Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross visits landmark Hippodrome Casino to learn more about sector
Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross toured the landmark Hippodrome Casino on Friday (FEB 7), to learn more about the UK casino sector.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the iconic London venue, which first opened in January 1900 with a show starring Charlie Chaplin, and has gone to present some of the West End’s boldest and most innovative new entertainments, including in its most recent incarnation as the legendary Hippodrome Casino.
Baroness Twycross toured the venue and met staff alongside Hippodrome Executive Chairman Simon Thomas, and BGC CEO Grainne Hurst.
UK casinos, a pillar of the leisure and tourism sector, currently employ more than 10,000 people, cater to over 13 million customer visits each year, while contributing £300m annually in taxes, and generating an estimated £800m a year to the economy.
The sector is now waiting on much needed modernisation reforms outlined in the White Paper on payment methods, gaming machine allocations and allowing all casinos to offer sports betting, which will strengthen the sector to better meet the needs and expectations of their customers.
Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO, said: “It was fantastic to visit the Hippodrome Casino alongside Baroness Twycross, giving her the chance to meet staff, and learn more about the land-based casino sector and what it offers to customers in towns and cities across the nation.
“The Hippodrome is an iconic venue in the very heart of London which has wowed and entertained crowds for over a century, and it’s doing that today, offering the finest dining, outstanding shows, and of, course the opportunity to pit your wits against the house on the gaming tables.
“The visit was also an opportunity to raise the all-important, and long-promised modernisation proposals which will allow our would leading casinos to grow, thrive, and meet the needs of their customers.
“These reforms would also unlock millions of pounds in investment into towns and cities across the country, allowing land-based casinos to play their part delivering on the Government’s ambitious growth mission.
“We’re now working hard with the government to make that happen, and I’m delighted we could welcome Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross to the Hippodrome, to see what casinos deliver now, but also what they can deliver in the future, with the right reforms.”
Hippodrome Casino Executive Chairman Simon Thomas, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross to the Hippodrome, and give her a tour of the venue to meet some of our incredible staff.
“There is so much rich history in this iconic venue, which has been dazzling audiences from around the world, for over a century.
“I am proud to say it is still doing that today. Casinos are becoming a mainstream feature of the nighttime entertainment landscape, and the spotlight is on Britain’s world-class casinos, as they innovate and invest.
“The Hippodrome is proud to be a prime example of what the right, balanced legislation can deliver.”
The tour comes shortly before the BGC AGM later this month, which will also be attended by Baroness Twycross.
The BGC represents over 90 per cent of the regulated betting and gaming sector in the UK, including bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets, the land-based casino sector and tech powerhouses in online betting and gaming.
BGC members are proud to contribute £6.8bn to the economy, generate £4bn in tax while supporting 109,000 jobs.
Each month around 22.5 million people in Britain enjoy a bet, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online, and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly.
The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.
