The history of casinos in the UK

The first official gaming establishment opened in Venice in 1638. By 1744, there were more than 120 casinos in the city. Gambling was made legal in Europe. The UK has a rich history with gambling. The games helped to close the gap between the rich and poor.

In 1960, the Betting and Gaming Act was passed in the UK. In 1509, King Henry VIII had banned gambling. The first state lottery took place in 1569. After that, gambling was banned again. It wasn't until an Act of Parliament came into force on 1st September 1960 that betting was legalised for those over the age of 18.

The first casino in London opened in 1828, by William Crockford, with the sponsorship of the Duke of Wellington. Crocksford is now London’s oldest casino and can be found in Westminster.

The first legalised casino in the UK was opened in Port Talbot, Wales in 1961. Clermont Club was the first casino to be granted a license in London in 1962. The government added some changes to the Gambling Act in 1963 and again in 1668 to make the industry more regulated.

The first online casino was formed in 1996. The UK Gambling Commission was established in 2005. It has authority over land-based and online casinos.