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While many of the casinos located in the UK are relatively new, there are some historic sites that have paved the way for modern gambling. The UK is home to many great online casinos listed by British Gambler website as well as some of the oldest gambling houses in the world and some are still operating today! Not only can you take in the historic elegance and excitement of casino games, but some of these casinos now provide an online option so players can play even when they cannot visit the physical location!
Learn about some of the oldest and most luxurious casinos that have attracted gamblers in the UK for many years. Some of these date back 100 years and are considered major landmarks.
The Victoria Casino
In the 1960s, the Victoria Sporting Club was established. It was the hot spot in the UK for those that wanted to gather for gambling on horse racing. As card and table games became more popular, the name of the venue was changed to The Vic and it is known by players all over the world. At one time, the casino was known to offer the highest stakes worldwide and players were gambling for tens of thousands per poker hand.
Today, the venue is operating and hosts special events like the Unibet Open and the UK Poker Tour’s Grand Final Tournament. Operating 7 days a week this Grosvenor Casino never sleeps. Considered a modern venue, it is now packed with exciting games that are available to registered members. With Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, and jackpot slots, The Vic remains one of the most popular venues for gamblers. It also offers an online platform so players can enjoy the action at any time!
The Hippodrome
Located in London, The Hippodrome is one of the gambling landmarks in the area. While it has just recently been turned into a casino, the venue has long served as a music hall and contains a world-famous theater. Opened in 1900, many of the huge names in the music industry have appeared on the stage, including Ella Fitzgerald, Liza Minelli, and Tom Jones. The Hippodrome remains one of the most popular entertainment locations in all of London.
In 2012, the Mayor of London opened the casino at the venue and there were major renovations that occurred to transform the space into an appealing gambling location. The casino quickly became popular and was awarded the Best Land-Based Casino award in 2013. With three floors of gambling space, the casino is best known for offering poker facilities and hosting high-stakes events.
Clermont Club
Following the successful opening of the Casino Club, The Clermont Club entered the UK scene in 1962 and was opened by John Aspinall. Located in Mayfair, the club was an exclusive option for influential people and those of extreme wealth. Some of the members of the club in the past include Princess Margaret, Mark Birley, and James Goldsmith.
The great thing about this historic UK casino is that it operated up until just a few years ago. It was closed in 2018 and was set to be reopened in 2020, offering new rooms for blackjack and three-card poker. Unfortunately, the mandatory closure of casinos due to COVID tabled the opening. The future of the landmark remains uncertain and it remains temporarily closed.
Over the years, the casino was a member-only venue and if reopened, will continue with that tradition. The venue does not house any slot machines, so those looking for that kind of gambling action will have to look elsewhere. The Clermont is known for being one of the oldest and most respected venues for roulette, blackjack, Casino Stud Poker, and Three Card Poker.
Crockford’s Casino
Crockford’s holds much history in the UK and it was opened back in 1828. At that time, William Crockford was looking to create a club that was fit for diplomats, the elite, and royalty. Despite gambling establishments being illegal at that time. Crockford did not stop and even though he was fined, he paid these without any noise and continued to operate this elite club.
The club was closed in 1845 and was later refounded in 1928. It became a bridge club that was often visited by the best players in the UK such as Kenneth Konstam and Terence Reese. Other games were later added, allowing members to enjoy the thrills of blackjack, roulette, and chamin-de-fer. This new club quickly became a hot spot for gamblers, though it was located at a different address, now on Curzon Street instead of St. James.
Though the original club has been closed since 1970, the current Crockford’s Casino is owned and operated by Genting. The casino may not offer the lavish amenities as the original, but it remained one of the most popular casinos operating today. It is not a traditional casino as it is only open from 12 PM to 6 AM and only classic card and table games are featured. Here, players can enjoy high roller wagers on American Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, and Baccarat. There are also private rooms as well as high-limit areas where players will wager thousands on a single bet. Not ready to take in the history at the physical casino? There is an online option that is available. With the Genting Crockford’s online casino, players can enjoy similar games from the comforts of home.
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