Spielbank Cottbus

Intro

Opening its doors on May 30, 1998, the Cottbus Casino holds the reputation of one of the oldest casinos in Brandenburg. Located in the city center, in close proximity to the historic old town, the establishment is situated in the building that used to be a former branch of the GDR State Bank. It is colloquially known as “The House of Money”.

Following a notable investment of over 1.9 million euros, the Wilhelminian-style building was redecorated, gaining a more modern and more functional look. To keep its attractive look, the facility was renowned once again in 2013.

Equipped with a variety of gaming machines, it is suitable both all profiles of gamblers. On top of quite a solid collection of one-armed bandits from renowned cabinet providers, the venue accommodates quite a decent selection of blackjack and poker games.

An important detail guests should be aware of is that smoking is permitted in a separate part of the casino, but not at the gaming tables. The smoking area is located just a few steps away from the tables.

Ensuring top-class enjoyment to all guests who happen to find themselves in the tenth most populous state in Germany, the facility encompasses a well-equipped bar as well. With so many different wines, champagnes, and cocktails, guests will simply be spoilt for choice. A variety of quick snacks is available as well.

Spielbank Cottbus, which was initially known as Joker’s Place, operates under the state-owned gaming providerBrandenburgische Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG (BSB KG). This venue aside, it also runs Spielbank Potsdam. Established in August 2000 as Joker’s Garden, it is accommodated near the Potsdam Lustgarten.

What differentiates casinos in Brandenburg from a certain number of other facilities is that they are permitted to offer “big games”, which include poker, blackjack, and Roulette in Potsdam. The regulatory framework on the local level is combined with that established in the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021).

To enter the premises, guests need to be at least 18 years old. The admission is free but a player is required to show a valid ID card or a passport.

Gaming

Have you ever wondered what is it that makes slot machines so irresistible? Despite the modernization and a large influx of online content, the popularity of land-based one-armed bandits continues to remain at quite a high level.

Well, the truth is that there’s a whole science beneath their architecture, including not only the symbols and the paytable but patterns of carpet and the lighting as well. Every single detail is carefully thought of, so to keep players attracted and entertained for a longer time.

Although the very first slot machines were invented in 1889, Germany welcomed them in the 1960s. initially, they were considered “small games”, whereas games of chance were referred to as “big games”.

Spielbank Cottbus is home to approximately 100 slot devices, coming from Novomatic, EGT, and Merkur. Established in 1980, Novomatic has a strong presence in both land-based and iGaming sectors. Many of its gaming facilities run under the Admiral Casino brand.

Two decades younger but equally successful is EGT (Euro Games Technology), which has been in business since 2002. This passion-led company points out transparency, collaboration, support, and improvement as its biggest virtues.

A multi-faceted and country-specific company, Merkur Gaming believes that “Content is King”, which is why the entire team is 100% dedicated to delivering innovative and captivating games. The company’s motto is “We Speak Gaming” which is why consumers from all over the globe find their products appealing.

Slot games aside, players can also try their luck with Multiroulette, a fully electronic variant of the classic game. The intuitive touchscreen allows consumers to adjust the stake and decide which numbers to bet on without much hassle.

Initially, when Blackjack was introduced to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, it was nowhere as popular as it is today. Nowadays, it’s not only one of the most played table games in Las Vegas, but in casinos all over the world, but also an inspiration for a large number of Hollywood movies.

Spielbank Cottbus offers BJ as well, giving players a chance to put their skills to test, and potentially walk away with solid winnings. Even if you are a novice, have no worries, friendly and professional staff will answer any questions you have about rules, stakes, and odds.

Often associated with the Wild West (blame it on the film industry), poker is also featured in this establishment. Nowadays played with a 52-card deck, this game initially used a 20-card deck and chips made of a variety of materials, including wood, bones, ivory, and clay, depending on their value.

Being aware that everything that is fun also has a downside, Spielbank Cottbus made sure to include a self-evaluation test so that players can examine whether their gambling habits are within the limits of recreational activities.

