Picture this: It’s the early 90s, and you’ve just walked into the casino. The theme is opulence, and everyone is dressed to the nines. Ladies are wearing floor-length sequined gowns, and men are wearing crisp shirts and ties. 

Casinos were (and continue to be) places that create an atmosphere of exclusivity and elegance. Historically, being in a casino would immediately associate you with wealth and opulence, and the formal wear acted as a visual marker of status and wealth. While the dress code is far less strict presently, the minimal dress code that still exists in some places today still helps to convey a sense of respectability. Here’s a history of dress codes at casinos and how they’ve changed.

Times Are Changing  

With modern technology and all the opportunities it brings us, we now have the ability to gamble from the comfort of our own homes. This means we have said goodbye to dress codes of any kind, and can now place our bets without even setting foot outside of the front door.

While physical (and older) casinos have a history of fabulous dress codes, online gambling offers a different experience altogether. There are also distinct rules in different parts of the world. In the states, these platforms are governed on a state-by-state basis whereas in many Asian countries, they can be banned altogether. 

However, in most cases, players can still access online casinos offered for their region even if not registered locally and most of these favour modern benefits over strict rules. For example, According to iGaming expert Vlad Grindu, instead of dress codes and the austere rules of the past, online casino laws in Singapore come with an assortment of perks like fast payouts, unique player bonuses, and various ways to pay. 

The popularity of online platforms has placed significant strain on land-based casinos – with most these days not even bothering with strict dress codes and choosing to be a lot more informal, in the hopes of attracting as many people to physical casinos as possible. However, that wasn’t always the case and dress codes were once far more common. Particularly in other centuries. 

The 19th and Early 20th Century Was an Era of Opulence

During this time, the Grand Casino came into existence, with the birth of legendary gambling houses such as Monte Carlo and Baden-Baden. Considering fashion trends at the time and coupled with the fact that casinos had just come to be, the dress codes tended to be quite strict. Men, for example, donned tailcoats, white ties, top hats, and polished shoes. 

Women, on the other hand, wore elaborate gowns with corsets, jewels, and even opera gloves. These dress codes did not exist only to make wearers feel fancy — instead, they were used as a way to reinforce their social distinctions and exclude the lower classes. Casinos were also considered a symbol of one’s wealth and often indicated that you were part of the upper echelon in societal hierarchy.

The Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour

In this era, Las Vegas emerged and had its own profound effect on the fashion world. Right in the middle of the 20th century, the influence of Hollywood drastically changed casinos and their dress code. Attire went from being overly strict and formal, to a more refined elegance. This time around, men wore tuxedos or dinner jackets and suits, while women wore cocktail dresses and evening gowns with chic accessories. 

This also brought about significant changes in celebrity attire – it’s impossible to forget about the Rat Pack Era. The likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. were “giving” cool and sophisticated style in their sharp suits. This truly cemented the idea that casinos were a place where one should “dress to impress”. 

Casinos continue to impact and inspire fashion even to the present day. In 2015, Karl Lagerfeld took inspiration from casinos and transformed the Grand Palais in Paris into a casino, for a Chanel haute couture fashion show. Celebrities such as Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore played casino games while showing off elegant designs. This is just one of many ways that casino culture has and continues to impact the fashion industry. 

The Casual Revolution – Late 20th Century

During this time period, we witness shifting social norms and begin to see the effects of the counterculture movement, along with rapidly changing social attitudes. Counterculture refers to a movement where the participants actively rejected societal norms and values. Essentially, casino-goers were now opposing the idea that it was necessary to dress up and instead, they were reclaiming the space as non-exclusive. 

This was helped along by the change in casino dress codes themselves, which were relaxed in order to attract wider audiences. This meant that those who wanted to gamble or enjoy a night at a casino could do so wearing business casual attire. Additionally, with the birth and quick rise of resort casinos, we see a much more casual turn in these spaces. An influx of tourists wanting to experience these resort casinos meant that more and more people were arriving in beachwear, tennis shoes, and sun hats. 

While this has led to a boom in resort business and tourist activity, it has also placed a lasting strain on physical casinos. Not only to get more players in seats but also to face the possibility of losing their stellar reputation by relaxing once rigid dress codes. 

Modern Casino Style – 21st Century

Finally, that brings us to the casinos of the present which cater to both land-based and online gambling. For physical casinos, there are high-end establishments which still maintain some degree of formality. Resort casinos, however, offer a “come as you are” invitation to expand business to all the visiting tourists. Evidently, online casinos have no dress code — this is arguably their most attractive feature to most players. 

It’s safe to say that casinos today, for the most part, have come a long way from the days of strict dress codes. With most societies now placing a premium on freedom, any outward rules in place are deliberately designed to separate people according to ‘class’ would likely be deemed discriminatory now — or at the very least would result in so much backlash against the casino operator on social media and other channels that it could do them serious financial harm. 

People are now able to gamble in sleepwear or even while juggling many other tasks. We find ourselves in an advanced age, and it would be impossible to dismiss the impact that celebrities and “influencers” have on the dress code found at casinos. These individuals use current trends coupled with social media to greatly influence fashion, ideas, and personal style. 

Concluding thoughts

It is clear that casinos have played a monumentally important role in society as well as the fashion industry. Casinos have affected fashion since their inception, and continue to do so even into the present. Casinos have also shown us that specific dress codes can contribute to creating a desired atmosphere. 

With the growing popularity of online casinos, one has to wonder: will the iconic casino soon just be a memory? Will online casinos reign as a result of their practically non-existent dress code? While it’s wonderful that casinos are no longer used for societal exclusion, one thing is for certain: it sure would be fun to dress like high rollers again!