There is no doubt that currently London can easily be considered as one of the richest cities in the entire world when it comes to its diverse culture, history and various iconic landmarks. Still, one thing that is not often discussed when it comes to this city is how it has grown into a significant hub for gambling. Of course, the road to get where the city is currently has not always been easy and had plenty of bumps.
When it comes to London and how gambling has been changing in this city, it is necessary to remember that its history includes such important aspects as social change, legal reforms and a growing need for people to participate in more sophisticated forms of having fun. In this article, we would like to focus on all the most important changes in the history of London that turned the city into the gaming center that it is today.
Early Days of Gambling in London
Similar to the best strategies for roulette and other casino games that required time to be developed, London also required it to become the center of gambling that it is nowadays. When it comes to the earliest days of gambling in London, players indulged themselves in a number of different games, which mostly were early versions of:
- Blackjack,
- Baccarat,
- other card games,
- dice,
- various forms of betting.
We’re talking about the 17th and 18th centuries here, to be clear. Back then, players could spend their time in private gaming clubs where informal betting gatherings took place. It was an especially popular way of spending free time for the elite, since the rich didn’t really have a lot to do with their cash, aside from some businesses. However, such gambling habits needed to be kept secret as there was no open law that allowed such activities. Gambling regulations were basically non-existent or very vague.
Due to the fact that gambling was becoming more and more socially accepted, with time it set the stage for the introduction of actual land-based casinos. Of course, it needs to be noted that the government always kept a close eye on all gambling activities, especially betting, and everything changed with the introduction of the Gaming Act of 1968.
The Legal Framework: The Gaming Act of 1968
Because all gambling activities were either unregulated or straight up illegal, the Gaming Act was necessary to establish a path to create licensed casinos. Due to this legal framework, people could start to gamble in the open, without the need to hide in private or secret gatherings. Casino operators quickly took notice and started to open up their establishments to encourage people to play as much as possible.
| Part of the Act | Explanation |
| Licensing and regulation | The Gaming Act of 1969 played a vital role in introducing a legal framework that required all casinos to obtain actual licenses. This resulted in a need to comply with various strict regulations so that gambling can be fair and not connected with criminal activities |
| Private membership requirement | In the beginning, all establishments influenced by the Act needed to operate as private clubs. This meant that every single patron needed to become a member at least 24 hours before attempting to gamble |
| Control of gaming practices | The idea here was to regulate the available types of games so that everything can be conducted in a transparent and fair way to ensure the protection of the player’s interests |
The Rise of London as a Global Gaming Destination
One of the most famous establishments that turned into a legal casino after introducing the Gaming Act was the Clermont Club. Even though it opened in 1962, the introduction of the Act quickly changed the club into an establishment synonymous with not only exclusivity but also luxury. Gamblers could expect to be welcomed by an elegant setting where they could spend their time gambling with style, which included top-notch service and particularly good-looking decorations.
With time, London has become more and more known as a gaming center not only within its borders but also outside of them. This means that not only locals decided to spend time on gambling activities here. International tourists also started to become more and more interested in spending time here to learn more about the casino culture.
There are a number of different factors that turned London into the global gambling destination that it is today. Among them, it’s especially necessary to highlight such factors as convenient location, the status of a major travel hub, as well as diverse offerings. Nowadays, London is visited by many tourists from every single continent in the world, and they often decide to spend their time in famous local casinos.
