Casinos are famous for many things, but what not everyone realizes is that in addition to being places ideally suited to parting us from our money, the best casinos also offer splendid opportunities to dine and drink both well and free. Many experienced casino goers have even learned that the value of the meals and wines they can obtain free can be worth far more than the moderate losses they experience at the roulette wheel or the card tables.

It is not enough merely to realize that nearly every casino in the world offers some sort of free food and drink to its clients. There are several things to know before one learns how to receive the highest quality meals and beverages that a casino can offer. The first thing to realize is that casino managers are the ones who determine just who will receive first class culinary treatment. Because their judgment is based almost entirely on how much money they think clients will wager in their establishments, they automatically have greater respect and will offer more services to those they consider "high rollers", that is to say, big gamblers with large piles of chips stacked in front of them. Keep in mind that several small piles of $50 and $100 chips commands a great deal more respect than large piles of $2 chips. To the advantage of clients, there is no need to actually wager and probably lose all of those chips, for whatever has not been wagered can turned in for a cash refund before leaving the casino.

Regardless of whether they are winning or losing, people who bet truly large sums will receive good treatment in casinos unless their behavior or physical appearance is so revolting that even the casino manager wishes they would leave. Those of us with more modest sums to wager will do well to keep in mind that casino managers show greater generosity to those who play roulette, chemin de fer or baccarat than those playing twenty-one or dice games. Casino managers rarely even think about those people playing the slot machines, and even more rarely will they consider giving them anything special to eat or drink. Equally important, players seated at card tables or roulette tables are more highly respected than those who stand; men wearing ties and jackets and women wearing dresses appropriate for the evening are given priority over those who are dressed casually; and those who win or lose quietly and with a minimum of fuss are given better treatment than those who show signs of vulgarity. Following are a few notes about the quality of food and drink in various casinos I have visited within the last year or so.

Baden Baden Casino, Baden Baden, Germany: Built in 1853, this remains one of the finest, most elegant, and most beautiful casinos in the world. The bar, which is in a room adjoining the gambling tables is open to all, and complimentary drinks include the finest Scotch whiskeys, 25 year old Cognac, 50 year old Armagnac, and fine vintage French and German wines. A buffet table is always set in the bar area, and among the dishes offered are smoked salmon pancakes, eggs Benedict and hot or cold sliced roast beef. Big gamblers will be invited to dine at the Casino's French restaurant, a place as famous for its extraordinarily high prices as for the quality of its cuisine.

The Casino at Monte Carlo: This is another of the world's great and elegant casinos. The rooms that are open to the general public have a fine bar and a light but elegant buffet is offered free to all clients between nine and eleven in the evening. Drinks, including Champagne and good vintage wines are offered compliments of the house. The casino also has "private rooms" for clients who are known to the management and, regardless of whether they have FFr 50 or FFr 500,000 on the table, they will be treated to vintage Champagne, the best French wines, and some of the most expensive whiskies and brandies. A small buffet is available from ten in the evening, and dishes include simple but elegant dishes such as artichokes a la Reine, foie gras with truffles and oysters Rockefeller.

Achellion Palace, Corfu, Greece: Situated in a building that is simultaneously surreal and rococo, this small casino remains a favorite of Greek and English millionaires. Quiet, dignified and with virtually no limit to how much one can wager at some of the tables, the casino also features an exquisitely designed and remarkably well stocked bar and wine cellar. All visitors receive free drinks, but a charge will be made for the best wines in the cellar. A light super of dishes such as eggs Benedict, smoked salmon with caviar and capers, fresh oysters, and coquille Saint-Jacques is offered free of charge to all gamblers. The manager frequently invites clients to dine free at the French restaurant of the renowned Corfu Palace Hotel.

The Casino at the Corfu Hilton Hotel, Corfu: The admission fee of 1,500 drachmas includes a first drink. There is a charge for all other drinks. Sandwiches are also served, but these must also be paid for by the clients. No free meals are offered.

Taba Hilton, Sinai, Egypt: This casino has a bar that is stocked with imported whiskies, brandies and liqueurs and everyone seated or standing next to any of the gaming tables will receive complimentary drinks. Complimentary wines will be given to those who ask for them, and the primarily French, Italian and German wines offered are of a high quality. Sandwiches are served free at the bar to those who request them, but these are not exciting. The casino manager sometimes offers gamblers vouchers for dinner at the Italian restaurant located in the hotel.

Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas: Despite its amazing vulgarity, this is one of the most popular casinos in the world. Drinks are offered to all players, but only big gamblers will be offered the better brands. During the daytime hours, a dozen or more floor managers wander around giving out vouchers for meals in the steak restaurant ant or the coffee bar located on the premises. Bigger gamblers are given vouchers that allow them to dine in many of the city's better restaurants.

Circus-Circus, Las Vegas: This unbelievably huge casino has 3,200 slot machines, some of which have a jackpot of one million dollars. It also has twelve separate restaurants and six bars and the floor managers are generous in giving out vouchers that allow clients to eat in these. Unfortunately, at least according to food critic John Phillips of the "Los Angeles Times", "the food is so banal that I cannot imagine anyone wanting to eat here, even for free".

Taba Hilton, Sinai, Egypt: This casino has a bar that is stocked with imported whiskies, brandies and liqueurs and everyone seated or standing next to any of the gaming tables will receive complimentary drinks. Complimentary wines will be given to those who ask for them, and the primarily French, Italian and German wines offered are of a high quality. Sandwiches are served free at the bar to those who request them, but these are not exciting. The casino manager sometimes offers gamblers vouchers for dinner at the Italian restaurant located in the hotel.

© Daniel Rogov