Best local casinos in the UK
Uncover the finest land-based casinos in the UK with our expert guide. Discover the best casinos in London, Birmingham and Manchester ahead of your visit to these top gambling destinations.
Top 5 casinos in London
Are you looking to visit a land-based casino in the UK’s vibrant capital? London has a bustling gambling scene, with over 50 land-based casinos operating in the city. To help you narrow down your selection, we’ve handpicked the best casinos in London:
Empire Casino
Empire Casino is a two-story gambling venue located in the heart of Leicester Square. It opened its doors in 2007 and boasts over 55,000 square feet of gaming space, including a poker room, over 100 slot machines and 50 table games. High rollers will enjoy the Dragon Lounge – a dedicated high-stakes gaming area. Guests can also take advantage of Empire Casino’s luxurious amenities, which include cocktail bars, a food terrace and live entertainment every weekend.
Address: 5-6 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7NA
Website: thecasinolsq.com
Phone: 020 3014 1000
Hippodrome Casino
The Hippodrome Casino is the largest UK casino located within a historic building in Leicester Square. Providing four floors of world-class gaming entertainment, players can enjoy roulette, blackjack, baccarat, three-card poker, electronic games and slots. The Hippodrome Casino also offers a points-based rewards programme, which you can put towards gifts, gaming and discounts on food and drinks.
Address: Cranbourn St, Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7JH
Website: hippodromecasino.com
Phone: 020 7769 8888
Grosvenor Victoria Casino
The Grosvenor Victoria Casino was established in the mid-1960s as the ‘Victoria Sporting Club’ and was the hottest casino in London at the time. Today, it is often referred to as the ‘The Vic’ and remains a popular gambling destination. Players can enjoy various table games, slots and poker, all of which can be played al fresco in The Loft – the casino’s rooftop gaming terrace. The Vic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Address: 150-162 Edgware Rd, London, W2 2DT
Phone: 020 7262 7777
Aspers Casino
Located in Stratford’s bustling Westfield shopping centre, Aspers Casino first opened in 2011 and is one of the best casinos in London. It offers a dynamic gaming experience with a selection of over 150 slot machines, 40 roulette and blackjack tables and the largest poker room in the country, with 150 seats available. Aspers Casino is open 24/7 and offers parking within Westfield, although charges do apply.
Address: 312 The Loft, Motfichet Rd Olympic Park, London, E20 1ET
Website: aspersstratford.co.uk
Phone: 020 8536 5630
The Palm Beach
At the Palm Beach Casino in Mayfair, players can enjoy hundreds of state-of-the-art slot machines, 20+ table games and poker. Esteemed guests with larger bankrolls can head to the high-stakes room for an extra air of exclusivity. The on-site amenities include cultural nights, live performances and a restaurant offering Indian and South Asian cuisine cooked by the multi-award-winning Chef Zaman. The Palm Beach is also a Genting Casino, so players can join the My Genting rewards programme to earn points every time they play.
Address: 30 Berkeley St, London, W1J 8EH
Website: gentingcasinos.co.uk/the-palm-beach
Phone: 020 7493 6585
Top 3 casinos in Birmingham
Birmingham is also home to several well-established casinos where you can indulge in your favourite games and enjoy luxurious amenities to enhance your overall experience. Check out what the top three casinos in Birmingham have to offer:
Genting Casino Resorts World
Genting Casino is a leading UK casino brand and they have a premier venue situated within Resorts World, Birmingham. It’s the largest Genting Casino in the UK, featuring over 100 slot machines and table games alongside Tai Sai, pontoon and French boule. You’ll also find a comfortable sports lounge with luxurious private booths and 18 giant screens, a bar and an outdoor terrace.
Address: Resorts World, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1PU
Phone: 0121 273 1100
Grosvenor Casino Birmingham
Grosvenor Casinos is a UK-based chain with over 50 casinos across the country, including Grosvenor Birmingham. You can play many games at this casino, including jackpot slot machines, roulette, blackjack and three-card poker. It’s open 24/7 and doubles as the perfect leisure destination, with a large bar, restaurant and even free parking! Make it the ultimate trip by becoming a Grosvenor Casinos member to enjoy exclusive rewards and fast-track entry.
Address: Fiveways Leisure Complex, Broad Street, Birmingham, England, B15 1AY
Phone: 0121 631 3535
Rainbow Casino
Since 1962, Rainbow Casino has been a vibrant casino near Birmingham’s city centre. The intimate venue offers a range of casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette and even unique games like Mahjong. You can become a rewards member for free and enjoy exclusive benefits, such as vouchers to use at the venue and its facilities. Speaking of facilities, there’s an on-site bar, restaurant and designated smoking area.
Address: 1 Portland Rd, Birmingham, B16 9HN
Phone: 0121 454 1033
Top 3 casinos in Manchester
Experience the thrill of gambling at the best casinos in Manchester, providing adrenaline-filled gaming and memorable entertainment:
Manchester235
Established in 2006, Manchester235 is a spectacular Vegas-style casino located in the historic Great Northern Warehouse. The casino is open 24/7 and boasts stylish bars and a top-rated restaurant from celebrity chef James Martin. The main gaming floor features 21 tables, including American roulette, three-card poker, blackjack and Punto Banco. You’ll also find over 40 electronic gaming machines.
Address: Great Northern Warehouse, 2 Watson Street, Manchester, M3 4LP
Website: manchester235.com
Phone: 0161 828 0300
Grosvenor Casino Manchester
Grosvenor Casino Manchester is the perfect venue for entertainment, featuring hundreds of popular casino games, including 40 popular jackpot slots like Cleopatra and Lucky Lady’s Charm. There’s also a 240-seat card room where you can participate in daily competitions and various cash games. Besides gaming, visitors can enjoy a signature restaurant, sports bar and free parking.
Address: 2 Ramsgate Street, Manchester, M8 9SG
Phone: 0161 831 6370
Napoleons Casino Manchester
Ideally located in the heart of Manchester’s city centre, Napoleons Casino Manchester is an impressive venue, offering an exceptional selection of traditional casino games and luxurious fine dining. The casino boasts some of the finest gaming machines in the world, with players able to play everything from blackjack and roulette to less widespread games like Mahjong. If you want to take a moment away from the bustling gaming floor, there’s a heated outdoor gaming terrace.
Address: 57 Portland St, Manchester, M1 3HP
Phone: 0161 249 8498
More top casinos in the UK
Looking further afield, other cities in the UK boast incredible land-based gambling facilities. Let’s take a closer look at some of Wales and Scotland’s top casinos:
Les Croupiers Casino
Established in 1968, Les Croupiers Casino is the largest independent casino in the UK and is located opposite the Cardiff City Stadium. Along with its extensive offerings of slot machines and live tables, it boasts the largest poker room in the country, which seats up to 200 players across 20 poker tables. You can also relax at the Good World Chinese Restaurant and enjoy live sports at the casino’s sports bar.
Address: Capital Retail Park, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, CF11 8EG
Website: lescroupiers.co.uk
Phone: 029 2038 2810
Genting Casino Fountain Park
You’ll find Genting Casino within the Fountain Park retail complex in Edinburgh, which also features ten-pin bowling and leading restaurant chains, such as Nandos. The usual selection of table games is on offer here, including American roulette and Punto Banco, as well as 20+ slot machines. To elevate your experience, join the My Genting rewards programme for exclusive perks!
Address: Fountain Park, 124 Dundee Street, Edinburgh, EH11 1AF
Phone: 0131 228 446
Alea Glasgow
Alea Casino Glasgow is situated by the River Clyde, near the city’s centre. The Vegas-style casino offers an excellent selection of slots and table games across two floors and daily poker tournaments in the dedicated Cardroom. You can also enjoy a range of dining options and earn points to spend on food, drink and gaming by joining the generous Met Card loyalty programme.
Address: Springfield Quay, Glasgow, G5 8NP
Website: glasgow.aleacasinos.com
Phone: 0141 555 6100
How to choose a local casino near me
When searching for casinos near you, there are a few factors to consider besides location to ensure you have the best land-based gaming experience. These are:
Game selection
Opening hours
Dress code
On-site amenities
Parking availability
UK gambling laws & regulations
The UK officially legalised land-based casinos in 1960 with the enactment of the Betting and Gambling Act. This law brought about significant changes to in-person gambling, as casinos were now required to apply for licences to operate legally.
In 2005, the UK government amended these laws and introduced the Gambling Act, which also included regulations for real money online casinos. The Gambling Commission (UKGC) was established during the same year, but didn’t assume full powers until 2007. Today, the UKGC regulates all forms of gambling in the country, including arcades, casinos, sports betting, lotteries and bingo.
All licensed casinos in the UK must adhere to strict regulations to ensure player safety and prevent underage gambling. For online casinos, this includes employing SSL encryption, cooperating with GamStop’s self-exclusion scheme and ensuring that marketing material does not appeal to children. In the UK, you must be 18 years old or older to gamble, and any operator found permitting underage gambling will have their licence revoked.
Unlike other parts of the world, Brits don’t have to pay taxes on gambling winnings, as gambling providers pay tax revenues directly to the UK government.
UK gambling market quick facts
🤝 UK gambling regulator | |
🎰 Types of casino games | Slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, video poker, bingo, sic bo, craps and keno |
💲 Payment methods available | Cash, debit cards, e-wallets and bank transfers |
🔍 No. of land-based casinos | 145+ |
🔞 UK legal gambling age | 18+ |
Local casinos vs. online casinos
Although live casinos bring the authenticity of in-person gambling directly to your home, there are some key differences between land-based and online casinos. We’ve highlighted the pros and cons of gambling at local casinos:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✅ Social casino experience | ❌ Less extensive game selections than online casinos |
✅ Winnings paid out instantly | ❌ Travelling to a land-based casino can be costly and time-consuming |
✅ Can enjoy on-site amentities during your visit | ❌ No privacy |
✅ Unique atmosphere in brick-and-mortar casinos | |
✅ Some land-based casinos offer free drinks and other perks |
Explore similar topics
FAQs
The legal gambling age in the UK is 18 years old. This applies to all forms of gambling, both offline and online.
You’ll be able to play slots and various table games at local UK casinos. Some land-based casinos in the UK also have dedicated poker rooms and niche games such as Mahjong and sic bo.
The Hippodrome Casino, located in Leicester Square London, is the largest land-based casino in the UK. It is open 24/7 and features 93,000 square feet of gaming space, offering an array of world-class table games, slots and a dedicated poker room in partnership with PokerStars.
There are over 145 land casinos in the UK. Unsurprisingly, London boasts the largest selection of local casinos, with 54. However, you’ll find casinos in most major cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
No, you do not have to pay any tax on casino winnings in the UK, regardless of how much you’ve bet or won. Instead of taxing players, the UK government levied a 15% tax on operator profits.