New London Casino Won't Target High-Rollers

Hippodrome developer not planning to attract big-spending gamers.

The casino operator in charge of turning London's Hippodrome into a new gaming venue has claimed that it is not looking to attract big-spending customers.

Although the famous Leicester Square venue currently hosts alternative circus show La Clique, United Leisure Gaming is set to convert the Hippodrome into a casino after planning permission was granted earlier this year.

Simon Thomas, chairman of Hippodrome Casinos, told the Guardian this week that the venue will be designed to offer visitors a general entertainment experience, as well as gambling services.

He explained: "We are trying to offer something a bit different … London has a lot of hard gambling casinos but we are not going for the big gamblers.

"We think our customers will only spend a little over £30 a head. Our customers will get the opportunity to see some free cabaret, see a beautiful building, have a little flutter - we are not looking at the high end."

The Hippodrome was built in 1900 and its previous incarnations have included a music hall, a cabaret venue and a nightclub run by Peter Stringfellow.