Soho has a long-established reputation as an entertainment hub, renowned for its vibrant, bohemian and at times risqué nightlife, but one of the less discussed aspects of this fantastic part of London is its gambling offering.
The Early Days
In and around Soho, casinos have flourished, with the first London casino (Crockford Casino) opening in 1828, just down the road in St. James’s Street, offering a variety of card games, which featured the option to bet.
As time moved forward, more people realised just how lucrative casinos were, which inevitably attracted organised crime, as seen with The Colony Sports Club in the early 1960’s, operated by mobsters: Meyer Lansky and Angelo Bruno.
Although regulations came into effect during this decade, many of the rules could be circumvented, letting organised crime run casinos as little more than fronts for illegal behaviour, but in 1970, the rules were tightened up, and the modern casino world as we know it today began sprouting the first roots of what we see both in person and online.
Modern Casino in Soho
Many establishments have risen and fallen since, and although there are no current casinos directly within the Soho area, there are a handful available within a short walking distance, including Genting Casino, Grosvenor Casino, and The Hippodrome Casino.
Today’s casinos provide Soho residents a multi-faceted experience, with a range of gaming options joined by live entertainment, fine dining, and award-winning bars, encapsulating the original entertainment experience, all in one place.
Now, if you live a little further afield from these venues, or you are more of an armchair gambler, thanks to modern technology, you don’t have to miss out on the quality experience that these venues offer, thanks to their tailored online casino presence, via website and dedicated mobile apps.
Want to play live tables? No problem! These casinos provide live dealers from their various brick and mortar casinos across the U.K. to provide a near one-to-one feel of being there in-person, and all from the comfort of your own home.
Each casino offers a wide variety of casino games, including Slots, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker and more, providing an opportunity to feel the fun of casino play.
Trusting Online Casinos
Although “being there” will never be beaten, Londoners looking to play casinos online have a raft of options, with over 650 to choose from at any time!
This may feel daunting at first, but what players should be aware of is that U.K. Gambling Commission rules offer some of the strongest protections in the world, with online casino operators forced to adhere to a strong code of ethics and rules, which are tied to their gambling license.
Any deviation from this can result in heavy fines and licenses revoked, while all U.K. licensed sites must adhere to safer gambling options and be a member of GamStop, which provides the ability to self-exclude if problem gambling was an issue at any point.
Non-U.K. Licensed Sites
If you are looking to join a site, never choose a Non-Gamstop site. These sites may offer far more tempting welcome bonuses and freebies, but due to them holding no U.K. license, your money and funds are at significantly higher risk, as there is no legal framework to protect you as a player.
Sites such as Bookies Bonuses provide lists of U.K.-licensed sites only, to keep you, your money, and personal data safe.
Claiming A Casino Welcome Bonus
Claiming an online casino bonus is straightforward, with either bonus funds or free spins offered to new players, based on specific criteria.
A deposit bonus tends to be a matched percentage amount, based on your initial deposit. For instance, a 100% deposit bonus will match your £10 investment, with a further £10 to use.
The other type of bonus is a Free Spins bonus, which provides a specific number of spins (usually 50), once you have deposited the specified amount.
Bonuses can come with other caveats, such as wagering requirements (the number of times you need to turn over the bonus amount), specific playable titles and minimum stakes per play, so it is best to read the terms and conditions of a bonus before signing up officially.
Helpful Advice
For Soho residents who fancy a more relaxed way of playing casino games, an online casino via website or mobile app is a wonderful way to play. And if you remember a couple of golden rules, your time should remain fun.
- Make sure the site is U.K. licensed. The license number is usually displayed at the bottom of the website or app homepage.
- Read the terms and conditions to make sure the bonus offer benefits you.
- Never risk more than you can afford.
- Make sure you have fun. If the fun stops, stop!
