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Société des Bains de Mer (SBM)

Introduction

The Société des Bains de Mer – better known under the name of SBM or Resort Monte-Carlo SBM – manages a variety of holdings and employs almost 3,000 people. This company, of which the Monegasque State is the principal shareholder, is active in several economic sectors. All of the core activities are found at the Resort Monte-Carlo SBM, from marketing to computer engineering, gaming and maintenance staff. The SBM is the largest employer in the Principality of Monaco and is completely autonomous. Clients from all over the world travel to the SBM’s casinos, hotels and spas, which enjoy international renown.

The SBM is at the head of the following different domains:

-    5 land-based casinos
-    4 luxury hotels
-    33 restaurants
-    Spas, notably Les Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo
-    Conference Centres

This empire is the only one of its kind in the world and has a long and fascinating history which Casinoweb.org presents for you. We will examine its history, the group’s different casinos and the health centres offered by the Principality of Monaco.


Historical Background

In order to understand the growth of the Resort Monte-Carlo SBM, it is necessary to go back to the 1860s, to the era of Prince Charles III. The SBM’s history is intimately linked with Monte Carlo.
In 1863, Prince Charles III created a new town in the Principality of Monaco. The Sovereign had the Casino built in the spring of 1863 and this casino began to compete against the casinos of New York, Paris and London. The creation of the Monte Carlo Casino took five years and it met with lightning success.

François Blanc purchased a 50 year lease on the ownership rights of the SBM and of the Monaco Foreigner’s Circle. This man, who had a great deal of experience in thermal baths had proven his abilities in this domain. His vision was to make Monte Carlo into an exceptional place for wealthy clients with incomparable comfort.

The name “Monte Carlo” was decided upon by Prince Charles III on 1st June 1866. Monte Carlo is a small territory and includes the municipality of Monaco, stretching from Saint Devota’s torrent to the “Francosi” pathway, and between the main road from Monaco to Menton and the seafront.
Monte Carlo grew constantly and the world’s best designers were called upon to furnish the town’s hotels, notably the Hôtel de Paris. The architect Godinot de la Bretonnerie dazzled clients with his building, which is a true masterpiece.

In 1868 the Le Café de Paris casino opened its doors including a cafe, a jeweller’s and a restaurant. These premises attract clients coming to meet each other, talk and relax. In the 1970s, almost 200,000 tourists visited Monte-Carlo, as did the very wealthy. The Prince of Wales, Jacques Offenbach, Alexandre Dumas and other famous names have visited the Principality. The mild winter climate was much sought after by the clients, who came largely at the end of the year.

In 1877, Marie Blanc took the helm of the SBM after the death of her husband François. The Casino’s building were destroyed and in 6 months, a new group of buildings was born. The casino games were moved to the Hôtel de Paris and Charles Garnier was placed in charge of the building of the Casino Theatre and of the gaming room.
Numerous shows were organised at Monte-Carlo and many famous people were attracted to this magical town. In 1881, Marie Blanc died and the Hôtel de Paris and the Casino became a favourite haunt for the high society from the four corners of the world. Its influence was such that the Casino rooms had to be constantly enlarged.

In 1882 the Café Divan became the Café de Paris and the building was renovated. Edouard Michelin caused a sensation, during a race between Marseilles, Fréjus and Monte-Carlo, by losing control of his high-powered car. He ended his race by smashing into one of the Café’s pillars but, luckily, no-one was hurt in the accident. 
Gramme made his discovery of the dynamo in the Casino’s basement. Gramme’s plan was to perfect his rotating machine in order to produce electricity. Monte-Carlo wanted to be the first town to be lit by electricity. A fire obliged Gramme to call a halt to his work, but it was thanks to the research that he carried out in the Principality that he finally perfected his famous dynamo.

Monte-Carlo has always been a pioneering town, interested in technical progress and with a special passion for automobiles and combustion engine technology.

Clients relentlessly flooded into Monte-Carlo and the hotels had to increase their accommodation capacities. Monte-Carlo modernised its streets, tarring them in order to make traffic circulation easier. Luxury cars began competing in rallies and in 1911 the Monte-Carlo Rally was launched and was won by the aviator Rougier.

In 1911, the dancer Diaghalev arrived at the Monte-Carlo Opera House and began directing his own ballet company, surrounding himself with a troupe of 80 dancers including Fokine, Nijinsky and Lifar. His ballets such as “Les Papillons”, “Narcisse” and “Le Spectre de la Rose” were international successes. The stage-sets for his ballets were designed by Matisse, Picasso and Braque. Diaghilev’s troupe made the Café de Paris their favourite haunt and, after each performance, the dancers had dinner in this fashionable meeting place for the world of the arts.
In the same year, the Monte-Carlo Golf Club was inaugurated, to the delight of the English community.

