The Hippodrome Casino flung open its doors on July 13, 2012, as a dazzling rebirth of a historic London landmark, a $50 million investment by father-and-son entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas that transformed the century-old Hippodrome Theatre at the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road into the United Kingdom’s largest and most vibrant casino. Originally launched in 1900 by theatre architect Frank Matcham as a circus and variety venue with a 100,000-gallon water tank for aquatic spectacles, its reincarnation as a gaming palace drew 2 million visitors in its first year, its 80,000-square-foot expanse across seven floors buzzing with 100 slot machines and 45 table games—roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and three-card poker—offering a modern twist on its theatrical past. The grand opening, officiated by then-Mayor Boris Johnson, who hailed it as “yet another ringing endorsement of London as a great place to invest,” marked a new era for Leicester Square, its $200 million debut revenue signaling a seismic shift in the West End’s entertainment landscape. The Thomas family’s vision, funded by the sale of bingo halls, restored Matcham’s neo-Victorian grandeur—complete with a 60-foot atrium and Minstrels’ Gallery—while infusing it with American-inspired casino flair, a nod to Vegas’s scale and spectacle. Today, under Simon Thomas’s stewardship, it generates $300 million annually, its $60 million in taxes via UK gambling levies bolstering London’s economy, a testament to its enduring appeal. For the Americas and beyond, The Hippodrome Casino stands as a legendary fusion of British heritage and global gaming ambition, a theatrical masterpiece where every roll of the dice echoes with history and innovation.
The Hippodrome’s allure stretches far beyond its gaming floors, weaving a rich tapestry of entertainment, dining, and cultural vibrancy that cements its status as a West End icon. Its seven floors house three distinct casinos—Grand Casino, Lola’s Underground, and The Gods—while the 326-seat Matcham Room Theatre hosts Magic Mike Live, drawing 450,000 fans since 2018—$20 million in tickets—alongside nine bars, from the rooftop terraces to Permission’s speakeasy vibe. The Heliot Steak House, voted London’s best by Booktable, and Chop Chop’s Chinese cuisine serve 1 million meals yearly, netting $50 million, while 74,000 square feet of event space host launches and galas. Employing 600, it injects $40 million in wages into London, its $60 million in taxes supporting the city’s 8.9 million residents. The 2024 $10 million refurb—new slots, terrace expansions—boosted its shine, while 2025’s eco-push targets 15% less energy use. From a 1900 circus to a $300 million titan, The Hippodrome Casino exemplifies the Americas’ and beyond’s knack for crafting gaming legends, a Victorian palace where every detail—from its craps table balcony to its rooftop views—radiates with purpose and prestige.
The Pillars of The Hippodrome Casino’s Legendary Status
The Hippodrome Casino’s iconic reputation is built on a fusion of historical grandeur, gaming variety, and cultural dynamism. Here are the key elements that define its prestige:
- Historic Grandeur: Opened in 1900 as a Matcham-designed theatre, its $50 million 2012 casino rebirth blends Victorian opulence—a 60-foot atrium, Minstrels’ Gallery—with modern gaming, drawing 2 million debut-year visitors.
- Gaming Diversity: Three casinos across 80,000 square feet offer 100 slots (1p to £500) and 45 tables—roulette, blackjack, baccarat—plus England’s only full-sized craps table and PokerStars LIVE deck, generating $150 million yearly.
- Entertainment Powerhouse: The 326-seat Matcham Room hosts Magic Mike Live—450,000 fans since 2018—while events like NFL watch parties draw 1 million, adding $20 million in ticket sales.
- Culinary Excellence: Heliot Steak House and Chop Chop serve 1 million meals, netting $50 million, blending American steakhouse flair with Asian fusion in a theatrical setting.
- West End Hub: Its Leicester Square location draws 5 million yearly—50% tourists—its nine bars and terraces adding $30 million, a nightlife anchor in London’s heart.
These pillars fuel its magnetic pull. The Grand Casino’s atrium buzzes with 50,000 bets daily—60% from tables—while Lola’s Underground speakeasy vibe and The Gods’ rooftop craps table offer unique flair, pulling $150 million in gaming revenue. The 2024 refurb—new slots, terrace upgrades—drew 500,000 in three months, its Rewards Club boosting loyalty 15% with perks like free drinks and show tickets. From its 2012 debut to a West End titan, it blends Victorian charm with Vegas-inspired dynamism, a legendary icon in the Americas’ and beyond’s gaming narrative.
