United Kingdom Casinos – Brick and Mortar Casinos
As well as the popularity of online gambling, ‘Brick and Mortar’ land based casinos are continuing to prove popular in the UK. Indeed, since the 2005 Gambling Act became law, there no longer is the need to wait 24 hours before you can set foot in a UK land based casino.
Before the Act came into being, players had to apply for membership of the casino they wanted to visit and wait 24 hours before being allowed to cross the threshold. Nowadays you can literally walk into any casino off the street and you also do not need to be a member.
Whilst OCR is a resource for online casinos, we also do like to visit land based casinos now and again, hence this page. Where you will find reviews of many of the casinos we have frequented in the UK.
A couple of the online casinos which we recommend and review on EasyPlay.Vegas also have online operations, Genting Casino springs to mind straight away for example.
Super Casinos?
Unfortunately the advent of ‘Super Casinos’ which were to form part of the 2005 Gambling Act did not eventually come to realisation due to opposition. Therefore you will find the vast majority of land based casinos in the UK are limited to a maximum of 20 slot machines per casino. This is such a shame for like minded slot fans and is also the reason why the casinos are populated with ‘Gaminator’ slot cabinets, which you are able to play a number of different slot games on.
Indeed, many of the slots you can find in the UK Casinos can also be played for free right here on OCR. As many of the land based slot games have been released online as well due to their popularity. The likes of Cleopatra and Wolfrun are two such examples.
At the moment as far as we are aware at OCR, the Aspers Casino located in the Westfield Shopping Complex in Stratford, London, is the only such land based casino which is licensed to have more than 20 slot machines in the casino. Aspers is also the first casino which we have reviewed here on EasyPlay.Vegas ( see below ).
Hopefully in time, the Gambling Act will be amended whereby the limit on slot machine numbers is softened, therefore allowing more casinos to be able to have more than 20 slot cabinets on their premises.
London Casinos
Below you will find in alphabetical order all the London land based casinos we have visited and reviewed. Each London Casino reviewed also features a walk thru video which was filmed discreetly when visiting the casino to perform the review.
Aspers Casino – London
Aspers Casino is by far the largest casino in the UK and has been open since November 2011. Located just outside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and a stones throw from the London ( Former Olympic ) Stadium, Aspers Casino is huge by UK standards.
Open 365 days a year, 24/7. Aspers Casino is the best UK Casino for fans of slot machines, with over 100 slot cabinets adorning the casino floor.
Check our our review of Aspers Casino, where we show you around the casino floor, which we filmed undercover, the day after we saw Guns N Roses at the nearby London Stadium.
Empire Casino, Leicester Square – London
The Empire Casino in Leicester Square, London, was incidentally the very first casino I visited in the UK, which was upon my return from living in Gibraltar back in 2006.
Like several of the other London Casinos reviewed here on OCR, The Empire has a superb location being bang in the middle of Leicester Square, although nowadays it is starting to struggle and fall behind it’s competition.
Operating a decent members loyalty scheme, whereby points are awarded against every pound gambled on the slot machines or gaming cabinets. These can be redeemed against drinks at the bar or food ordered at the restaurant.
Grosvenor Casino, Leicester Square – London
One of a number of casinos located in the heart of Central London, Grosvenor Casino Leicester Square is a pleasant surprise.
From obviously being supporters of responsible gambling, to complimentary no strings attached free drinks, Grosvenor Leicester Square did not disappoint.
A lot of thought obviously went into the planning of the layout of the casino, which was decorated to a high standard.
Overall very impressed with the casino and I shall be returning when in the area.
Grosvenor Casino Leicester Square Review
Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square – London
The Hippodrome Casino was opened in 2012 after an extensive renovation of the building by Simon Thomas costing a reported £30 Million.
Incorporating 4 gaming floors, 20 slots machines, several restuarants and bars and a Cabaret Theatre, the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square should be visited in the area.
With a decent members rewards scheme in place, offering loyalty points and discounts off food and drink, The Hippodrome also features a fully covered smoking terrace.
This iconic building has been given a new lease of life by the Thomas family, making an integral part of London’s West End.
