If Newcastle as a city is known for anything then it is surely as being a place where people love to have a good laugh. St. James’ Park dominates the skyline in a manner that reminds everyone that football is important to the Geordies, but fun is up there too.
It’s that relationship with enjoying themselves, and especially having a good night out, that might well explain the presence of three casinos within the city’s borders. As well as having a flutter, therefore, you can have a laugh with the locals at the same time.
The Casinos
Knowing that you’ve got three choice of where to go is all well and good, but we’d like to help you narrow down your options. Here’s a look at all three casinos in Newcastle.
Aspers Casino – The Gate
Located within the Gate Leisure Complex, Aspers Casino in Newcastle is actually one of the famed ‘super casinos’ that opened around the country in the wake of Tony Blair’s Labour government’s decision to relax gambling laws back in 2005. It is set over three floors, so it’s fair to say that it plays host to pretty much any gaming option you could wish to enjoy.
Punto banco. Roulette. Blackjack. Three-card poker. You name the table game and there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to play it at the Aspers. That’s to say nothing of the electronic gaming area that will have a computerised version of pretty much all of those games alongside loads of slot machines with all of the most modern slots there.
The poker room at the Aspers is also impressive, with Texas Hold’em cash games and tournaments run regularly. There are two bars on offer at the Aspers and with Newcastle being the city it is it’s hardly surprising that one of them is a sports bar. They both do snack menus, but Freya’s Restaurant is where you’ll want to head if you want more than just some chips.
Genting Casino – Forth Street
The Genting Casino is located within a purpose-built venue, so everything has been laid out pretty much perfectly. It’s one of the Genting group’s largest casinos in England, so there’s room enough for pretty much all of the most popular games. Obviously stable options like roulette send blackjack are in there, as are more exotic choices on the tables.
Electronic roulette wheels sit alongside slot-based machines, offering almost every electronic type of game you could wish to play. There’s also a dedicated poker room that is available for private hire but is more commonly used for tournaments and cash games. The casino posts information about what’s on when on their website and social media channels.
If you’ve been to a Genting Casino before and had a bite to eat then you’ll know that Fahrenheit Restaurant is the chain’s stock eatery, with the one in Newcastle being particularly impressive. There’s also a bar that serves drinks, offers snacks and shows live sport, so you’re covered regardless of what it is that you fancy at any given moment.
Grosvenor Casino – St James Boulevard
If a city contains a Genting Casino then you can be fairly certain that there won’t be a Grosvenor Casino too far behind, such is the rivalry between the pair, and Newcastle is no exception. Located not far from Newcastle United’s home ground and close to Newcastle Central Station, the Grosvenor here offers a good variety of games.
The electronic games, including slot machines and versions of the table games, are probably the highlight of the Grosvenor in Newcastle, though that’s not to denigrate the table games on offer. On that front you can get involved with the likes of roulette and blackjack to your heart’s content, as well as three-card poker if the mood takes you.
If you like poker but aren’t keen on the three-card kind then you’ll want to take a trip to the dedicated poker room onsite. It’s not the largest in the city, but there are still tournaments and cash games to be found. Pop the bar if you want to grab a drink or watch some live sport, or head to the restaurant if you fancy a sit down meal.