beyond. Some of the best movies about casinos include:
Have you got a favourite movie set in the world of casinos and gambling?
When you are heading out to the casino for a night of entertainment and fun, it is viewed as a sophisticated affair. The sounds and the colours of the slot machines, the spin of the roulette wheel, the flipping of the cards in blackjack, casino life is often viewed through the prism of the rich and famous, a pastime that generally only those in that elite band of humans can afford to take part in regularly. This is, of course not true though, as we can all go to a casino if we want to.
Let’s go back to the very first casinos, which opened in what is now Italy during the 1600s. If you wanted to play, there had to be a certain level of sophistication and style in how you dressed. Only those who were dressed in formal attire were allowed entry during this age, with three-pointed cornered hats and masks a requirement for any person sitting at a table. This was due to the link between the casinos and the theatre, with one prominent early casino linked to a theatre, where well-dressed patrons could play table games in the adjoining casino during the intermission.
Jump forward to North America in the 19th century and we see the first instances of what we would consider elegant casino attire. For the high-class casinos and gambling establishments, men were required to wear black ties and tuxedos, whilst the women would wear corsets, ruffles, and elegant flowing dresses. The parallel between the posh casinos and the everyday western saloons that doubled as casinos is clear to see though, with a much more informal dress code for cowboys who would frequent saloons to gamble and drink.
In the 1920s, many casinos were prohibited and went underground, especially in the USA where there were strict controls on public gambling and drinking. As casino owners would only want the highest calibre of patrons, formal dress was once again expected, so as not to draw the attention of law enforcement. This included black tie and smart suits for the men, with glittery, 20s style dresses expected from the women.
Taking casino culture into the mainstream, the ‘Rat Pack’ helped to make casinos a stylish place for the masses and made Las Vegas a destination for punters from all around the world. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr were frequently seen dressed to the nines whilst playing at the casino, black and white suits, with clean-cut lines became the principal casino fashion choice for men and women until the mid-1960s.
Ever since the first film in the Bond franchise, Dr No, there has been that extra glamour attached to casinos, as the character of James Bond became intrinsically linked to casinos. The sharpest of suits for the men and the formal, sexy style of the women would remain the norm for casino-goers right up until the new millennia.
In the years running up to 2000 and since there has been a relaxation in dress codes for physical casinos around the world. Smart casual became the norm, making casinos accessible for people from all walks of life, and not just the rich and famous.
That brings us to today, where there has been a proliferation of online casinos, where there is no dress code at all. Any person can register with their chosen online casino, sign in, deposit funds and start playing their favourite games wherever they happen to be, whether on their phone, tablet, or laptop.
Could we end up seeing astronauts playing poker in space, dressed in their space suits as casinos move into space in the future? Are we likely to ever see the proper glitz and glamour of casino dress codes again? One thing is for sure, the proliferation of online casinos has changed access to casino games forever. Even those that stream live casino games from a studio, with human croupiers, don’t require you to dress up in a fancy dress or a suit when you’re playing.
The current and future trend for casinos is online, and even though the dress code for physical casinos is not as strict as it once was, a casual, leisured approach to playing online means the dress code is the furthest thing from your thoughts as you sign in and play your favourite casino games.
Photography by:
