5Gambling Ruined Fortunes in a Single Night
Venice was Europe’s gambling capital long before Monte Carlo existed. During Carnival, private palaces and hidden rooms transformed into high-stakes gaming salons. Nobles wagered fortunes on cards, dice, and games of chance.
Entire family estates were lost in a single Carnival season. Some aristocratic lineages never recovered financially, quietly slipping into decline while still maintaining outward appearances of wealth.
Behind the glittering chandeliers, desperation often replaced elegance—and for some, Carnival marked the beginning of ruin.
