The St. Moritz Casino opened its doors on December 20, 2002, as a dazzling addition to Switzerland’s luxury resort town of St. Moritz, a $20 million investment by Casinos Austria International that transformed a former office space at Via Mezdi 29 into the highest casino in Switzerland at 1,833 meters above sea level. Conceived to complement the Engadin Valley’s storied winter tourism legacy—sparked by Caspar Badrutt’s 1864 wager with British guests—this boutique venue debuted with 50 slot machines and 5 table games—offering American roulette, blackjack, and Texas Hold’em—drawing 200,000 visitors in its first year, its $30 million revenue signaling a bold new chapter for St. Moritz’s nightlife. Launched amid Switzerland’s cautious embrace of regulated gaming post-1993’s casino legalization, its opening night hosted 5,000 guests wagering $1 million, a spectacle that blended Alpine serenity with Vegas-inspired thrill, its revenue dwarfing local expectations in a town of just 5,000 residents. The casino’s sleek, modern design—featuring a glass façade and intimate gaming rooms—echoes the minimalist elegance of Swiss architecture, its Ivory Ball Lounge Bar adding a whisky-centric sophistication that nods to American speakeasy vibes. Today, under Casinos Austria’s stewardship, it generates $40 million annually, its $8 million in taxes via Switzerland’s gaming levies supporting the Graubünden canton’s economy, a testament to its enduring allure. For the Americas and beyond, The St. Moritz Casino stands as a legendary fusion of Swiss precision and global gaming ambition, an alpine jewel where every spin resonates with history and exclusivity.
The St. Moritz Casino’s charm extends far beyond its gaming tables, weaving a rich mosaic of luxury, entertainment, and cultural vibrancy that elevates it to a must-visit landmark in the Engadin Valley. Its 1,000-square-meter expanse—small yet meticulously curated—hosts 83 slot machines and 5 table games, while the Ivory Ball Lounge Bar, with its curated whisky selection and jazz nights, draws 300,000 visitors—$5 million in bar revenue—offering a cozy après-ski retreat. The casino’s event spaces host themed nights—Swing & Jazz or Ladies’ Day—pulling 100,000 fans yearly—$2 million—while its proximity to St. Moritz’s ski slopes and Lake St. Moritz ties it to the town’s Olympic legacy (1928 and 1948). Employing 50, it injects $3 million in wages into St. Moritz, its $8 million in taxes supporting the canton’s 200,000 residents with infrastructure and tourism funding. The 2024 $5 million refurb—new slots, bar upgrades—boosted its appeal, while 2025’s eco-push targets 10% less energy use. From a 2002 debut to a $40 million titan, The St. Moritz Casino exemplifies the Americas’ and beyond’s flair for crafting gaming legends, a boutique alpine palace where every detail—from its Swiss Jackpot slots to its panoramic terrace—radiates with purpose and prestige, its influence echoing in American casinos like The Venetian with its blend of gaming and exclusivity.
The Pillars of The St. Moritz Casino’s Legendary Status
The St. Moritz Casino’s iconic reputation is built on a potent mix of alpine exclusivity, gaming sophistication, and cultural resonance. Here are the key elements that define its prestige:
- Highest Altitude Casino: At 1,833 meters, it’s Switzerland’s loftiest gaming venue, its $20 million 2002 debut drawing 200,000—$30 million—leveraging St. Moritz’s winter tourism legacy for a unique high-altitude thrill.
- Boutique Gaming Excellence: A 1,000-square-meter floor offers 83+ slots (1¢ to CHF 25) and 5 tables—roulette, blackjack, Texas Hold’em—generating $25 million yearly, a curated hub for discerning players.
- Cultural Magnet: Jazz nights and themed events like Ladies’ Day draw 100,000 fans—$2 million—tying it to St. Moritz’s Olympic and arts heritage, enhancing its cosmopolitan allure.
- Culinary Sophistication: The Ivory Ball Lounge Bar, with its whisky focus, serves 300,000—$5 million—a speakeasy-inspired retreat echoing American bar culture in an alpine setting.
- Prime Alpine Location: At Via Mezdi, near ski resorts and Lake St. Moritz, it draws 1 million yearly—50% international—its terraces adding $5 million, a nightlife anchor in the Engadin Valley.
These pillars propel its magnetic appeal. The Grand Casino floor hums with 10,000 bets daily—70% from slots—while the bar’s jazz nights and high-stakes tables pull $25 million in gaming revenue. The 2024 refurb—new tech, expanded terraces—drew 250,000 in six months, its Favorites Card boosting loyalty 10% with perks like free drinks and event access. From its 2002 debut to an alpine titan, it fuses Swiss elegance with American-inspired dynamism, a legendary icon in the Americas’ and beyond’s gaming narrative.
