London is a city that always offers plenty of options – whatever kind of night out you’re looking for, there’ll be a number of establishments that will cater to your needs. And, although when it comes to casino, London is nowhere near as well served as the original Sin City, Las Vegas, the British capital doesn’t do too badly.
Many people today who want to play casino will choose to play online at one of the many online casinos such as bgo, Caesars and Gala casino. And you can see why! You don’t have to move from the sofa and you can flit between games of roulette and poker, slots and baccarat with just a couple of clicks of the mouse. You don’t even have to play for real money – many of the online casinos offer their games in fun or demo mode, where the bets you place are virtual and no real money is put on the line.
The great thing about playing online casino is that it’s something you don’t need to reserve an entire evening for. You can play for five minutes at any time of day or night, whenever you feel like it. It’s the convenience aspect of playing online that has the biggest appeal for many players. While it’s great to have a night out to play casino sometimes, for most people the ease of playing online at home will be the deciding factor.
There are also great offers to join online casinos, where you can get hold of lots of bonus credit to play with. Most sites will offer a no-deposit bonus to get you started, and then when you put your own money into an account, they’ll match or double the amount as a welcome bonus. At bgo, new players making a first deposit get 200% bonus and 180 free spins on one of the most popular online slots – Starburst.
London’s inspiration for the online world
What’s really interesting about the most popular online casinos, today, though (and particularly those which are UK-based) is the extent to which they’ve taken inspiration from the big players in London like the Hippodrome.
In some ways, these offer the best of both worlds for people who want the atmosphere of a Hippodrome, for example, as and when they want it in the online world – without the physical necessity of actually going (though admittedly for some nights out – nothing can replace the real thing). The best virtual casinos draw the inspiration for their unbelievably great graphics, sound effects and everything else to make you feel like you’re in a real casino; seeing really is believing though – so you have to try it for yourself. Some, of course, use live online casinos which are even closer to the real things as real games use live streaming and real dealers etc.
Many people prefer the online “replicas” because going to a land-based casino is a bigger commitment than playing a few games online – you have to decide what to wear and factor in the time and costs of travelling there. A night at a land-based casino will definitely end up being more expensive than playing online. But for those occasions when you do want to go out to play casino, here’s a little bit of info about some of the most popular London casinos.
London’s best casinos
- If you want to feel the glitz of a showy casino, then head to the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square. Here you’ll find a mix of gambling tables, bars and swanky restaurants that will keep you entertained for hours. There are private gaming rooms with poker tables, a floor devoted to casino games and another to slots. The Icon Bar and Terrace serves great cocktails and has some amazing views over Leicester Square.
- Just around the corner is Napoleon’s casino, and this is a casino you can visit anytime of the day or night as it’s open around the clock. For this reason, you get a lot of partygoers headed there at the end of their night out, so the atmosphere can be pretty lively. There’s the usual wide selection of slots and gaming machines as well as table games such as American roulette and blackjack.
- Away from Leicester Square, you might find the more relaxed pace at Genting Casino in South Kensington more appealing. Here you’ll get a friendly welcome from the dealers who are as happy to work with casino newbies as their regular clientele. There’s also a Sports Bar with big screens where you can catch all the big games when you want a break from the gaming tables.
- If you like the idea of being in Vegas without a flight and just using your Oyster card, then Heliot Lounge Bar and Restaurant is the place to go. The stage shows at the Heliot are legendary, and famous names who have performed there include Tom Jones, Judy Garland and Sammy Davis Jr. If you want to catch one of the shows, make sure you book ahead.
Whatever style of casino night you’re after, London can provide it, whether that’s at home online, or at one of the casinos mentioned above, but as always have fun responsibly.