How the casino dress-code has changed over the years

Over the years, the dress code for dealers has changed and adapted into what we know – or expect – today, and since the opening of the first casino in Italy in 1638, casino attire has varied from venue to venue. Whether you’re a croupier or just a visitor, a casino is often a great place to wear your classiest clothes.

Read on to discover what you should wear to a casino, what a dealer is expected to wear in order to add to the atmosphere – and, most importantly – why?

The Dealer

To start with, the dealers in the casino are the people who keep the whole thing running. Casino staff are required to dress appropriately under that particular casino’s guidelines – and will normally be found wearing formal attire.

If you’ve ever thought about a casino-based career, then a croupier may be just the thing for you, but before you go ahead and take that online course or sign up to dealer school, it’s important to understand the dress code that will be required of you – and why we expect to see dealers dressed the way we do upon visiting a casino.

Whilst a crisp white shirt, waist coast, suit jacket, and short, brushed hair, paired with a dark-colored tie is often required – croupiers are no longer expected to dress for the past. Women would often be seen wearing long black dresses and hats – and whilst many dealers and casino goers alike dress in their best attire, there is a little more flexibility these days.

Despite fashion playing a major part in the casino croupier world – in the past, dealers used to be required to wear visors. The purpose of this was to help protect their eyes and decrease eye strain. This was often a requirement in nineteenth-century casinos but is now a lot less common.

The bow tie is often a distinct feature of a croupier’s outfit. Since Casino de Monte Carlo opened its doors in 1856, it has become rare to find a dealer that opts to wear a necktie. Bow ties offer a unique, distinguished look, and is often required in many brick-and-mortar casinos.

Where female croupiers used to have to wear long dresses and hats, they now have the choice to wear a black cocktail dress, or trousers, a shirt, tie, and vest. They may be required to wear a pocket-less apron, to offer uniqueness – and croupiers often have a coin changer on their person, to allow them to store and make change without leaving their tables.

Visitors

Casinos welcome visitors from all around – but there are a few general rules you should be aware of. Firstly, never wear flip-flops, avoid trainers and don’t wear dirty, torn or worn-out clothing. Casinos are generally more casual during the day, but once the sun goes down, we recommend not wearing shorts or t-shirts, but focus on a buttoned and/or collared shirt, or even a full suit – and blouses, dresses, or more formal tops for women.

Casinos have no formal dress codes, but offer the perfect opportunity to ‘dress up’. Generally, casinos were enjoyed by the upper class and celebrities, which explains why players often displayed their wealth through their clothes. Not only did this help add to the elegance, atmosphere, and sophistication of a casino, but it also allowed people to flaunt their riches and feel confident when participating in games against the high rollers.

Over the years, casinos have become more accessible and welcoming to people from all backgrounds, but the hope for smart, stylish attire – especially in the evenings – carries on to the modern-day, so that the ambiance of the lavish, classy casino experience is not lost.

If, however, you are comfiest, and most confident, when at home in your pajamas – then the online casino at Paddy Power might just be the place for you! Not only can you travel the world, fly to new heights and discover the deepest lows of the oceans, but you can experience all the joys of live gaming too, without even leaving your sofa!

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