Pascal Camia leads international growth at SBM, the Monaco group that owns the Casino de Monte-Carlo. He took over gaming in 2015, and the casino won Casino of the Year in 2019. Now he’s taking the brand to the French Alps and onto cruise ships sailing from Florida.
Who Is Pascal Camia?
Pascal Camia is a Monaco-born hotel and casino executive with more than 30 years at SBM. The group runs Monaco’s casinos, luxury hotels, and many of its restaurants.
SBM’s full name is Société des Bains de Mer, and the Monaco government holds a majority stake. The group dates back to 1863, so its story runs through the history of casino gambling.
Camia studied economics in Nice and hotel management in Switzerland, then earned a corporate MBA. He’s also a distance runner. By 2021, no one born in Monaco had run all six major world marathons before him.
Pascal Camia’s Career at Monte-Carlo SBM
Pascal Camia started in hotels, not casinos. His training took him to luxury hotels in Rome and London. He then spent two years at the Lutetia in Paris, where he met his wife.
He came home to SBM in 1994 to run food and drink at the Hôtel de Paris. By 2011, he was in charge of the Hermitage hotel.
At the end of 2015, SBM’s chairman at the time moved him into gaming. Camia has said the offer surprised him. Still, he felt his hotel and marketing skills could lift the casinos.
| Year | Role or Milestone |
| 1994 | Joins SBM, running food and drink at the Hôtel de Paris |
| 2011 | Takes charge of the Hermitage hotel |
| 2015 | Named Vice-President of Gaming |
| 2017 | Brings Monaco into the European Casino Association (ECA) |
| 2019 | The casino wins Casino of the Year in London |
| 2020 | Elected Vice Chairman of the ECA board |
| 2021 | Becomes group COO over gaming, hotels, and restaurants |
| 2023 | Appointed Chief International Development Officer |
| 2026 | Keeps his Executive Committee seat after SBM’s July restructure |
How Pascal Camia Rebuilt the Casino de Monte-Carlo
Monaco can’t match Las Vegas or Macau on size, and Camia doesn’t try. In 2019, he told Monaco Life that Monte Carlo earns about 0.3% of global gaming revenue. That’s a world away from the big Las Vegas casinos, which win on scale.
So he chased a niche: top high rollers who want luxury service around their play. He branded the main casino “The Great Art of Gaming.” He also made the group’s second casino friendlier to locals.
He also added rewards for big baccarat players, the crowd that plays high-stakes baccarat online. French roulette led the casino in 2019, with baccarat close behind. New players can start with how French roulette works.
The plan paid off. Turnover rose, and the casino won Casino of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards London. SBM also grew its responsible gambling measures in the same period.
Pascal Camia’s International Push in 2026
CEO Stéphane Valeri named Pascal Camia Chief International Development Officer in 2023. His job is to take SBM’s hotels, restaurants, and gaming to places its guests already visit. He kept that role when SBM reshaped its leadership on July 1, 2026.
- Courchevel: In October 2023, SBM bought a Courchevel 1850 hotel called the Palace des Neiges. It will reopen as Monte-Carlo One Courchevel, now targeting Christmas 2027.
- Dubai: A 2024 deal with D.ream International created a Riviera-style restaurant brand, Monte-Carlo 1863. As of early 2026, the Dubai launch was still waiting on the right site.
- At sea: The first Casino de Monte-Carlo outside Monaco opened on Crystal Symphony in November 2024. Crystal Serenity followed in December, sailing from Fort Lauderdale.
Casino de Monte-Carlo vs Casino de Monte-Carlo at Sea
For US travelers, the Crystal ships are the easiest way to try the brand. Here’s how they compare.
| Feature | Casino de Monte-Carlo (Monaco) | Casino de Monte-Carlo at Sea (Crystal) |
| Opened | 1865 (SBM founded in 1863) | November 2024 |
| Location | Place du Casino, Monaco | Two Crystal ships, Symphony and Serenity |
| Main table games | French roulette, baccarat, blackjack | Blackjack, American roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em |
| Slots | Yes, including a sea-view terrace | 29 on Symphony, 32 on Serenity |
| Getting there from the US | Fly to Nice, then a short drive | Serenity sailings from Fort Lauderdale |
The ships use American roulette, which adds a double-zero pocket. That raises the house edge, so it’s worth knowing the difference between American and European roulette before you play.
The Bottom Line On Pascal Camia
Pascal Camia turned a hotel career into one of the top jobs in European gaming. He helped turn Monaco’s flagship casino into an award winner, then took its brand abroad. Watch the Courchevel opening in late 2027 for his next big test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pascal Camia do at Monte-Carlo SBM?
He’s the Chief International Development Officer. Camia leads the group’s growth outside Monaco, from hotels to casino partnerships. He kept the role after SBM’s July 2026 shake-up.
Did Pascal Camia always work in gaming?
No. He spent about 20 years in hotels before switching to gaming at the end of 2015. He then became COO of the whole group in 2021.
Can Americans play at a Casino de Monte-Carlo without going to Monaco?
Yes. Crystal runs Monte-Carlo-branded casinos on two ships, and Crystal Serenity sails from Fort Lauderdale. If you’d rather play from home, you can compare top-rated US online casinos with roulette and baccarat.
Why can’t Monaco citizens gamble at the Casino de Monte-Carlo?
Prince Charles III set that rule when he founded the casino in the 1860s. He wanted to protect his own people, so the casino company was built to serve foreign visitors. The ban still applies today.
What is the Monte-Carlo rolling program?
It’s a reward scheme SBM added for big baccarat players around 2017. Players who turn over their buy-in several times earn a cut toward travel and hotel costs. Many online casinos built for high rollers offer a similar perk through VIP rebates.
