The Hippodrome Casino, London, UK

Steps from Leicester Square Tube station, right in the vibrating heart of London’s West End you can’t miss The Hippodrome Casino. Billed as a world-class facility, refined yet casual, and the largest land based Casino in Britain.

Father and son team, Jimmy and Simon Thomas certainly hit the jackpot when they acquired the lease on the Hippodrome building in 2009. After a 40 million pound renovation, the casino opened in 2012 with 3 floors of gambling in addition to a one-of-a kind subterranean burlesque casino.  Stepping into this iconic structure with it’s opulent decor and exciting vibe is guaranteed to put you into the mood to thoroughly enjoy your gambling experience.

Lavish glamour aside, the locals know it’s also a great place for a drink and a great meal that’s relatively cheap (by London standards!)  The award winning Heliot Steak House overlooks the main casino floor and there are six bars throughout the property along with a 180-seat cabaret theatre that offers top entertainment year round.

For those interested, the good news is you don’t have to leave the building to smoke. There’s a heated two-tier roof terrace, with its own bar and smoking area that’s protected from the elements and that insistent British rain!

Looking for an online experience while you plan your next Casino getaway? Check out our online casino reviews here.

Throughout 4 floors there are more than 45 traditional casino tables. On the ground floor you can play Blackjack or Roulette with three tables linked to electronic Roulette stations scattered around the room. There’s also Casino War, Three-Card Poker, Casino Holdem, Pai Gow and Baccarat.  Plus a good range of electronic games and slots.

Thanks to their partnership with PokerStars, the Hippodrome is a popular Poker venue. Home to the UK & Ireland Poker Tour events of the past, the PokerStars Festival London kicks off at the Hippodrome January 22-29, 2017.  Cash game Poker is available 24 hours, 7 days a week with Poker tables located on the second floor. If no seats are available when you arrive you will be added to a waiting list, and you will need to check the screens for when it is your turn to sit down. This is always a busy area and the Hippodrome scores points for being quick to open new tables as they’re needed.

Below the ground floor, the Gold Room offers live table games for players with a more limited budget.  Here you can play Blackjack with a 5 pound starting bet, versus the 10 pound starting bet upstairs.

The Hippodrome has become something of a home-away-from-home for American visitors and expats.  Although it’s a much smaller venue than Las Vegas casinos, American players will feel very welcome, right from its great selection of American beers to the ‘NFL at the Hippodrome’ where each game has its own giant screen, an authentic American menu and fans in jersey.  In addition, this is the only British casino that accepts Myvegas points.

If you’re looking for an experience where entertainment happens right alongside gambling, not usually found in British casinos, move downstairs to Lola’s Underground Casino where you will feel like you’ve been transported to the glamorous and secretive world of the 1920’s prohibition era. Down a dimly lit passageway you’ll emerge into a casino fitted with rich decor and roulette, dice and blackjack tables that circle a cage housing Lola’s famous dancing girls. It’s named for Lola McGuire an Edwardian chorus girl famous for organizing illicit card games and drinking parties. The story goes that Lola disappeared mysteriously in 1914, possibly victim to a disgruntled gambler or jealous wife or maybe the increasing attention of the Metropolitan police.  For those who like a little mystery with their gambling pleasure, they do say some people believe she never actually left the building!

If you go, don’t forget to sign up for their loyalty program, Hippodrome Rewards. You can sign up online or bring photo ID to the Welcome Desk. They’re currently offering a 100 pounds in vouchers including a free cocktail, 5 pounds off the 24 hour menu, 50 pound win chip, and 50% off food in Heliot Steak House.  You earn points on everything you spend and put them towards gaming, gifts, discounts and other advertised benefits. Be aware that your points will expire if you don’t use them or visit the casino every 6 months.

The Hippodrome also runs an online casino created in 2013 with a variety of slot machine and other casino games courtesy of Microgaming software developers. It’s got SSL encryption technology and there is a 24/7 customer support team available via a live chat portal. They currently run a GBP £100.00 new player’s bonus. As with other UK online betting sites, US players are not allowed to play.

Steps from Leicester Square Tube station

Easy taxi ride from Charring Cross and Waterloo rail stations

The Hippodrome Casino

Cranbourn Street

Leicester Square

London, England WC2H 7JH