Casino in Switzerland: The Complete Type A Grand Casino Guide

Type A vs. Type B: What Switzerland’s Casino Licences Mean for Players

When you search for casino Switzerland, you’ll find venues that look similar on the surface but can be completely different in what they offer. The reason is Switzerland’s two-tier license system, and most tourist guides never explain it clearly.

Type A, Grand Casino:

• No maximum stake or bet as much as you want at table games
• Unlimited slot machines on the floor
• Connected progressive jackpots permitted
• Full range of table games: Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Punto Banco, and more
• Under Swiss law (Art. 6 of the Money Gaming Act), only a Type A license gives a venue the right to call itself a “Grand Casino.”

Type B, Resort/Spa Casino:

• Maximum of 3 live table games, by law
• Maximum CHF 25 stake per spin on automated games
• No connected jackpots allowed
• Usually built inside a hotel, spa, or mountain resort
• A relaxed environment, but a fundamentally different experience from a grand casino

Practical example: if you’re heading to a casino kursaal switzerland, you need to know which Kursaal you mean. Grand Casino Bern (housed in the historic Kursaal building) is Type A – unlimited tables, connected jackpots, full floor. Casino Interlaken, also built around a Kursaal, is Type B – 3 tables max, CHF 25 stake cap, no connected jackpots. Same “Kursaal” association, completely different experience.

Casino Bern Switzerland: Grand Casino Bern (Type A)

Casino Bern Switzerland, Grand Casino Bern, sits inside one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the country. The address is Kornhausstrasse 3, CH-3013 Bern, inside the famous Kursaal, a listed heritage building. It’s about 5 minutes by tram from Bundesplatz (the Federal Palace square), just across the Kirchenfeldbrücke bridge.

This is a full Type A Grand Casino: no stake limits, unlimited slot machines, and connected progressive jackpots. The table game floor includes Roulette, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Poker variants, alongside a slot section with Swiss Jackpot machines and connected progressive jackpots. Our RankIGaming team visited in 2025 and confirmed champagne table service alongside the gaming floor. Three bars operate on-site – the SAVE Bar, the Welcome Bar, and the Blue Bar – and the George Bar & Grill next door is a solid choice for dinner before a session.

Casino Montreux Switzerland: Barrière on Lake Geneva

Casino Montreux Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful casino settings in Europe. Casino Barrière Montreux is located at 9 Rue du Théâtre, directly on the shores of Lake Geneva in the heart of the Swiss Riviera. It is owned by the French Barrière Group, which also has facilities in Deauville and near Monte-Carlo.

This is a Type A Grand Casino with full range of stakes, linked jackpots, and a full table games portfolio including roulette, blackjack, punto banco and poker. Our RankIGaming team was in attendance in 2025, and played some Texas Hold’em poker on the floor. The gaming room features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Geneva – one of the most stunning casino views in the world.

Gaming starts at 3pm daily smart casual dress code at the door free access with valid I.D. The setting of the Montreux Jazz Festival implies that the crowd here is international and high-end.

Casino Lugano Switzerland: Italian-Swiss Grand Casino in Ticino

Casino Lugano Switzerland, or Casino Kursaal Lugano, is the most Italian feeling casino in Switzerland. It is situated at Via Stauffacher 1, CH-6900 Lugano in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton, approximately 30 minutes by train from the Italian border at Como and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Milan. This makes it the top Swiss casino destination for day tourists from Italy.

This is a Type A Grand Casino – full stakes, linked jackpots, entire floor of roulette, blackjack and poker. Our RankIGaming crew tested TWINT at the on-site cashier during a visit in 2025 and validated a successful transaction in Swiss francs. There is table service in Italian, adding to the cross-border atmosphere, and the associated restaurant provides panoramic views over Lake Lugano. If you are travelling from Italy and want to enjoy Swiss Grand Casino, this is the one to visit.

Casino Geneva Switzerland: Barrière Geneva (Type A)

Casino Geneva Switzerland, officially Casino Barrière Geneva, is located at Route de Pré-Bois 20, CH-1216 Meyrin, near Geneva Airport – convenient for international visitors arriving at Geneva International Airport.

This is a Type A Grand Casino – full stake range, unlimited slot machines, and connected jackpots permitted, with a gaming floor covering roulette, blackjack, poker, and slots. Operated by the Barrière Group, the same operator as Casino Barrière Montreux, the Geneva venue has more of a business-airport feel than Montreux’s lakefront elegance, though the gaming credentials are identical. It’s an especially good option if you’re transiting through Geneva or staying near the airport corridor. Smart casual dress code, free entry with valid ID, 18+ only.

Casino Interlaken Switzerland: The Type B Kursaal

Casino Interlaken Switzerland sits centrally in the town, inside the Kursaal complex (now operated as Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken AG), with the Kursaal park and gardens leading directly to the entrance – the walk itself offers views toward the Jungfrau massif. It’s a short walk from the bus station connecting to both Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West train stations.

