In1866,ayoungMuscovitenamedAlexeiIvanovitcharrivesinBadenBaden,thenthegamblingcapitalofAustria,andissoonengagedbyGeneralZagorianskitolookafterhischildren.Alexeidiscoversthathisemployerisacompulsivegamblerwhohasbeenalmostruinedbyhisaddiction.TheonlymoneytheGeneralhasisprovidedbytheMarquisdeGrieux,anadventurerwhointendstomarryZagorianski’ssister,Pauline.Indoingso,deGrieuxhopestoprofitfromthevastinheritancethatwillcometheGeneral’swayfromhisAuntAntonina,whoispresentlyveryill.Alexeiisappalledbythissocietywhichlivesonlyformoney.HelovesPaulineandwantstotakehertoahealthierplace,butwhensherefusestomarryhim,hebeginstogambleatthecasino…