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The Mon Parnes Hotel was created in 1961 with the aim of becoming the pinnacle of tourist development and hosting wealthy Greek and European clients. However, despite the promotion and the grand opening two years later, there were more employees than tourists. Thus, in 1963, it was only open for a few months in the winter. No matter how many efforts were made, the hotel was a ghost on the Parnitha mountain. In 1971, the junta gave permission to create a casino inside the hotel, which was eventually closed. The casino was only the third in Greece after the casinos of Rhodes and Corfu. At the opening, over two thousand Athenians rushed to register and gamble. The strict rules for entering the casino made it sought-after and a symbol of social recognition. Parnitha has been a key meeting place for the Middle Eastern elite. Among the most distinguished patrons of Parnitha are Saudi tycoons who waste huge sums on simple entertainment or on tips.