Lightning Strikes London as ‘Aristocrat on the Square’ Launches at Empire Casino

^{Alex Oswald, managing director of Empire parent Metropolitan Gaming, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to usher in a new era for UK slots. (Image: courtesy of Aristocrat Gaming)}

LONDON – UK slots players were given their first chance to play Lightning Link on home soil last week with the unveiling of ‘Aristocrat on the Square’, a new branded gaming lounge inside London’s Empire Casino.

Located in the heart of Leicester Square, ‘Aristocrat on the Square’ is the first dedicated Aristocrat Gaming space in the UK. Developed in collaboration with Metropolitan Gaming, the lounge features HD panels displaying game characters across the ceiling and walls, Aristocrat-branded leather seating, and a lineup of games previously unavailable to UK players.

Las Vegas Slots Come to Leicester Square

Empire Casino, one of Metropolitan Gaming’s flagship properties, is already known for bringing a touch of Vegas glitz to the London gaming scene. The new slots lounge takes that a step further, pairing corporate Vegas luxury with some of the US market’s most recognisable slot titles

Originally launched in the US nearly a decade ago, the highly successful Lightning Link series of games has never before been available to UK players. The new lounge includes four Lightning Link titles — Tiki Fire, High Stakes, Magic Pearl and Heartthrob — alongside NFL Triple Score, a new American football-themed game. Players can also find Mo Mummy and Bao Zhu Zhao Link cabinets, both of which were already available in the UK market.

Despite the hopes of many UK slots fans, Dragon Link did not make an appearance. Aristocrat has not ruled it out for the future, however, and the arrival of its direct predecessor suggests a broader UK rollout may yet be in the cards.

“The debut of Aristocrat on the Square at Empire Casino marks a significant milestone for Aristocrat Gaming, reinforcing our commitment to customers across EMEA and expanding our presence in the UK as we continue delivering world‑class gaming experiences to players around the globe,” said Craig Toner, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming.

Aristocrat on the Square features all the Lightning Link games and the new NFL Triple Score. (Photo: courtesy of Aristocrat Gaming)

Branded Lounges Mark Broader Push by Slot Suppliers

The launch comes less than a week after Aristocrat picked up the Global Gaming Awards EMEA ‘Casino Supplier of the Year Award’ at ICE Barcelona. The good news for UK slots players is that more exciting developments are in the pipeline.

“Our partnership with Metropolitan Gaming reflects a multi-year investment in bringing cutting‑edge games, hardware, marketing, and entertainment experiences to players across Europe” confirmed Toner.

Meanwhile, Alex Oswald, Managing Director of Metropolitan Gaming, who had the honour of cutting the ribbon added, “The launch of Aristocrat on the Square at Empire Casino represents an exciting new chapter for Metropolitan Gaming.

Beyond a single London launch, ‘Aristocrat on the Square’ seems to follow a trend of slot companies building spaces around games players already know and love. With big-name titles carrying more weight than ever, these dedicated lounges turn familiar slot favourites into destination experiences. 

“As the first dedicated Aristocrat Gaming space in the UK, it reflects our focus on creating distinctive, premium environments that elevate the player experience. Working closely with Aristocrat, we’ve brought together world-class gaming content and a carefully designed setting to deliver something truly special for our guests at Empire Casino.”

To celebrate the launch, Empire Casino is running a month-long Home of the Hot Seats promotion throughout February, offering players the chance to win vouchers, free play, and other prizes when playing Aristocrat slots. 

Although not confirmed officially, upcoming UK releases are rumoured to include Aristocrat’s iconic flagship Buffalo and Grand Legends series, so watch this space!