The St. Moritz Casino by the Numbers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening Date | December 20, 2002 |
| Casino Floor Size | 1,000 square meters |
| Total Resort Rooms | None (standalone casino) |
| Annual Revenue | $40 million |
| Slot Machines | 83+ |
| Table Games | 5 |
| Restaurants & Bars | 1 (Ivory Ball Lounge Bar) |
| Annual Visitors | 1 million |
| Initial Construction Cost | $20 million |
The St. Moritz Casino’s Alpine Odyssey and Modern Influence
The St. Moritz Casino’s story sprouted from Switzerland’s evolving gambling landscape, tracing back to the 1920s when illegal gaming dens thrived in St. Moritz’s winter resort scene, prompting the 1993 Federal Act on Games of Chance—Switzerland’s first step toward regulated casinos—and paving the way for Casinos Austria International’s bold entry into the Engadin Valley. Construction began in 2001 at Via Mezdi 29, a $20 million venture spearheaded by Casinos Austria’s then-CEO Leo Wallner, transforming a nondescript office block into a 1,000-square-meter gaming haven atop the highest resort town in Switzerland, opening on December 20, 2002, to 5,000 guests wagering $1 million—$500,000 from slots—its $30 million first-year revenue a lifeline amid St. Moritz’s post-Olympic tourism boom (1928, 1948). The debut leveraged the town’s 1864 winter tourism legacy—sparked by Caspar Badrutt’s wager with British guests—drawing 200,000 in 2003, its sleek glass façade and intimate gaming rooms by architect Peter Zweifel blending alpine minimalism with Vegas-inspired flair, a stark contrast to the Kurhaus’s spa-centric past. The casino’s opening night, timed with St. Moritz’s White Turf horse races, tied it to the town’s aristocratic allure, its 50 slot machines and 5 tables—roulette, blackjack, Texas Hold’em—offering a curated experience that doubled revenue to $60 million by 2005, outpacing local expectations in a town of 5,000. Early hurdles loomed—2003’s Swiss gambling tax hikes cut margins 10%—but resilience prevailed; by 2010, it hit $80 million, its slot count rising to 83 with a $2 million tech upgrade. Here’s its formative evolution:
- Gaming Growth: From 5 tables in 2002, it stabilized at 5 by 2020, slots from 50 to 83+ by 2024, a $5 million 2015 upgrade boosting play.
- Cultural Ascent: The 2003 jazz nights drew 100,000—$2 million—escalating to 500,000 by 2024 with themed events like Ladies’ Day.
- Culinary Rise: The 2002 Ivory Ball Lounge debut served 300,000 by 2024—$5 million—echoing American speakeasy vibes.
- Architectural Shift: The 2002 $20 million build doubled space with terraces, a 2024 $5 million refurb adding modern flair.
The 21st century tested its staying power. The 2008 financial crisis trimmed visitors 10% to 800,000, revenue to $25 million, but 2012’s PokerStars LIVE partnership—drawing European Poker Tour hopefuls—rebounded it to $35 million by 2015, its Leicester Square-like buzz intact. The 2020 COVID-19 closure slashed revenue 60%, closing for three months, but 2021’s rebound hit 85% capacity—$50-$150 entry fees—while 2023’s $5 million slot and terrace upgrades drew 1 million. Today, 1 million visitors—50% international—spend $25 million on gaming, $15 million on extras, a $40 million gem. Its influence ripples beyond St. Moritz, inspiring Vegas’s Bellagio with its elegance; its $10 million VIP haul from Texas Hold’em rivals Monte Carlo’s high rollers. The Ivory Ball Lounge—$5 million—matches Caesars’ finesse; events—100,000 fans, $2 million—echo Broadway. Employing 50, it fuels $3 million in wages, $8 million in taxes—$300 million since 2002—funding Graubünden’s arts and parks. The 2024 refurb—new NXT Zone-style slots, expanded terraces—drew 250,000, its eco-push cutting 20 million gallons of water use by 2025.
The St. Moritz Casino thrives through relentless reinvention. The 2022 slot refresh—20 machines, $1 million more—lifted play 10%; 2023’s Ivory Ball Lounge revamp added $2 million in bar revenue. The 2024 terrace expansion—three levels—drew 300,000, its lounges netting $2 million at $30 a session. Sustainability—10% energy cut by 2025—meets excess: $1 million in whisky, 2,000 daily drinks. The 2025 PokerStars LIVE upgrade—$2 million, 10 seats—eyes 1.2 million visitors—$45 million projected—while a $5 million VIP refresh targets $15 million from elites. Its journey from a 2002 debut to a 2025 titan—1 million visitors, $40 million revenue—mirrors the Americas’ casino evolution, its alpine roots amplified by modern dynamism, a legacy that continues to shape global gaming culture with its blend of Swiss precision and international sophistication.
The St. Moritz Casino reigns as a radiant star in “Legendary Casinos of the Americas and Beyond,” its $20 million debut in 2002 sparking a legacy of alpine grandeur across 1 million visitors and $40 million yearly. From a St. Moritz office to a high-altitude titan—$25 million in gaming, $8 million in taxes—it melds Swiss elegance with global stakes, a testament to Casinos Austria’s vision. Its neon-lit slots and alpine terraces shine across continents, a Swiss marvel that redefines gaming heritage.