Dragonara Casino

Dragonara Casino is housed in the Dragonara Palace, a nineteenth-century summer residence on the tip of the Tad-Dragun peninsula in St Julian's. The casino opened its doors in 1964, and it was the first in Malta. Today it combines a large gaming floor, a poker room, a brasserie and a sports bar with views over the Mediterranean, in a building whose original architecture has largely been kept.

For UK visitors it is among the best-known entertainment venues on the island, and it is listed in our directory of casinos in Malta. This page explains what you will find inside, who may enter, what the food costs and how to get in touch before your trip.

The palace and its history

The palace was built around 1870 as a summer home for the banker Emmanuele Scicluna, the first marquis, and his family. According to local legend, a dragon once lived at the end of the peninsula and its roars echoed across the area, which is how the headland and then the palace got their name.

During the First World War the building served as a hospital so that there would always be beds for the sick and injured, and in the Second World War the Scicluna family sheltered more than 100 refugees. In 1964 the family leased the palace and grounds to the Kursaal Company Limited, which opened the casino and helped to establish St Julian's as one of the island's main business and leisure hubs. The Maltese government took over the rights to the property about twenty years later and granted the operation of the casino to various companies.

In 2010 Dragonara Gaming Limited was formed by Peninsula Gaming Group and Novomatic AG. Two years later Peninsula exercised a buy-out option and became the first fully Maltese-owned company to run the casino. The operator is authorised by the Malta Gaming Authority, and the casino has been renovated over the years while keeping the character of the palace.

Slots, tables and poker

The gaming floor offers up to 300 video slots, video poker, lotteries and progressive jackpots, along with a large area of live tables. The tables include roulette, blackjack, Heads Up Hold'Em and Punto Banco, and the venue publishes simple how-to guides for the poker and baccarat variants if you want to read up in advance. New slot machines are added from time to time.

The poker room runs a tournament every day, with cash games available in the evenings, and it is known for its views over the water. Minimum bets are €2 on roulette and €5 on card games. Beginners can ask the dealer at any table to explain the game, and chips are bought by placing cash on the table so the croupier can exchange it. To cash out, take your chips to the cash desk at the back of the floor.

Gambling is for adults and carries risk. The casino promotes responsible gaming through its Healthy Play section, links to BeGambleAware and encourages players to stay within their own limits.

Dining, drinks and views

The brasserie is led by executive chef Claudio Schiavone, and its menu has a contemporary slant. Starters include an avocado bowl with feta and a soft-boiled egg at €10, and king prawn tempura at €13. Main courses include a Grilled Argentinian ribeye at €24, a pan-seared salmon fillet at €22, a whole local sea bass at €22 and chicken supreme at €16, and desserts such as crème brûlée and lemon dome cost €4.

The casino also describes its sports bar as Malta's first bet and dine concept: you order from the menu and watch live action on big screens. A cocktail menu and a club lounge with a colonnaded terrace give you somewhere to sit and watch the sunset over the coast. Prices and menus can change, so check when you book.

Rules for entering

The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Registration is free of charge, and you need a valid identity document, such as a passport or identity card, on your first entry. The minimum age is 18 for foreign nationals and 25 for Maltese citizens. The dress code is smart casual.

A dedicated smoking area has slot machines and table games, free Wi-Fi is available, and a car park is provided at the casino. The My Rewards loyalty programme is open to all customers, and you collect your card at the front desk when you arrive.

Visiting St Julian's from the UK

St Julian's is one of Malta's liveliest resort districts, with restaurants, bars and a promenade within easy reach, and our guide to hotels in Sliema and St Julian's and our page on where to stay in Malta will help you choose a base. Direct flights to Malta from UK airports take only a few hours, and our Malta weather guide shows when the terrace is at its best.

By day, things to do in Malta include the best beaches in Malta and a trip into the capital, covered in our Valletta guide. Our overviews of Malta holidays and about Malta give the wider picture if this is your first visit.

To ask about your visit, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Dragonara Casino.