The Best Casinos in the UK for 2026

I have travelled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and seen many wondrous sites during my romps across cities and fields. I have been fortunate enough to have lived in multiple locations from Hampshire in the south of England, London, Surrey, and on to the north of England, where I am currently habiting. 

Most recently, my tour of the UK was to review casinos and see what services, games, and overall experiences were provided to their customers. I have gone from London, to Manchester, to Newcastle, and on to Scotland, where I visited Edinburgh and Glasgow. 

Along the way I not only got to play in the best casinos in the UK, but I met wonderful locals, took in the landscapes of this old empire, and saw the changes as it continues to try to tackle political inequalities and a dying economy. London is a tourist hive, it’s the fingerprint of Britain, which some say has lost all its identity. Change is never a straightforward process, but it’s more often the people that are changing rather than the landscapes around them. 

My time hopping from city to city via car and train, taxi, and subway, allowed me to take in all the surroundings with an awareness that the times and people are changing within it. Whilst London garners all the attention, places like Manchester and Newcastle seem to have a more grounded approach. People in the north of England have always been built and programmed differently from the south. Most of this comes through social norms. The people of the north live for the moment, In the south, there is more of a life plan. 

Scotland itself is another country, and whilst it’s part of the UK, there is very much a disjointness in its society and politics. If any one of the four united kingdoms were to break first, it would be this crown that rests on top of England. I don’t think any other country is like the United Kingdom, for all these different reasons. Which is why it is so fascinating to live here and for it to be visited. 

Casinos in the UK are mostly smaller local ones rather than the destination-style venues you see in other parts of the world. There are some places you should definitely check out, though. 

A grand 1900-listed theatre turned seven-floor entertainment hub in Leicester Square. Expect Heliot Steak House, Chop Chop, rooftop dining, burlesque and Magic Mike Live. Gaming covers blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and slots, with the PokerStars Live Lounge, Lola’s Underground, and the main Grand Casino floor. Hippodrome Rewards knocks money off food and drinks. Very handy if you’re making a night of it!

For more information, read our full Hippodrome review.

Inside the historic Empire Cinema building, this 55k-sq-ft venue (since 2007) pairs multiple bars and an Asian restaurant with roulette, blackjack, baccarat, three card poker, slots and ETGs. The VIP Dragon Lounge serves high-limit play. Run by Metropolitan Gaming, the Met Card app brings promos and discounts. Strong poker scene, including Team Empire events feeding into the WSOP.

For more information, read our full Empire Casino review.

Styled as “MANCH235TER,” this former warehouse near Deansgate delivers a Vegas-feel across multiple floors. Celebrity chef James Martin has a restaurant on site (closed Mon–Tue). Games include roulette, blackjack, baccarat, three card poker, slots and digital roulette, plus one of the city’s best poker rooms. VIPs can head to Icon Lounge, while learn-to-play packages and Met Card perks are also readily available to all.

For more information, read our full Manchester235 Casino review.

Riverside glam on the Clyde by King George V Bridge: chandeliers, dark wood and balcony dining upstairs. It’s compact and atmospheric with around four roulette, three blackjack and four poker tables, plus a small slots selection, so it can feel busy. Therefore, I'd recommend you come for the views and classic old-school elegance rather than sheer game volume.

Centrally placed in Chinatown (Newgate St), freshly refurbished with a new Poker Club and Freya’s Bar wrapped in 4K sports screens. Beyond staples like roulette, blackjack, baccarat and slots, you’ll find Casino War, Prime 3-Card (electronic) and the Super Wheel. There is an active poker league with a £15,000 prize pool, and it's an easy walk to theatres, St James’ Park and shopping.

An 18th-century townhouse lit beautifully at night, mixing art-deco and Indian touches over two floors. The casino boasts a balcony restaurant that overlooks a compact floor offering blackjack, American roulette, three card poker and wall-lined slots, which is great for true casino aficionados. There are no poker tournaments here, but there are free slot tournaments instead (typically £100 prize). Use the My Genting app for membership perks.

For more information, read our full Genting Casino York Place review.

As players, our tastes and requirements can vary when it comes to gambling and choosing things we like the look of. Casinos that I deem to be the best may not be the ones that strike a chord with you. 

You must take the time and assess what you like with land-based casino games and what you expect from a casino service. While there are no universal rules for individual taste, I believe there are fundamental standards that we can all agree on.

Location

It would be far wiser to choose a casino that is closer to home and removes greater costs for travel, which could easily be put into your passion for whatever particular casino game you want to play. You can also tie visits in that are close to your work, so if you have to commute, you do it all in one day.

Design

The design of a casino is more about the architectural facets, though you may, like me, prefer to play in old buildings rather than new complexes. Design encompasses a lot, the flow of a gaming floor, the spread from where tables are to the bars. You want a casino that allows players to play and patrons who aren’t playing, to not be forced together in tight spaces. Casinos need the right layout, with safety being number one, and for the games to be presented in the right manner. 

Games

When it comes to games, it should be about giving players what they want, what they expect, and what they didn’t know was possible. Expectations are important, and classic games like poker, blackjack, and roulette are the most important. Slots are always a given, but if a casino goes beyond all of these to provide more, then it’s doing things right.

Customer Service

The rule is simple for this one. If a player doesn’t win and has had a bad night at the tables, it’s the experience of great customer service, which is going to make them want to come back. Casino staff should be overly happy, charming, and a servant to your needs. If staff can make you feel special, then players do return.

Events

I’m not an events type of person, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with a casino offering a little extra side entertainment. If you enjoy social gatherings, then note many land-based casinos in the UK put on special shows, live performances, and seasonal celebrations. These can be enjoyed after or before playing your favourite casino games.

Amenities

A casino needs to be all-encompassing for player’s needs. Whether is parking for wheelchair users, providing lifts over 2 or more floors, having smoking areas, and providing food and drink. Casinos need to be displaying these attributes as they make business sense. Otherwise, they aren't the best casinos in the UK.