Casinò Lugano

Teatro Kursaal, closed in April 1997 (demolished in 2001)

Casinò Lugano in June 2016

Designed by the Italian architect Achille Sfondrini in 1804, Teatro Kursaal was the first games room with a café to open in Lugano. Biriba, Basset, and dice games were played in the establishment during the autumn fair. Upon the establishment of the Lugano Theatre Society in 1885, which consisted of 177 shareholders, discussions were held to modify the building for the intended purpose of theatrical and musical performances, ballroom dance and other shows. Plans were made to accommodate a café and restaurant adjacent to the main theatre.[1]

In 1912, the theatre acquired a gambling license. The society changed its name to Società del Teatro e Casinò Kursaal di Lugano in 1922. The Kursaal continued to increase its revenue after the Great Depression.

In 1946 the Kursaal broke its own financial record, accumulating 641,777 Swiss francs (equivalent of €521,899.91, US$707,469.04 or £441,643.70 as of October 2013) after staging operas, plays, concerts and films.[1]

On 24 May 1956, Kursaal was the host venue of the very first Eurovision Song Contest.[2]

The gambling stakes for playing were raised, from 2 Swiss Francs to 5 Swiss Francs, after a shareholders' vote in 1959.

The city of Lugano became the major shareholder in 1970 after its purchase of 184 shares. Following the ordinance of the Swiss Federal banking commission changes, fruit machines and boules were brought into the Kursaal.[1]

The fundamental principles were amended in 1993 to allow major games to be played on the premises. This license was later upgraded, to permit the company to operate as a casino. The theatre closed shortly after the last show in April 1997 and was demolished in 2001 to make room for the extension of the Casino. Casinò Lugano opened again on 29 November 2002.[1]

• Casino Lugano – Official Website
• Portrait Casinò Lugano SA
• Pierre Lepori (2005). "Teatro Kursaal, Lugano TI". In Andreas Kotte (ed.). Theaterlexikon der Schweiz (TLS) / Dictionnaire du théâtre en Suisse (DTS) / Dizionario Teatrale Svizzero / Lexicon da teater svizzer [Theater Dictionary of Switzerland] (in Italian). 3. Zürich: Chronos. pp. 1815–1817. ISBN 978-3-0340-0715-3. LCCN 2007423414. OCLC 62309181.