Everyone who has researched the global gambling industry likely knows that the UK is one of Europe’s most developed betting markets, generating an annual gross gambling yield of over £14 billion. However, despite Wales’ gaming market getting regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, an executive non-departmental public body of the UK Government, the laws that govern this activity in The Land of Castles slightly differ in some aspects from those in England, the UK’s dominant gambling center.
Still, Wales has very lenient laws pertaining to gaming fun, and everyone over the age of eighteen can freely engage in games of chance for real money online casinos or land-based. The latter option requires that gamblers go through an identity/age verification process before opening an account with a UK-based online casino. These are interactive platforms that offer software-powered and streaming table games. For example, live dealer roulette is a great alternative to the real thing for those who do not wish to make a trip to a physical venue to wager on spins on a wheel of fortune.
Sadly, despite the first legal casino opening its doors in Wales in 1961, the Club Port, only a year after gambling got allowed in the country, the offer of premium gaming establishments in this part of the UK is not vast. The Port Talbot’s Casino Club was one of few luxurious casinos catering to Welsh gamblers, but it barely made it past its 50th anniversary before closing down. Hence, now the picks listed below are the best places in the southwest of the United Kingdom.
Grosvenor Casino – Cardiff
Grosvenor Casinos is a chain of more than fifty gambling establishments based in various parts of the UK, plus two venues in Belgium. It was established in 1970 and was the shirt sponsor for Premier League club Fulham F.C. The Rank Group owns this brand, and it has two locales that attract a substantial number of visitors in Wales. The one in Cardiff can get found on Hemingway Road inside the Red Dragon Centre, an ultimate indoor entertainment complex.
It is a terrific night and day leisure destination, open 24/7, boasting a bustling bar and a high-end restaurant. The gaming area of this establishment stretches 7,500 square feet, and it houses twenty-five game tables and thirty electronic machines. The latter category includes popular industry mainstays like Lucky Lady’s Charm and Cleopatra. Free parking is available on this property.
Les Croupiers Casino – Cardiff
Locally known as The Croups, Les Croupiers Casino, found in the Capital Shopping Park on Leckwith Road in Cardiff, has been operating for over four decades. It often gets labeled as one of the most renowned and massive independent UK casinos, famous for its warm atmosphere and quality gaming options. The staff here is happy to help newbies get a decent grasp on all the offered products before they start spending their hard-earned cash, and this modern venue features one of the most impressive poker rooms in the UK, which hosts twenty card tables. These supply Texas Holdem action and various Omaha games such as 4/6 Hi-Lo and 5/7 Card Stud. Tournaments get frequently run here, and refreshments are complimentary.
The Les Croupiers Casino floor sprawls 20,000 square feet, offering twenty game tables and fifty-six electronic machines. All the devices here have a payback percentage higher than 94%, which is an alluring proposition for any reel-spinning fanatic. Famous titles hosted here are Book of Ra, Tiki Island, and Wolf Run. While fans of table gaming can indulge in blackjack, craps, American roulette, 3 Card Poker, Punto Blanco, and a few other picks in the croupier genre.
The Sky TV Sports Bar is the relaxation spot at the Les Croupiers Casino, accompanied by the Dragon Court Restaurant. The mentioned bar has ten HD TVs showing multiple sporting events in real-time for all patrons to enjoy.
Grosvenor Casino – Swansea
Grosvenor’s casino in Swansea is a more modest spot than the one the chain operates in Cardiff. Still, it is a respectable establishment open seven days a week. It has stylish décor and pattern carpeting akin to the one used by old-school Vegas casinos. So, it has a vintage vibe to it.
Poker gambling is an option here as well, as is blackjack and roulette entertainment. Jackpot slots are also on hand, and the locale has a lounge area where SKY Sports and BT Sports get shown on a pull-down screen. That is where visitors can watch highly-anticipated boxing fights or football matches. Naturally, Swansea’s Grosvenor Casino has a bar serving affordable drinks and an above-average dining section. It usually is not an extremely busy location, and poker gamblers can use the Grosvenor Poker Live app to book a seat at one of the card tables here.
For more gambling news and reviews, visit OUSC.