Fodor's Expert Review Spielbank Bad Homburg

This casino boasts with some justice that it is the "Mother of Monte Carlo." The first Spielbank (casino) in Bad Homburg, and one of the first in the world, was established in 1841, but closed in 1866 because Prussian law forbade gambling. Proprietor François Blanc then established the famous Monte Carlo casino on the French Riviera, and the Bad Homburg casino wasn't reopened until 1949. Classic table games such as roulette and blackjack have been joined by poker variations Texas Hold 'Em and Three Card Poker, plus slot machines and other electronic games including electronic roulette. Buses leave from the south side of Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof and from the Convention Center every 60–90 minutes between 2 pm and 1 am. Buses back to Frankfurt run every one to two hours from 2:30 pm to 4 am. The trip takes one hour each way. The €10 fare is refunded after the casino's full entry fee has been deducted. Note that a passport or other government-issued identification is required for admission (and you must be 21 or over). There is also dining and weekend events with live music and dancing to DJs. Le Blanc, the casino restaurant, opens at 6 pm; there is also a café for coffee and sweets from 2:30 pm.