Monte-Carlo had become the preferred spot of the world’s wealthy and the seaside resort was becoming as popular in winter as in summer. For this reason, hotels such as the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel opened in 1929 to satisfy a clientele with high expectations. In 1928, Monte-Carlo showed its love of sport and tennis and won a special place of honour with the opening of the Monte-Carlo Country Club.  The inauguration ceremony took place before an audience of crowned heads: the Duke of Connaught, Gustave V of Sweden, Grand-Duchess Hélène, Grand-Duke Andrei of Russia, Prince Nicolas of Greece. Tennis had been imported from England in 1880 and, since then, the Principality of Monaco had become one of the countries which organised the largest tennis championships. Even today, the famous Monte-Carlo Open, which welcomes top players in the A.T.P. rankings, still maintains the spirit of its first international tournaments

In the 1950s, Monte-Carlo was reunited with its clientele which had deserted it during the Second World War. The English came in force to Monte-Carlo to take part in gala evenings, such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of Edinburgh and Lady Bateman.
The legendary American actor Charlie Chaplain, who had already visited Monte-Carlo in 1931, presented his new film “City Lights”. All the big American names – actors as well as singers – were guests in Monte-Carlo’s Casinos, from Cary Grant to Michèle Morgan and Rita Hayworth.
In 1952, the Greek shipbuilder Onassis moved into Marie Blanc’s former villa.
On 15th April 1956, HSH Prince Rainer III and Grace Patricia Kelly were married. The couple made front page news in the international press, blessed with happiness by the births of their children and then the terrible news of the Princess’s tragic death.

The casinos of the SBM

The SBM owns five casinos in Monaco:

-    The Casino de Monte-Carlo
-    The Casino Café de Paris
-    The Sun Casino
-    The Monte-Carlo Bay Casino
-    The Summer Casino

More than 1,000 slot machines are offered by these five casinos!

1) The Casino de Monte-Carlo

This casino has a prestigious history and dates from the 19th century. François Blanc, the SBM’s founder, made this building into an institution in only 3 years. The Casino de Monte-Carlo is a few metres away from the Hôtel de Paris. The Casino de Monte-Carlo offers many casino games and particularly the principal table games:
-    European Roulette
-    English Roulette
-    30/40
-    Baccarat Chemin de Fer
-    Baccarat Banque à Deux Tableaux
-    Punto Banco
-    Blackjack
-    Craps

A fleet of the latest models of slot machines is at the disposal of thrill lovers, for winning numerous jackpots.

The table games and slot machines are available in one of the casino’s numerous rooms:

-    Atrium
-    Salon Europe
-    Salle Blanche
-    Salle Touzet
-    Salle Medecin

2) The Casino Café de Paris

 This casino became famous when the legendary Edouard Michelin lost control of his high-speed car and crashed into one of the casino’s pillars. In 1988, the Casino de Paris was renovated and celebrated its 120th anniversary. The gaming room covers an area of 13,000 square metres and the 1960s bowling hall has made way for gaming tables and slot machines.
The Casino Café de Paris offers a smaller selection than the Casino de Monte-Carlo but the range of games nevertheless remains attractive:

-    American Roulette
-    Blackjack
-    Craps
-    Video Poker
-    Slot Machines


3) The Sun Casino

This casino opened its doors in 1975 and seduced the big Anglo-Saxon players. In 2001, the casino was completely renovated and a fleet of more than 300 slot machines was placed at the players’ disposal.

The games offered at the Sun Casino are the following:

-    American Roulette
-    Blackjack
-    Craps
-    Video Poker
-    Slot Machines
-    Stud Poker

4) The Monte-Carlo Bay Casino

The Monte-Carlo Bay casino puts 150 slot machines at players’ disposal for which the stakes begin at 10 cents.
These slot machines have the special feature of belonging to the new generation of slot machines which operate without casino tokens. Thanks to the Easy Pay system, the player no longer has to go to the tellers for chips.

5) The Casino d'Eté

Several traditional games are offered by the Summer Casino such as:

-    English Roulette
-    French Roulette
-    Blackjack
-    Baccarat Chemin de Fer
-    Craps
-    Baccarat Banque à Deux Tableaux
-    Punto Banco
-    30/40
-    Slot Machines


THE SBM’S WELLNESS CENTRES

1) The Monte-Carlo Thalasso

The Monte-Carlo Thalasso offers a health programme focusing on renewed wellness, both physical and mental.

Clients can have access to sea-water treatments based on seaweed or mud, jet and underwater sea-water showers, seaweed and essential oils baths and hydromassage. In addition, the programme includes a medical and dietary consultation. Several programmes are offered such as the Slimming, Anti-Ageing, Men’s and Women’s Beauty and Relaxation programmes.

2) The Monte-Carlo Spa

The Monte-Carlo Spa welcomes an international clientele, is located in the heart of the Thermes Marins and has prestigious facilities.

Different “à la carte” programmes are available at the Monte-Carlo Spa.

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