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December 5, 2007 4:42 AM

What should I expect in the casinos in London? Is there a dress code depending on where I go? Should I be expecting the James Bond types or Vegas Vacation types?
posted by thetenthstory to Society & Culture (8 answers total)

I've not been in any casinos in London, but generally speaking in the UK, casinos are a smart casual (at least) environment, in line with high-end/wanky nightclubs and restuarants. So, no jeans, no trainers etc etc.
posted by Happy Dave at 4:49 AM on December 5, 2007

My experience of London's casinos is over ten years old now, but you're definitely looking at more of a "James Bond", smallish room, men in suits, women in frocks, quiet and dignified kind of deal than a Las Vegas thing.
posted by benzo8 at 6:49 AM on December 5, 2007

Not specific to the casinos, but: Coming from the US, I was struck by the dressiness of London generally. Young men who in the US would be wearing khakis and a loose-fitting button-up shirt to work, in London would be wearing well-fitting suits.

So when a Londoner says "smart casual", they mean something that is dressier than what a typical American would mean. No sneakers, no blue jeans, but also actual slacks rather than rumpled khakis, actual shoes rather than quasi-hiking shoes, etc.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:56 AM on December 5, 2007

I dunno, the only London casino I've been to - which was in posh Knightsbridge, under a hotel - let me in while I was wearing jeans and Camper trainers and a shirt, although I did arrive in a reasonably smart coat.

Inside it was a bit like being on a cross channel ferry - similar carpet, similar array of fruit machines - only with more moneyed psychopaths around. This one guy, who'd very obviously done loads of coke that evening, was running between the roulette tables throwing down bets in the thousands. At one point he saw me gaping and muttered between grinding teeth, 'Hard work.'
posted by Mocata at 7:54 AM on December 5, 2007

Ah, yes, good point on the smart-casual. Best to err on the side of smart.
posted by Happy Dave at 7:56 AM on December 5, 2007

Mod note: a few comments remove - chill about the typos and please feel free to repost your comments without snark, thanks!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:58 AM on December 5, 2007

I've been to casinos in the uk where it seemed you could basically wear anything bar looking like a tramp ie jeans and t-shirts. I think there are casinos in London that have a lot stricter dress code but they'll be for high-rollers.

I'm not sure if the laws changed but the last time I went to a casino, a couple of years ago, you had to be a member, or signed in by a member as a guest, so it's not a place you could casually visit.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:35 AM on December 5, 2007

It's been about two years since i've been but I'm a member of a casino in the basement of one of the buildings in Liecester Square. I joined a long time ago, but I seem to remember it was nothing more than a card with my name and address, a 5 or 10 pound fee and a 24 hour waiting period. I went wearing jeans and no one looked at me funny. I'm sure dressing up can't hurt though especially if you'll be in a Knightsbride or Mayfair area casino
Casino-wise it is nothing like a Vegas casino. It was dark, smoky and had a low ceiling. There were a few blackjack tables, a few more roulette tables, a couple of fruit machines and one slot machine. Overall I wasn't very impressed.
posted by prjo at 5:46 PM on December 5, 2007