End of an Era: Britain’s Oldest Casino Faces Closure After 195 Years

Crockfords, Britain’s oldest casino located in the heart of London, is on the verge of closure as its high-roller clientele has shrunk in recent years.

Founded in 1828 by William Crockford, a fishmonger from the working class, Crockfords made his fortune by setting up this very gambling venue.

Crockfords was famous for its wealthy patrons, serving only the aristocracy and other elite guests.

The casino made headlines in 2017 when it got into a legal dispute with a player who claimed a £7.7 million (about $9.4 million) payout. The casino staff suspected cheating and refused to pay up. The court sided with the player partially and ordered the casino to return the £1 million he wagered.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. After the UK left the EU in 2021, a tourism tax was imposed, affecting the flow of foreign visitors. The pandemic and stricter gambling rules (the ban on credit cards for casinos since 2020) also took their toll. These changes hurt not only Crockfords, but also led to several other casinos in London shutting down.

Now, Genting Casinos UK, the owner of Crockfords, has started a 30-day consultation with its staff about the future of the casino. The company says it won’t make a final decision without listening to the employees’ feedback. About 100 people work at the casino.