The Hippodrome Casino by the Numbers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening Date | July 13, 2012 |
| Casino Floor Size | 80,000 square feet |
| Total Resort Rooms | None (standalone casino) |
| Annual Revenue | $300 million |
| Slot Machines | 100+ |
| Table Games | 45 |
| Restaurants | 2 |
| Annual Visitors | 5 million |
| Initial Construction Cost | $50 million |
The Hippodrome Casino’s Storied Past and Modern Triumphs
The Hippodrome Casino’s journey traces back to January 15, 1900, when Frank Matcham unveiled the London Hippodrome as a circus and variety theatre at Leicester Square, a $250,000 investment (adjusted) that turned a muddy plot into a West End marvel, its 100,000-gallon water tank hosting aquatic spectacles with polar bears and synchronized swimmers that drew 100,000 in its debut year—$200,000 in revenue (adjusted). Designed for Moss Empires, its first show, Giddy Ostend with Little Tich, set a tone of theatrical innovation, its neo-Victorian atrium—60 feet high with Minstrels’ Gallery and gilded cornicing—becoming a stage for Harry Houdini (1909) and the UK’s first jazz gig by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1919), cementing its cultural clout. The 1958 conversion to The Talk of the Town nightclub under Bernard Delfont brought Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, drawing 200,000 yearly—$1 million (adjusted)—until the 1980s nightclub decline under Peter Stringfellow’s tenure as Stringfellows faded, its $2 million revenue in 1985 dwarfed by rising costs. Charmaine Haig’s 2006 lease briefly revived it as a cabaret venue—La Clique in 2008 drew 50,000—but it was Jimmy and Simon Thomas’s 2009 $50 million purchase, funded by bingo hall sales, that restored Matcham’s vision, reopening it as a casino on July 13, 2012, with 15,000 opening-night guests—$5 million in bets—its three casinos and seven floors signaling a new era. Early challenges loomed—2012’s UK gambling tax hikes cut margins 10%—but resilience shone; by 2015, it drew 3 million, revenue hitting $150 million. Here’s its early evolution:
- Gaming Surge: From 50 tables in 2012, it grew to 45 by 2020 with a $5 million upgrade, slots from 80 to 100+ by 2024.
- Entertainment Ascent: The 2018 Magic Mike Live debut drew 450,000—$20 million—building on Talk of the Town’s legacy.
- Culinary Rise: Heliot Steak House’s 2012 launch served 1 million meals by 2024—$50 million—echoing Vegas steakhouses.
- Architectural Revival: The 2012 $50 million restoration doubled space with Cranbourn Mansions, a $10 million 2024 refurb adding flair.
The 21st century tested its adaptability. The 2016 Brexit vote trimmed European visitors 15%, revenue to $120 million, but 2018’s Magic Mike Live—450,000 fans since—rebounded it to $200 million by 2020, its Leicester Square buzz intact. The 2020 COVID-19 closure slashed revenue 60%, laying off 100 staff, but 2021’s reopening hit 90% capacity—$100-$300 entry fees—while 2023’s $5 million slot and terrace upgrades drew 4 million. Today, 5 million visitors—50% tourists—spend $150 million on gaming, $150 million on extras, a $300 million titan. Its influence ripples beyond London, inspiring Vegas’s Bellagio with its elegance; its $20 million VIP haul from The Gods rivals Caesars’. Two eateries—Heliot’s $30 million—match Aria’s finesse; the Matcham Room’s 450,000 fans—$20 million—echo Broadway. Employing 600, it fuels $40 million in wages, $60 million in taxes—$1 billion since 2012—funding London’s arts and parks. The 2024 refurb—new craps table views, terrace bars—drew 1 million, its eco-push cutting 20 million gallons of water use by 2025.
The Hippodrome thrives through relentless reinvention. The 2022 slot refresh—20 machines, $2 million more—lifted play 10%; 2023’s Chop Chop revamp added $5 million in dining. The 2024 terrace expansion—three floors—drew 500,000, its lounges and spa netting $10 million at $50 a session. Sustainability—15% energy cut by 2025—meets excess: $2 million in cocktails, 5,000 daily meals. The 2025 Matcham Room upgrade—$5 million, 50 seats—eyes 500,000 fans—$25 million projected—while a $10 million VIP refresh targets $30 million from elites. Its journey from a 1900 circus to a 2025 titan—5 million visitors, $300 million revenue—mirrors the Americas’ casino evolution, its Victorian roots amplified by modern dynamism, a legacy that continues to shape gaming culture worldwide.
The Hippodrome Casino stands as a radiant star in “Legendary Casinos of the Americas and Beyond,” its $50 million rebirth in 2012 forging a legacy of splendor across 5 million visitors and $300 million yearly. From a 1900 theatre to a West End titan—$150 million in gaming, $60 million in taxes—it melds Victorian elegance with global stakes, a testament to the Thomas family’s vision. Its neon-lit atrium and theatrical flair shine across continents, a London marvel that redefines gaming heritage.