Urca Casino

The Urca Casino was an internationally renowned Brazilian casino located in Urca, a neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. It operated from 1933 to 1946, when gambling was banned.

History
The building was built in 1922, initially housing the Balneário Hotel. It became a casino in 1933 and went through a period of adaptations and low attendance until businessman Joaquim Rolla won some of its shares in a card game. From then on, the Urca Casino experienced a boom and operated until 1946, when gambling was banned by President Dutra. From 1954 to 1980, after being purchased by Diários Associados, the building was adapted to accommodate TV Tupi's studios. Following decades of abandonment and deterioration, the beachside of the old Casino was restored by the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) for its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, where it operated from 2013 to 2021. Renovations on the Urca Hill side have just begun. On this side of the building are the grill room, the famous audience hall and the stage of the theater which hosted great attractions and performances by Grande Otelo, Carmen Miranda and her sister Aurora Miranda, Dick Farney, Emilinha Borba, Virgínia Lane, Dalva de Oliveira and Trio de Ouro, Ary Barroso and the famous dancer Josephine Baker. When TV Tupi was in operation, the stage was the taping location for countless programs, including "Cassino do Chacrinha", the ratings leader on Brazilian television for years.

In 2023, the building was converted into the Eleva Urca School - which won the government process in 2020 to take over the space. The school is expected to welcome 300 students and the façade - which has kept the walls of the original building - has been renovated, as well as the entire inner floor.