Plans to build a ‘world class’ casino and restaurant inside London’s iconic Trocadero building have been given the green light.
Westminister City councillors voted unanimously to approve Genting Casinos UK’s proposal which will turn the site on 13 Coventry Street into a two-storey gambling hub that can house up to 1,250 people.
Genting applied to refurbish the first floor and basement of the Trocadero to replace the former Bubba Gump restaurant and Opium nightclub which closed in 2019 after a shooting.
Genting has also applied for a separate 24-hour license which is currently being reviewed by the council. The company’s chief financial officer, James Axleby, said the project is set to cost an estimated £40 million.
Axleby told councillors during a meeting last week that it could result in 350 new jobs. He also dismissed concerns that the casino would be ‘alcohol-led,’ explaining drinks are not expected to account for more than 7% of revenue – focusing on delivering a ‘first-class’ gaming experience.
“At the heart of the scheme is a robust operational management plan which addresses matters such as dispersal, noise and smoking so the venue operates smoothly and respectfully.”
The Soho Society had raised concerns that the casino would “represent a massive intensification of gambling and alcohol-led activity’ to create a chain reaction of increased crime and anti-social behaviour.
The council’s planning officers were enthusiastic that the casino would represent an improvement on the site’s previous life as a nightclub, as casinos don’t typically attract ‘large, high-spirited groups’ and the 24-hour nature would avoid ‘mass exits’ in the early hours.
Westminster City Council does not approve new casino licenses and Genting has asked to relocate its license from the Crockfords Club in Curzon Street which closed two years ago.
In another boost for the industry, earlier this month London’s Hippodrome became the UK’s first land-based casino sportsbook which is operated by Flutter Entertainment’s Paddy Power and billed as a first of its kind for Europe.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
