How to Have a Las Vegas-Style Casino Night Out in London

_{The vibrant Hippodrome Casino. (Image Hemis/Alamy)}

Vegas might be 5,000 miles away, but a genuine Sin City-style night out in London is more achievable than you think. The capital's casino scene has come a long way, and with the right game plan, you can tick off almost every box on the Las Vegas checklist without ever boarding a plane. Here's how to pull it off in seven steps

Roll Up to the West End in Style

Nothing sets the tone like pulling up in a stretch limo. London has plenty of hire options, and splitting the cost between a group makes it surprisingly affordable. Set the scene with a Vegasy playlist for the ride: Rat Pack, Elvis's Viva Las Vegas, Poker Face by Lady Gaga. By the time you hit the West End, you'll already feel like a high roller.

_{Arriving in style. (Image: Carpe Diem-London/Alamy)}

Pick Your London Casino

London has the lion's share of the UK's most spectacular casinos. The Hippodrome Casino in the West End is the headline act, housed across four floors in one of the capital's most stunning historic buildings, with three themed gaming areas and the widest range of table games in the city.

_{The Empire Casino, London. (Image: Parmorama/Alamy)}

The Empire Casino in Leicester Square brings Strip energy right to the heart of the West End, with classic table games, a buzzing poker room, and bars open around the clock. If casinos aren't your Versace handbag, London's bingo scene has had a serious glow-up. Dabbers Social Bingo in Moorgate is a full night out with bingo, cocktails, food, and live entertainment all under one roof, and it's a genuine laugh.

Spin the Reels on a Real Vegas Slot

US gaming giants Aristocrat and Light & Wonder have recently entered the UK land-based market for the first time, bringing genuine Las Vegas slots with them. Look out for Lightning Link, one of the most iconic slots on the Strip and the game that invented the Hold & Spin mechanic. Playing it in the UK is actually really special. Take it from someone who has spent way too many hours on long-haul flights just for the privilege of playing it in the US.

_{Vegas style slots from Aristocrat. (Image: Aristocrat)}

Hit the Tables

Any great table game session delivers that same electric atmosphere: the tension as the roulette wheel slows, the collective groan or cheer from the table. That's pure Las Vegas, and you'll find it at any good London casino.

Roulette is probably the closest you'll get to an authentic Strip experience, and UK players benefit from European single-zero tables at very affordable stakes. Blackjack offers some of the best odds in the house with a 3:2 payout, better than most Vegas casinos. And Baccarat, or Punto Banco as it's known here, is simpler than its high-roller reputation suggests, with low minimums that anyone can join.

Dine Like a Celebrity in the Capital

Vegas perfected the celebrity restaurant, and London is right there with it. Heliot Steak House at the Hippodrome is a four-time winner of Best Casino Restaurant of the Year, voted London's Best Steakhouse, and overlooks the main gaming floor with arguably the best view of any restaurant in the capital. Further afield, Gordon Ramsay's restaurants are a short walk from the West End casino cluster, and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental is hard to beat for a true high-roller feel.

_{Welcome to LondonVegas. (Image: Jane Rix/Alamy)}

Order the Right Drink

You need to know what to order. The Lemon Drop Martini, vodka, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice in a sugar-rimmed glass, is the most iconic Vegas cocktail and signals the night has properly started. Most casino bars will make one on request. Alternatively, a Cosmopolitan is sleek and glamorous, an Old Fashioned is synonymous with Vegas cool, and if you're celebrating a big win at the tables, there's only one answer: champagne.

End the Night with a West End Show

London's West End is the only place in the world that rivals Broadway for live theatre, and the Hippodrome, Empire Casino, and Rialto Casino all sit right in the heart of the theatre district. The Hippodrome itself hosts live entertainment most nights, including the high-energy Magic Mike Live residency directly off the casino floor, about as close to a Vegas showroom as you'll find in the UK. Book a show before or after the casino and you've got a genuinely Vegas-calibre evening.

_{Magic Mike at the Hippodrome. (Image: Danny Kaan courtesy of Hippodrome Casino)}

Vegas Without the Jetlag

Arrive in style, find a casino with real Vegas energy, spin the reels on a genuine Strip slot, play the tables, eat and drink well, and end the night with a show. The only thing missing is the jetlag.

_{The world famous Houses of Parliament. (Image: Alan Evans/Casinos.com)}