The form for a self-exclusion is available not only in this facility and on the casino’s official website, but in all casinos in Brandenburg as well. The suspension lasts for a year, which is no shorter than three months. Speaking of Brandenburg casinos, what needs to be mentioned is that they were awarded a responsible gaming certificate from the European Casino Association (ECA) in December 2022.

Hotel Accommodations

No hotel is available on site, but there are more than plenty of excellent options nearby. For starters, if you are traveling with your four-legged friend, you’ll be happy to hear that almost all hotels are pet-friendly.

Located just 260m away, SORAT Hotel Cottbus is a 4-star hotel with complimentary Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and room service. Another one at the same distance is CITY HOTEL Cottbus with full-service laundry. Lindner Hotel Cottbus is just 610m away and it features a pool as well.

Other not-so-far-away accommodation units include the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cottbus, Altstadthotel Am Theater, Hotel Zur Sonne, Hotel Dorotheenhof, AHORN- Hotel & Restaurant, and so on.

Dining

Food service in a casino also has a significant impact when evaluating the overall experience. Both the selection of food and service standard count, altogether resulting in a certain place being labeled as “avoid at all costs” to “must re-visit spot”.

When it comes to Spielbank Cottbus, the best words to describe the menu are modest but delicious. Offering pasta, pizza, desserts, and other quick bites, the staff keeps surprising guests with seasonal innovations.

On the other hand, the selection of drinks is quite impressive. There are long drinks, cocktails, whiskeys, cognacs, all sorts of beers, champagnes, wines and non-alcoholic drinks.

Bear in mind that the bar is open daily from 2 PM, but it is closed on Good Friday, Remembrance Day, All Souls' Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. It accepts cash only, but there’s an ATM in the building.

Entertainment/Nightlife/Attractions

When it comes to entertainment options inside the casino, other than gambling and some promotional campaigns, nothing else is offered.

If you’re planning to spend a couple of days in Cottbus, then take time to get to know it better. Being the second largest city in the German state of Brandenburg (its capital Potsdam occupies the first position), Cottbus is a university city and the political and cultural center of the Lower Sorbian-speaking Sorbs.

Located between Berlin and Dresden, it is often referred to as Germany’s storybook village, due to its lovely architecture and a plethora of interesting attractions. Exploring it on foot is quite convenient as most of the sights are situated in the Old Town, so it’s easy to explore on foot. If you can explore further attractions, no worries, there are trams and buses.

So, one of the first spots to visit is Altmarkt/ Old Market, filled with colorful facades, and numerous restaurants. Combining Baroque, Neo-baroque, Art Noveau, Classist, and modern architecture, this place instantly enchants with its authentic look.

If you are a fan of modern art, don’t miss the Modern Art Museum/ Kunstmuseum Dieselkraftwerk. Built in the early 1900s, Staats Theater of Cottbus Germany has a variety of interesting performances you can attend to.

Believe it or not, the Apothecary Museum is one of the city’s most prominent attractions. Admire the picturesque old jars and canisters filled with herbs and bizarre ingredients that were used as cure remedies back in the day.

Furthermore, you can visit the city’s main cathedral Oberkirchplatz/ the Church of St. Nikolai or Schlosskirche Synagogue. In case you want to enjoy one of the most incredible panoramic views of the city, climb the Spremberg Tower. The oldest part of this 28-meter-tall tower was built in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Reward Deals

At the time of writing this review, no loyalty scheme was offered by this establishment. Making up for this lack are all sorts of interesting events, where guests can have fun and collect a variety of interesting prizes.

Once a week, the casino offers a special lucky package which encompasses a drink voucher, which can be used during happy hours at the bar. Specials can be expected on the casino’s birthday as well. Throughout the year guests can also expect prize draws and raffles on public holidays, as well as plenty of other entertaining events.

There’s a campaign called “Give Away Happiness” which allows players to purchase vouchers with value of their choice. They can be redeemed for chips or as gaming credits for slot machine games in both casinos, meaning in Cottbus and Potsdam.