Weekend Special News 18+ / The Evolution Of Casino Dress Code And Style / Publisher LLM Reporters

For many years, casinos were seen as the height of sophistication, an opulent theatre where ladies laden with diamonds, mixed with a tuxedo clad James Bond.

Films such as Casino Royale and Dr. No, allowed us a peek inside those decadent walls at the high stakes gaming and glamorous patrons.

Today, online casino sites can easily be accessed through an app on your smartphone and played anytime and anywhere you choose: No queues, no travel, and no dress code. In response, physical casinos have embraced more relaxed requirements for entry, with smart casual replacing dress suits and tiaras.

The shift in cultural attitudes toward gaming has seen the popularity of classic casino games boom. Poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, and more, have seen tremendous growth globally.

But it’s not just the casinos that have evolved, so too has the fashion and style associated with them. Here’s our guide to the evolution of casino style.

Thanks to its casinos, Las Vegas soon established itself as the gambling capital of the world. Image credit: Andy777/Bigstock.com

The history of casinos

Gambling establishments – legal or otherwise – have been around for hundreds of years. In 1638, the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi Casino in Venice, opened its doors for the first time and is now recognised as the world’s oldest Casino.

However, the modern history of the casino can be traced to 1941, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The legalisation of gambling in the state in 1931 brought about the creation of the first Las Vegas casino, El Rancho, on what is now known as The Strip.

The Vegas influence of the 1940s and 50s

Thanks to its casinos, Las Vegas soon established itself as the gambling capital of the world. Fashion of the time reflected the glitz and glamour of the Strip, with neon lights and mobsters’ molls setting the trends.

The 1950s saw Hollywood stars descend, and with them came new fashion ideas. Men wore the classic black-and-white tuxedos or tailored suits, while women were often seen in sequinned tea-length dresses or sleeveless cocktail dresses.

Cultural explosion of the 1960s

The 1960s saw a decade of dramatic fashion shifts, as youth counterculture and social and technological changes influenced trends.

Early 60s styles saw geometric patterns, miniskirts, and shift dresses, become popular with women, while the hippie and mod look also grew in popularity. Despite this, casino dress codes remained stubbornly formal.

Inspired by the iconic James Bond films of the time, women were wearing evening gowns and dresses adorned with jewellery.

While men remained stuck in overly formal tuxedos or dress suits. This was a boom time for casinos as their popularity exploded, and strict dress codes added to the feeling of luxury, exclusivity and excitement.

Despite the popularity of 1970s Glam Rock, casino dress codes continued to be tuxedos and formal dresses. Image credit: Tom Misch/Bigstock.com

The 1970s

Music played a big part in transforming 70s fashion. The popularity of Glam Rock and Disco Fever saw flamboyance and bold colours take centre stage. Despite this, casino dress codes remained largely unmoved.

Men remained bound to dress suits or tuxedo – although the cut and shape altered with fashion – while women remained in formal dresses, albeit adorned with furs.

The 1980s

Power dressing reared its ugly head in the 80s, with shoulder pads and power suits barging their way in to public consciousness.

Vibrant colours and patterns were also a significant trend as the aerobics craze saw leg warmers acid-wash jeans and big hair become popular.

Casino dress codes remained largely formal, although silk suits made an appearance, while furs for women thankfully disappeared.

James Bond films continued to lead the way when it came to casino fashion for men. Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton, all wearing tuxedos in casino scenes for Octopussy, Never Say Never Again, and Licence To Kill.

The 1990s

It wasn’t until the 90s that casino dress codes started to move away from tuxedos towards a ‘smart casual’ look of shirt and trousers.

This in part was in response to a drop in popularity for land-based casinos and the launch of the first ever online casinos.

The rise of online casinos prompted physical venues to relax their dress codes in order to attract a wider audience. Image credit: Bigedhar/Bigstock.com

The rise of online casinos

Land-based casinos suffered at the turn of the century as people turned to other forms of leisure activity. The growing success of online casinos also led to a drop in visitor numbers, as more and more people preferred the convenience and ease of access that online casinos offer.

In response, physical casinos threw open their doors in an attempt to attract an even wider audience. Dress codes were watered down substantially, with jeans and trainers not looking out of place in many establishments.

Are tuxedos making a comeback?

Today, casinos are fairly laid back when it comes to attire, although rules can differ between day and night wear. But don’t think that the art of dressing up has totally disappeared. High-end casinos, VIP areas, or even special events will often require formal suits and dresses – especially in Monte Carlo.

However, if your tuxedo is at the dry cleaners and you’d prefer to kick back on your sofa and try your luck with the online slots, the dress codes is entirely up to you.

Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating