Gambling has been a super popular pastime in Britain since the 16th century when horse races began regularly running at Chester.
The country’s betting industry generates a gross gambling yield of £14.2 billion due to 32% of its population laying down at least one wager per week.
Thus, the UK ranks as Europe’s top gambling market, both on the land-based side of things and in terms of online casinos.
There is no arguing against the fact that Brits love to test their luck on games of chance, something that holds particularly true for Londoners.
London is home to 27 casinos, of which the Empire on Leicester Street in the West End is the most massive.
The Vic and the Hippodrome are two other gaming spots that everyone in England knows. However, when it comes to the south west part of the capital, there aren’t many spectacular gambling venues one can visit.
That said, that does not mean that a few decent ones do not exist. What follows below is a rundown of four such spots.
The Gloucester Casino – Kensington & Chelsea
According to many, the Gloucester Casino located in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, close to Gloucester Road Underground station, is the most popular gaming establishment in south west London.
It boasts a vast gaming floor consisting of a dozen live tables and over twenty electronic machines.
Gloucester Casino offers a high level of customer care with the added benefit of 24-hour car-jockey service.
It is a perfect spot for those who want to enjoy croupier action with £2 bet minimums or want to hunt for massive jackpot prizes on world-famous slots.
Maxims Club Casino – South Kensington
Situated in the heart of Kensington, at 1A Palace Gate Road, this is a gaming locale that has a terrific reputation, founded back in 1970.
Genting Casinos UK now owns it, and it caters to a select and exclusive clientele.
There are no video slots here, only table games such as American roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and casino poker variants.
Due to it targeting high-rollers, the max bet options here go up to £10,000. Therefore, this is not a place for the casual player.
That is also evident by its Whiskey Bar Lounge and its Maxims restaurant. Both are sophisticated hospitality venues that target a high-end clientele.
Know that gaming at Maxims Club Casino divides into three rooms: The Dickens, the Kensington, and the Palace Room.
Those who do not have deep pockets should stick to playing in the Dickens room.
Admiral Casino – Hammersmith
Admiral is a renowned UK gambling company with more than 1,500 retail outlets worldwide, of which 60 are casinos.
It is a subsidiary of Luxury Leisure, which Novomatic owns. Novomatic is a massive Austrian gambling brand that employs over 25,000 people and rakes billions in annual revenues.
Admiral has 223 gaming locales in the UK, and one of its most famous ones is its casino on 97-99 King Street in Hammersmith.
In all honesty, it does not differ vastly from any other Admiral spot. So, players can expect to enjoy a tremendous selection of electronic slots here, served in a luxurious environment with free machine-side catering and refreshments.
Admiral Casino is open 24/7, and customer parking is available close by at Kings Mall.
MERKUR Slots – Fulham
Formerly known as Merkur Cashino, Merkur Slots is a UK gaming brand with more than 180 venues spread across the country.
There are a few of them in south west London, however, we have decided to feature the one in Fulham, on 272 North End Road.
Like all other Merkur locales, it too features complimentary refreshments and slots from Blueprint Gaming and RealTime Gaming.
There are no live tables here, only electronic machines. The most frequent compliments that this spot receives concern its cleanliness and friendly staff.
To Wrap Up
As discussed in the intro, there isn’t a robust selection of premium gambling establishments in south west London aside from the Maxim Club Casino and Gloucester Casino, though many betting shops that feature VLT machines are operational in the area.
Casino enthusiasts that cannot reach the venues mentioned above but want to enjoy electronic gambling should consider visiting Casino Gaming in Sutton, Crown Slots in Wandsworth, and Reel Time in Kingston.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com.
However, over her 11-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites.
She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games.
Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.