Moroccan casinos are a territory of contrasts, probably like everything else in this country. Despite the Islamic traditions, on the streets here you can more often meet a girl in jeans or a short skirt than in traditional clothes. The same situation with gambling. The Koran strictly forbids Muslims from visiting casinos, but state laws allow them, resulting in the majority of players being locals, many of whom are women.
The Kingdom of Morocco is without exaggeration called the pearl of excitement in North Africa. Those who like to try their luck come from all walks of life, from princes and other dignitaries at the VIP tables to dubious individuals whose incomes are probably lower than those of casino attendants.
A feature of local gambling clubs is luxurious oriental interiors with a unique atmosphere. Moroccans are very gambling and emotional, they violently react to any win or loss, while they are rarely aggressive - rather, they are childishly direct. Loud noise, shouting and arguments between players are a common thing here, which makes the casino look like a real oriental bazaar.
As a rule, expats (salaried workers who came from another country) work in the casino, so they speak English and French, sometimes Spanish, and rarely Arabic at the tables. Bets are made in Moroccan Dirhams (10 MAD is approximately equal to 1$). You can easily exchange major world currencies at the cash desk, and only local money is accepted at the gaming tables.
Casino in Agadir
This resort town attracts surfers from all over the world. However, many foreigners come here not only for sports entertainment, but also to plunge headfirst into the world of gambling. There are several casinos in Agadir that pleasantly impress with their scale, unique interior, unparalleled atmosphere and a large selection of games.
First of all, we are talking about the biggest club - Casino Atlantic. It is located in the five-star Atlantic Palace Casino & Resort. Thanks to a wide range of bets and a convenient location, the tables are full every day. Another feature of the institution is that the absolute majority of its employees are from the countries of the post-Soviet space.
The casino is open around the clock, it has about 300 gaming machines and 15 gaming tables. The minimum bets are 20 dirhams on roulette and 50 on cards, and the maximum are 1000 on VIP roulette and 5000 on blackjack. The poker room has 6 tables, where Texas Hold'em and Omaha are played mainly. Small poker tournaments are held every night, with entry from 500 dirhams. Twice a year, large international tournaments are organized, the prize fund of which exceeds one million MAD, and among the participants you can often meet world-class professionals. There are many foreigners and local residents among the visitors.
Shem's Casino. This is another gambling establishment that deserves attention in Agadir. It is not so big in size, but it can please players with 15 gaming tables and more than 80 slot machines of different orientations. A separate poker room hosts regular Texas Hold'em tournaments and daily cash game tables. The casino is aimed at guests from Saudi Arabia, foreign tourists and local players.
Gambling in Tangier
In Tangier, the northernmost city of Morocco, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, the Casino de Tanger is located - the only one for hundreds of kilometers around, so it is always full of visitors. The casino is open 24 hours a day, occupies 3 floors and is connected by a corridor to the five-star Movenpick hotel.
The lower floor is the slot machine area, the second floor is the main hall with 15 gaming tables and 5 club poker tables. A huge room with high ceilings decorated in an oriental style. Bets on roulette - from 20 to 2000 dirhams, on card games - from 100 to 20,000 MAD. During large poker tournaments, which are held here several times a year, about 20 tables work on the territory of the hotel. Prize money in tournaments is from 500,000 to 1,000,000 dirhams, and sometimes more.
The most expensive tables are located on the third floor, so it is not surprising that princes and other dignitaries play there. VIP rooms are open regularly, but in general Tangier is more geared towards the average level of players (although the stakes are slightly higher than in Agadir).
The largest of Morocco's casinos, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, is located next to the resort of El Jadida on the Atlantic coast. The casino has been operating since 2009, its halls are distinguished by luxury and modern equipment. There are 46 gaming tables in the general hall where you can play roulette, blackjack, poker and other games. In the VIP rooms, bets reach up to 5,000 on roulette and up to 20,000 on blackjack. The casino is located outside the city, on a huge territory there are all kinds of entertainment:
- karting;
- golf;
- tennis;
- in summer (in the beach season) — surfing;
- cafes, restaurants, etc.
Famous Moroccan artists perform in the concert hall, and the institution itself works only at night. The main part of visitors are princes from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, for whom the institution organizes weekly game tours. On weekends, the local elite usually come.
A few years ago, the Mazagan casino opened a croupier school for local residents, and until now most of the dealers are Moroccans, who speak to Arab guests in their native language. This brings a new level of comfort to players and generally helps prevent conflict situations at the tables.
Casino in Marrakech
Two completely different gambling establishments are located in Marrakech, an ancient city with a unique cultural heritage, which is located far from the beach resorts. These are Casino de Marrakech and Le Grand Casino La Mamounia.
Casino de Marrakech - the first casino not only in Morocco, but also in all of Africa, has been in existence since 1952. Its gloomy, noir-style premises only emphasize this. The facility specializes in poker tournaments. The hall has about 100 slot machines and 30 poker tables, where small tournaments and cash games are held every day. Once every few months, the WPT holds its series here, which gathers 500 or more players. Entry to major tournaments is 5,000-6,000 dirhams, and the prize pool is around 5,000,000.
Le Grand Casino La Mamounia is a large casino in a legendary hotel with an almost centuries-old history. The casino focuses primarily on members of royal families from Arab countries and Morocco. Closed tournaments are often held for them, access to which is prohibited for foreigners.
Gambling occupies a special niche in the entertainment industry, contributing to the development of tourism in Morocco, a country where East meets West. The owners of most clubs are representatives of the royal family, which allows us to predict the further stable development of the gambling business.
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