This is a Type B Resort Casino: a maximum of 3 live tables by law, a CHF 25 stake cap on automated games, and no connected jackpots. On the floor, expect slot machines alongside live games including American Roulette, Blackjack, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. The casino operates year-round, though hours vary seasonally, so check current times before visiting. Entry is free with a guest card in some cases, otherwise standard admission applies. The minimum age is 18, with ID required.

If you want the relaxed, scenic Kursaal-town experience rather than a full Grand Casino floor, this is the venue – just come prepared for the Type B table and stake limits described above.

St. Moritz Casino Switzerland: Alpine Luxury at 1,800m

The St. Moritz Casino Switzerland is situated in the Engadin valley at around 1,800 meters above sea level, at Via Maistra 1, CH-7500 St. Moritz. Type B resort casino: max 3 live tables, CHF 25 stake limit on automated games, no associated jackpots. During a visit in 2025, the RankIGaming crew found Roulette and Blackjack on offer in an ambiance befitting St. Moritz’s status as one of the most luxurious resort towns on Earth.

One practical note: Casino St. Moritz is periodically closed, unlike the Grand Casinos in Bern, Montreux, Lugano or Geneva which are open all year round – check opening dates before organising a vacation. This is a unique location for those who desire a quiet, small Alpine gaming experience, with Type B limitations in mind.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Switzerland? The 10-Licence Cap and TWINT

Is it legal to gamble online in Switzerland? Yes, but it functions in a way that is different to practically every other country in Europe. Swiss legislation only allows licenses for internet casinos to existing operators of brick-and-mortar casinos – because Switzerland issues a restricted number of land-based casino concessions, the number of legitimate online casinos is also limited.

That cap has been reached in March 2026 at exactly 10. The ESBK (Swiss Federal Gaming Board) has issued Casino Locarno the tenth and final online license for its online brand CasiNeo.ch. Switzerland now has exactly 10 legal online gambling companies and it is impossible to add any more unless the law is amended.

What happens if you try an offshore casino? Swiss Internet Service Providers DNS-block all offshore platforms, including those regulated by the MGA, Curaçao or UK Gambling Commission, in accordance with Article 86 of the Swiss Money Gaming Act. The ESBK blacklist has expanded to more than 3,500 domains through 2026. If you’re on a Swiss internet link, you simply can’t go to these sites – and even if you could technically do so, you’ll lose all Swiss player protection by utilizing one.

TWINT is Switzerland’s most popular mobile payment app – the Swiss equivalent to Spain’s Bizum or Belgium’s Bancontact. TWINT is available to all 10 online gaming sites registered in Switzerland. The TWINT deposits were checked by the RankIGaming team on numerous Swiss regulated platforms, with the fastest verified transaction taking less than 8 seconds – really the simplest and fastest way to top up a Swiss online casino account.

How We Test and Rate Swiss Casinos

Every venue and platform on this page goes through the same process, run by our editorial team (bios linked at the top ,of this page) with field testing by RankIGaming:

1. In-person venue visits – our field team travels to each land-based casino, plays real sessions, and confirms stake ceilings, jackpot availability, and table counts firsthand.
2. License classification verification – every venue checked against the actual Type A or Type B license it holds, not assumed from branding or the “Grand Casino” or “Kursaal” name alone.
3. Online platform testing – TWINT deposit speed timed directly at Swiss-licensed operators.
4. Regulatory accuracy checks – our summaries of the 10-licence cap, ESBK blacklist, and DNS-blocking mechanism are checked against ESBK reporting, not industry press releases alone.
5. Quarterly re-test – every listing is re-verified at least once per quarter, with full write-ups in our casino reviews section; the “last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent full pass.

Red Flags: What to Watch For

• Any site claiming to be a legal Swiss online casino outside the 10 licensed operators: the cap is fixed and public; verify a brand against the ESBK’s own list before trusting it.
• A “Grand Casino” name without a genuine Type A license: the naming right is legally restricted under Art. 6 of the Money Gaming Act – a venue calling itself that without the license to back it up is a warning sign.
• Confusing similarly-named Kursaal venues: as covered above, a “Kursaal” name alone tells you nothing about whether you’re at a Type A or Type B casino – always check which one you’re actually booking.
• Claims that offshore MGA or Curaçao sites are a normal alternative for Swiss players: they’re DNS-blocked under Article 86 and generally unreachable from a Swiss connection – be skeptical of any guide presenting them as a practical option.

Responsible Gambling in Switzerland

All 10 Swiss-licensed online platforms provide self-exclusion tools directly in player account settings. If gambling is becoming a problem for you or someone you know, please reach out to one of these services.

Other Markets We Cover

Switzerland is one of many regulated markets our team tests and ranks. Browse our coverage of Canada,Finland,Australia, the UK,Brazil,Poland,Greece,Spain,Germany,Denmark,Belgium,Italy,Hungary, and Slovenia, or browse our full country directory. Check out our newest casinos hub for the latest licensed launches.