As you read the title, you may imagine a room full of the world’s most sophisticated high-rollers in fancy suits and betting more money than you might ever come across in your lifetime. Your imagination probably serves you right. Let’s go through some of the most exclusive gambling circles London has to offer.
6 Most Iconic Private Gambling Circles In London
There are numerous high-end casinos in London ready to handle the big buck players (read high-stakes blackjack games) and prepared to cater to the elite of the elite. In this list are some of the most iconic private gambling circles in London. These gambling circles are so elegant and spectacular that they may look like a scene in a James Bond movie.
Les Ambassadeurs
Located in the corner of Mayfair and Hyde Park, one can revel in the exquisite and magnificent Les Ambassadeurs Club. The club can’t be missed. Les Ambassadeurs boasts a vibrant history going back to almost a hundred years, 1941 to be exact, when established by a fellow named John Mills. The presence of a celebrity or royalty in the club is nothing new.
This club was featured in a few films like James Bond’s Dr. No and The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. The casino boasts stunning interiors, round-the-clock service on the gaming floor, as many as 16 tables, and London’s largest outdoor gambling area. Whilst it doesn’t offer Texas Hold’em, this gaming room offers Three-Card Poker tables.
Maxims Casino Club
The Maxims Casino Club can be found nestled in the heart of Kensington, London. The marvelous and sophisticated environment with progressive technology and design makes this club one of the best exclusive establishments available. The players can choose among three different rooms; The Kensington, Dickens, and Palace room that offer different games and standards.
It might take a while to go through all three rooms, but the club is open 24 hours, so you literally can spend all day here. Make sure that you bring big bucks because the usual clientele’s bets can go up to over £10,000 even on a Tuesday.
Crockfords Club
Crockfords is one of London’s classic clubs. It was founded in the early 1800s by William Crockford. Benjamin and Phillip Wyatt, who William Crockford employed, made the club a sumptuous haven for the gentleman’s pleasure when it opened in 1827.
Since retiring from being a gentleman’s club, the Crockfords Club or Casino located in Curzon Street now caters to some of the world’s high-rollers and high-profile bettors. The place is now where people win millions of pounds such as Phil Ivey did in 2012 when he won £7.7 million in a game of baccarat. And yes, Phil Ivey is a poker master! It can also be a place where people lose millions of pounds, like in 1999 where Kerry Packer lost a total of £11 million. London is a worldwide gambling capital, and it is only normal that Crockfords Club appears on this city’s most coveted clubs.
The Colony Club
If you want a mix of the allure of old Mayfair and the modern exorbitant of new Mayfair, then The Colony Club is one to put down on your plan. Founded in 1948 by Muriel Belcher, the club was where Soho’s low-lives and elite rubbed elbows. Since Then, the club features an incredible contemporary reinvention, regular DJ sets, a quality bar, and a minimalist Japanese restaurant.
Alongside these features, you can experience quality gaming with their state-of-the-art gaming facilities that brought The Colony Club international attention.
They cater to classic games like:
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- Roulette
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- Baccarat
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- Blackjack (multiple variants)
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- Poker (tournaments, sit and gos, and high-stakes cash games)
The gaming area also includes slot machines and electronic gaming tables.
Crown London Aspinalls
This club, founded in the 1960s by John Aspinall, is advertised as “London’s best address.” It is currently located at 27-28 Curzon St., Mayfair, London. Aspinall’s is believed to be where Lord Lucan went to disappear. It was where successful aristocrats went to gamble huge amounts of their incomes or wealth. Today, the refurbished club stays true to its roots but gives it a new twist as it combines its traditional charm with a modern flair.
Crown London Aspinalls is a place for everyone to gamble as it offers six saloons, each with its specific design and an array of cuisines to choose from to make sure you gamble on a full stomach. Aspinalls provides a holistic experience of luxury gambling for the individuals who step foot inside.
The Ritz Casino
The Ritz Casino just recently closed, but it can’t be excluded from this list. The Ritz is the mecca when it comes to London’s elite and exclusive gambling circles. Opened in 1998, it hosted numerous high-profile individuals; Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Bill Clinton, and other individuals of the same caliber grace this establishment to win or lose fortunes.
Boasting the best decor, fantastic food, and quality facilities, regulars are devastated to learn about its permanent closure. Their regulars include billionaire clients, A-list celebrities. They were shocked to learn about the news that The Ritz Casino won’t be reopening after the lockdown and will remain permanently closed. Hard Rock International acquired the casino license off of The Ritz so we expect a new casino opening soon in Central London.
Why Is London So Fond Of Its Members Clubs
Clubs have been a part of the history of London. Gentleman’s clubs, to be exact. This is where respectable members of the society gathered alongside similar individuals to indulge in life’s pleasures. Today, private establishments are enjoying somewhat of a comeback and a broader range of clients with the arrival of a new generation of Londoners.
This comeback is largely due to the diversification of individuals who can become self-made. The once musky gentleman’s club filled with cigar-smoking, brand-drinking, sexist males who are the only ones given the opportunity to work has now become a place where different individuals with different interests can mingle.
And yes, some clubs even allow women, which would be upsetting a couple of decades ago. The inflation of rent prices, a working environment filled with collaborations, and flexible working conditions have also helped the members club’s comeback.
The only question that remains is if this lifestyle will continue to be embedded in London’s tradition and history moving forward, or will it become somewhat of a craze that would show itself out of Big Ben’s doors in the next couple of years?