Casinos are a massive industry in the UK, with over 144 registered brick-and-mortar casinos running right now. Over the years, there have been plenty of changes in trends in the industry, with the market constantly adapting due to new technologies or requirements.
The UK casino industry has progressively shifted from physical venues to live casino UK sites in alignment with the rise of the global digital landscape. Here we are going to take a look at the history and rise of casinos in the UK.
Pre 1960s
Prior to the 1960s, gambling and betting in the UK were largely illegal due to the belief that they would be a threat to morality and public order. While lawfully gambling was a punishable offence, it did still occur at registered horse racecourses with bookies and at homes, but was unregulated. The desire for gambling to become legal was clear by the number of people partaking in betting and games despite the law being used as a deterrent. It was thought to have been a common practice in the UK from the 16th century, but it wasn’t until later in the 20th century that gambling was made legal.
Legalisation
It wasn’t until the 1960s that gambling was legalised in betting shops and bingo halls throughout the UK, but under very strict regulations. Laws were still very strict regarding what gambling could and could not do. However, in 1961, the first casino was opened in Port Talbot, Wales, starting the wave of new betting shops opening up across Great Britain. In 1962, other major cities joined the trend of opening casinos, including Manchester and London, with plenty more following throughout the decade.
The growth of casinos (1970s-90s)
After the legalisation of gambling in the 60s, the 70s made way for the growth of the industry, with plenty of land-based stores opening. The growth was extremely steady, and tough restrictions meant their progression was stunted. To be able to enter the casinos, you had to be a member, making them appear more prestigious and less of a source of entertainment. The number of members did rise, as did the number of casinos available across the country, making the era one of the most important in terms of start out growth.
Local councils controlled the regulations of casinos, meaning they had power over what type of casinos they had and how many casinos they had, highlighting how strict the laws were when it came to opening and using a casino. The exclusive industry only had a limited number of games available to play. Nevertheless, player numbers continued to rise until the 1990s, when a new challenge appeared.
Difficulties in the 90s
The 1990s brought conversation to regulations, discussing whether they are outdated and need to be changed to grow the industry further. Requirements in the 90s hadn’t changed, meaning advertising casinos and memberships were still necessary, but it did make the law rethink the restrictions. Going into the 2000s, the laws began to be rewritten, indicating the next stage of growth in the industry for the first time since it was legalised back in the 1960s. But it wasn’t until a few more years that the laws would be implemented.
The 2000s
The new legislation that was being produced in the 90s came into play in 2005. The Gambling Act of 2005 was passed, but did not come into force until 2007. This involved a unified regulatory system and the formation of the UK Gambling Commission, which would be able to monitor the laws surrounding gambling. In 2007, the laws came into play and began to be implemented relatively successfully. It allowed advertisements for gambling and a further range of freedom when it came to what casinos can and cannot do. Online casinos also started popping up more frequently, allowing players to access casinos remotely from their home devices.
The rise of online
The 2010s were the start of a new era of casinos. Online gaming began to rapidly take off, with many land casinos now offering things such as loyalty rewards and online versions of their in-store games. Development companies began to form and produce slot games at a rapid rate for these online sites. Casinos in the UK grew at a fast pace thanks to the new laws in 2005, and this resulted in further changes in 2014, which brought new restrictions on licensing and advertising limitations. The new laws were implemented to support the industry while ensuring the gambling is safe and lawful.
The coronavirus pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic resulted in an influx of players using online casinos due to the closure of land casinos. The aftermath of lockdown restrictions resulted in many casinos closing due to costs, while online casinos thrived. Many brick-and-mortar casinos took the opportunity to create a site for players to try, while others couldn’t survive the lack of customers, damaging the land sites and boosting online casino presence.
Present day
In modern times, online casinos are the main place for players to visit rather than brick-and-mortar venues. Physical casinos have been damaged due to the rise of their online counterparts and the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of slowing down the UK casino industry despite being largely online.
Feature image by Ben Frost on Unsplash
