Are We Seeing An Increase In New Casino Plans Around The UK

Casinos have long been a part of British culture, with the first legal casino appearing in Wales in 1961. As the popularity of gaming grew, casinos began to spring up around the country, becoming not just entertaining gaming venues, but social hubs with restaurants, bars and live entertainment.

In recent years, advances in technology have seen the online operators move into the industry, taking advantage of a boom in popularity for online casino games. The convenience of playing from a mobile without the need to travel to a bricks and mortar venue, has seen them gain a competitive advantage over their physical rivals.

Gamers can now access their favourite games on their phones, tablets or laptop, without the need to worry about opening times, or travel arrangements. Players can now interact with Live Dealers, choose from thousands of online slots, and not worry about queues.

Evolution of the Bricks and Mortar Casino

Despite the shortage of new casinos, there has not been a lack of investment in the sector overall, with many established venues undergoing extensive renovations in order to attract customers and compete with online rivals.

Today’s modern casino venues are looking to evolve beyond their outdated roles and are being transformed in to multi-use entertainment spaces. These are designed to blend comprehensive casino gaming options with retail, fine dining, bars, and live entertainment. By creating multi-functional spaces, casinos are looking to fulfil the growing demand for all-inclusive leisure destinations in urban areas, that online operators cannot match.

Napoleons, Grosvenor, and Genting casinos, are just some of the operators who have recently invested in updating their offerings to customers.

Ultimate Ten Casinos in the UK:

1.       The Hippodrome Casino, London: An historic old theatre venue spread over 7 floors and offering a wide range of games, live entertainment, and fine dining.

2.       Empire Casino, Leicester Square: One of the most vibrant and popular casinos around, with a wide range of gaming, bar, and dining options, plus stunning views of Leicester Square.

3.       Manchester235 Casino: Impressive entertainment complex set in the historic Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester city centre.

4.       Park Lane Club, London: One of London’s newest and most glamorous private members’ clubs. Famous for its architectural splendour and Mayfair location.

5.       Grosvenor Casino, Manchester: Offers a mix of gaming, dining, and live sports screenings.

6.       Alea Casino, Glasgow: Located on the banks of the River Clyde, this stylish Vegas-style casino boasts beautiful views of the Clyde.

7.       The Rendezvous Casino, Brighton: Perfect seaside location with a relaxed vibe.

8.       Napoleons Casino, Leeds: A revamped boutique casino experience with fine dining and glamorous atmosphere.

9.       Genting Casino Resorts World, Birmingham: A relaxed, open-door casino, home to 18 large screens and luxurious private booths.

10.   Napoleons Casino, Manchester: A modern, glamorous destination for traditional casino gaming and impressive fine dining.

Hope For The Future?

Initiatives by the previous government and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) had indicated that there was a willingness to revamp the regulatory framework. This would have provided a boost to the UK gaming industry and helped with urban regeneration, and job creation.

However, the current government has recently been criticised for stalling in the implementation of revisions to the regulations. Proposed modernisation measures for land-based casinos, including permission for more gaming machines and allowing sports betting, have been shelved for the foreseeable future creating an uncertainty around the sector.

Experts claim that the delay has put land-based casinos at a disadvantage to their online counterparts, and is hindering economic recovery, not just for brick-and-mortar establishments but the urban areas they inhabit.

Whatever the outcome, there’s no doubt that the popularity of casino games will continue to go from strength to strength, whether that’s in a physical casino, or online.