Even Europeans without a passion for games of chance likely know that the UK is the Old Continent’s most developed gambling market. It pulls in an annual gross yield that is usually over fourteen billion pounds, and its regulator, the UKGC, is a body whose measures other countries’ overseers frequently copy.
The UK, as a whole, has a long-standing history with its residents betting on games and sporting events. Written records concerning it date back to the 16th century and horse races held at Chester. However, the first casino in London, Crockford, opened its doors in 1828. The initial license gambling establishment in the Big Smoke was the Clermont club that attained this honor thanks to the passing of the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960.
Today, there are thirty-five gambling locales to whom one can bestow the label casino. Many more are likely on their way, as this industry has quickly recovered from the ongoing pandemic. In 2021, Hard Rock International announced that it acquired the casino premises license from London’s Ritz Club to open a new Hard Rock branded venue somewhere in London. In early-2022, Coastbright Limited brought to market the Palacegate Casino in Kensington, and rumors are circulating that new casino licenses may soon become available. For now, here are the four most visited gaming spots in London, not counting those that exist in the digital sphere. Online casinos are top-rated right now also.
The Hippodrome
The Hippodrome is a moniker used by various music halls and theaters throughout London’s history, of which the sole survivor is a brick façade structure on Charing Cross Road. It was constructed in 1900 as a venue where various genres of entertainers could ply their trade. Nevertheless, over the years, it continuously got re-purposed. In 2009, it was purchased by entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas and turned into a casino. Today, it is a diverse complex that won the Overall Casino Operator of the Year Award in 2020.
Essentially, The Hippodrome houses three casinos inside one building, and on its fourth floor, patrons can find the only dice table in Central London. Poker games are an option here, as are jackpot slots. There are eight on-premises bars on the five floors of this property, plus it is home to the Heliot Steak House, a triple winner of the Best Casino Restaurant honor at the British Casino Awards.
Empire Casino
Boasting a gaming floor that extends more than five thousand square meters, the Empire Casino on 5-6 Leicester Square ranks as the largest gambling destination in London. The structure in which this casino exists opened in 1884 as a variety theater. It was remodeled as a movie one in the 1920s. But, in 2007, its former dance hall got reconstructed and reopened as a gaming section, run by Metropolitan Gaming.
Aside from offering the standard blend of casino classics and electronic machines, Empire also has a club within a club called the Dragon Lounge. It is open only to Queen, King, and Ace cardholders, who can enjoy high-stakes gaming in a luxurious surrounding with a VIP entrance. Visitors of the Empire casino can have a meal or get refreshments at the property’s Icon and Kings Sports bars. They both offer quality, reasonably priced meals.
Grosvenor Casino Victoria
Everyone that has considered gambling in the UK has heard of Grosvenor Casinos. It is a chain of fifty-three gaming establishments located throughout the UK, plus two unbranded venues in Belgium. The Victoria casino on 150-162 Edgware Road is the most widely known Grosvenor spot in England, rivaled only by the Rialto. It supplies the perfect blend of sophistication and gaming fun. Moreover, the Victoria casino frequently runs private events and parties and has a private club room for hire.
Concerning offered games of chance, The Victoria likes to focus on roulette, featuring seventy electronic and fourteen physical tables. There are around forty jackpot slots here and even a few player-versus-dealer poker variants. The venue also has a dedicated poker room, a classy dining area, and a late bar with a cozy atmosphere.
The Palm Beach Casino
Set beside world-class galleries in the neighborhood of Mayfair, on 30 Berkeley Street, the Palm Beach Casino has an unparalleled range of table games and slots. Open seven days a week, live gambling at the Palm’s becomes available only from 3 PM to 5 AM. Membership at this venue is free, and visiting parties can automatically become Palm Beach gamblers the first time they enter through this property’s doors.
The Palm Beach Casino has a fine dining restaurant whose menu has gotten orchestrated by award-winning Chef Mahmud Zaman. It serves primarily Indian and South Asian cuisine. Though, it also has a selection of international dishes. The Palm’s also has a Bar and Grill that overlooks its casino floor.
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