• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / News Features / The London Gaming Scene and How It’s Developed the Past Few Years

The London Gaming Scene and How It’s Developed the Past Few Years

Aug 8, 2019 By Jonathan

It goes without saying that the gambling scene in London is a reflection of the United Kingdom’s overall gambling scene which boasts of some very avid gambling fans. The country has nearly all forms of online gambling available and each type has legions of followers who play the games every single day. As such, even though there are certain gambling hotspots such as London, the activities are considered to be a national phenomenon thanks to the impacts they have had on the economic and social aspects of the United Kingdom.

How It All Started

London is mostly known for its rich cultural tapestry but these are not the only highlights of the city. Gambling is one of the most overlooked aspects of the city even though such activities can be traced to as far back as the Romanian period. Even though it was only commercialized in the course of the 18th century, gambling has always been an integral part of British culture especially because it serves not just as a commercial activity but also a leisure endeavor that people find joy in being a part of.

With the commercialization of the activity, there was a need for regulation since it began to be associated with crime and other vices. Besides, there was also the need to boost tax revenues and commercialized gambling was one of the best avenues to achieve this. As such, gambling officially became a regulated activity in the 20th century. A number of fully-fledged casinos were opened in the decades that followed, setting London up as one of the premier gambling destinations not just in the United Kingdom but Europe as a whole.

Modern Gambling in London

Unsurprisingly, the gambling scene in the beautiful city of London picked up very well and this can be seen to this very day. Gambling in the United Kingdom is a multi-faceted activity that encompassed a vast range of products and services. These include sports betting, slot machines, fixed betting terminals, and online gambling among others. It is truly exceptional. There is so much to the modern gambling industry and this is partly because of how tremendously it has evolved to become a multi-billion-pounds industry.

The Rise of Online Gambling

Being one of the most popular gambling hubs in the United Kingdom, London hosts a number of online gambling operators. Moreover, a significant chunk of the city’s population enjoys gambling online through their computers, smartphones or tablets. There has been a steady but solid growth in the popularity of online gambling activities across the planet with the United Kingdom posting some of the highest growth rates. Now, you can play at the best UK casino sites from wherever you may be, something that would have seemed almost impossible a few decades ago.

The online gambling scene in London is just as robust as one would expect from a city that has gambling activities of almost all kinds since ancient times. Not only has it helped the gambling operator to boost their revenues by offering round the clock online gambling services but it has helped in boosting tax revenue.

But this is not the only way that the internet has impacted the world of gambling. There have been improvements in other sectors of the industry especially with regards to advertising and marketing both of which are key to the commercial aspects of the country’s gambling scene.

Emphasis on Consumer Protection

Regulation has been a huge part of the United Kingdom’s gambling industry, or any gambling industry for that matter and this is simply because of just how vital regulators are for any industry. As more and more advancements continue to come up, there are more and more problems that continue to crop up – these need to be addressed to ensure that the customers, the general public, the country, and the gambling operators all benefit from a fair and safe gambling environment.

One of the biggest issues in that regard is problem gambling which has escalated even further thanks to technological advancements and, of course, the internet. That said, it is almost impossible to dismiss the fact that consumer protection is important now more than ever. Fortunately, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission has been taking the issue very seriously by tightening up regulations and issuing new guidelines to gaming companies. While it is certainly not where we hope to see it, both the United Kingdom’s and London’s gambling scenes are set to become even safer and much fairer thanks to better regulatory policies.

There is also the issue of responsible advertising which is now being given quite a lot of attention. Gambling activities are still reserved to people of the right age and of the right mind which means that anyone who does not fall in those two categories should not be targeted by advertisements related to gambling. Things have certainly gotten better in this regard but there is, without a doubt, room for improvement.

Globalization of Gambling: London’s Role

While the core focus of this article is to focus on the gambling scene in London, is it safe to say that London pretty much represents one of the next steps in the evolution of the global gambling industry. Not only does it have some of the best gambling companies, but it is also leading when it comes to being a benchmark. Online gambling continues to break barriers and this is a very exciting idea for both the consumers, the city and the gambling companies.

Companies in the United Kingdom have already extended their footprints to international markets and foreign companies have been able to offer their gambling services in the country. In fact, London has hosted a number of high-profile international gambling tournaments and this has helped the city and its businesses bring in billions in revenue – these businesses include the gambling venues themselves, accommodation facilities and transportation among other things.

London is strategically positioned to make a huge impact on the future of gambling all across the globe. This can play out in a number of ways, but it will definitely be exciting to witness it.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: News Features

About jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • Only Fools And Horses musical to close in West End after four years
  • Artist Ai Weiwei to launch first design-focused exhibition at London’s Design Museum
  • London Travel Alert: Staff at British Museum to walk out during half-term break
  • Poet Lemn Sissay ‘over the moon’ to receive Freedom of the City of London
  • English Heritage has unveiled six new blue plaques for London
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
  • Exploring The Cosmic House in London
  • Ten Social Media Accounts to Follow for Londonphiles
  • New Royal Academy Exhibition: Treasures from Spain and the Hispanic World
  • Pollock’s Toy Museum in London Has Closed Unexpectedly

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Elizabeth line fully opens and offers more direct journeys

Tube poet encourages writers to ‘bring who they are to the field’

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in