Santander's casino is located on the promenade of El Sardinero, in the most luxurious part of the city, opposite the Hotel Sardinero. It is a neoclassical building built in 1916 as a theatre which staged major social events for the aristocracy of the time. It was closed however, during the Civil War. In 1978 it was restored and reopened as a casino. It now has a restaurant, banquet hall, cafe, nightclub, exhibition hall, and two games rooms, one with fruit machines and another to play blackjack, poker and roulette. The casino also organizes cultural events such as the International Festival of Santander, as well as exhibitions and press conferences.