Dernier rayon by Jean Via Flickr: Architecture The casino was built by the architect Charles Garnier who also created the Paris opéra. It is distinctly Beaux Arts - an Empire style referred to by Garnier (regarding the Paris Opéra) as "Napoleon III." History In 1854 gambling was legalized by prince Florestan I. The first casino was opened in 1856 in a villa near the harbour. Prince Charles the Third ordered the construction of a new quarter called Monte Carlo. A new casino was also part of this plan. The construction of the current building started in 1858. To make the casino more successful a 50-year concession to operate the gaming rooms was granted to a private individual named François Blanc In 1861. The new facility opened in 1863. Since 1898 the concession has been operated by the Société des Bains de Mer. In 1910 the building was expanded with a theatre. The casino in movies James Bond, fictional British spy and protagonist of the Bond book and movie series, is often associated with the city's glamorous Belle Époque casino. This was a model for the setting of Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale (1953), 'Royale-Les-Eaux' being a fictional resort in the style of Monte Carlo. The real Monte Carlo and its casino provided one of the locations for the James Bond movies, Never Say Never Again, Casino Royale and GoldenEye. Wikipedia
