History | New Zealand Desk

The Prohibition Era and Underground Speakeasies

How the criminalization of alcohol in the 1920s United States birthed the clandestine casino culture.

The Speakeasy Model

Hidden behind false walls and requiring passwords, these venues combined illegal liquor with unregulated gambling, run largely by organized crime syndicates.

Design Influence

The dimly lit, intimate, and exclusive nature of speakeasies continues to influence the design of modern high-roller VIP rooms.