Player Notes: The glamour (and price) of Monte Carlo

Absolutely. The Ministry of Silly Walks, The Life of Brian, he loves British humor. I think you might be thinking of Monty Python.

So who’s this Monte Carlo guy? Not who, but what. It’s an area of Monaco — a small Principality located in the south of France, ruled by Prince Albert II of the House of Grimaldi.

Sounds more Game of Thrones than Brit-com. There’s only one throne, but there are plenty of games. Monte Carlo has long been famous for its lavish high-stakes casinos, becoming a byword for luxury and extravagant wealth.

Surely Las Vegas has always been the world’s gambling capital? Wanna bet? Monaco’s first casino opened in the 1860s, almost 50 years before the city of Las Vegas was founded. Its reputation for near-infinite riches inspired a hit song, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.

Never heard of it. Viva Las Vegas, now that’s my jam. Elvis Presley’s ode to Sin City came out in 1964. The Monte Carlo song was a hit 73 years before that, in 1891.

That explains it: I don’t do CDs. So, do they play any poker in Monte Carlo? They sure do. Aside from the action at the world-famous Casino De Monte-Carlo, the European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final has been played in the town ever since 2005. In fact, the 2025 edition is being played right now, complete with its famous retractable roof (see above).

And this is for European players? There are plenty of Europeans in town, as you might expect, but also lots of big-name players from further afield. The Foxens, Jesse Lonis, Ike Haxton, Nick Petrangelo, Chris Brewer, David Peters and many more are over from Las Vegas and beyond: a round-trip of more than 11,000 miles.

That’s a long way to go for a game of cards when you live in Las Vegas. What’s the appeal? There are a few good reasons, one of which is the sheer prestige and glamor of the event, the location and the EPT Monte Carlo title. Then there’s the range of well-attended high rollers on the schedule: There are no-limit hold’em events at €25K, €30K, €50K and €100K buy-ins, for example, as well as €5K, €10K and €25K PLO tournaments.

What’s a ‘€’? It means Euro, the local currency. It’s worth a little more than a dollar, so a €100K buy-in actually costs somewhere closer to $113K.

Pricey. That’s not the half of it. Monte Carlo’s reputation for being expensive is well deserved. A cheeseburger and fries in the local eatery will set you back north of $40.

Why? Is it made of gold? That’s just how it goes in this town. There’s a high-end feel to it all, from the boutique stores to the Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis you’ll see on Monaco’s many hilly, winding, narrow roads.

Sounds like a bad place to drive a fast car. It’s actually the location of one of the world’s most famous and prestigious motor races: Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix. They drive through the town at speeds of up to 180mph. This year’s race takes place in a few weeks.

Wow. It all sounds very glamorous, but at heart I’m more of a Big Mac and fries kind of person. Remember: They call it ‘Le Big Mac.’

Do say: “I think we should split a hotel room…”

Don’t say: “... between 12 of us.”