Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown is located on Hurst Street in the popular Chinese Quarter of Birmingham in the city centres Southside.

As the second largest city in the UK, it will come as no surprise that Birmingham is home to numerous casinos and that therefore, the competition is pretty fierce.

But as one of over 40 properties owned by Genting Casinos, Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown has a certain advantage if you consider reputation as a selling point. Plus, it’s the only venue in the city’s Chinese Quarter, so there’s that too.

With three casinos across Birmingham, I was looking forward to seeing how this Genting casino sized up against its counterparts.

So, I spent the evening at Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown to see what kind of experience is on offer.

The Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown is housed in a building that was constructed all the way back in 1957 and has been used for multiple purposes over the years.

Formerly known as the Genting Casino Hurst Street, it wasn’t until a major renovation took place in 2013 that the casino was christened with its current name.

The revamp saw the interior undergo a face lift and a few new gaming additions added to the casino floor.

Featuring a selection of live table classics, a restaurant serving authentic Asian cuisine, a late bar, and even private karaoke booths, I thought it was a promising lineup. 

So, without further ado, lets delve deeper into exactly what is on offer here.

Location

A casino located just a few minutes from the city centre tend to be at the top of the list and that’s certainly the case here.

Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown can be reached by car or public transport so it comes down to what you prefer.

I tend to recommend arriving by public transport if it’s a city centre casino. There are numerous bus stops scattered around the streets surrounding the casino which support travel around Birmingham itself as well as local areas such as Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Coventry.

If the train is more your thing, Birmingham New Street station is situated just a five-minute walk away from the casino which is incredibly handy as it provides plenty of connections to the rest of the country.

If you’d prefer to arrive by car, note that you will have to drive through central Birmingham to reach the casino, which isn’t for the faint hearted. I should know as that’s what I did.

As tends to be the case with city centre casinos there is no private parking available. There are plenty of parking options within walking distance though and id recommend China Town Parking which is under a five-minute walk away.

Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown was previously a 24-hour casino before new opening hours came into play earlier this year. The casino is now open daily from 11am – 6am.

The venue clocks in at 18,000 square feet so on the grand scale of things it’s a fairly small casino but it manages its space well and is still able to provide the majority of what you’d expect to find.

I found the venue to be clean throughout but I did notice some wear such as scuffs in the carpet and just general wear and tear throughout, though nothing major.

Live Table Game Selection

There are plenty of live tables out on the casino floor and they offer all the classics, including roulette, blackjack, three card poker, baccarat, and, considering we’re in Chinatown, mahjong.

It’s clear that baccarat was the focus considering around half the tables were reserved especially for this. Baccarat Fortune 8 is available here too which offers a minimum jackpot of $2000.

I’m partial to a game of baccarat so I did jump on one of the tables and I did pretty well actually. 

For the high rollers, the casino features a VIP Gold Room which offers high stake games in a private space which is separate from the main casino floor. 

To my disappointment, there were no live poker tables when I visited. 

Slots

There are over 20 slot machines out on the casino floor featuring titles from all the biggest providers such as IGT and Novamatic.

As I visited at the weekend the casino was pretty busy and there were crowds surrounding the slots which made it difficult to claim one.

However, after politely wading my way through I kept it classy with a go on some old favourites like Cleopatra and Golden Goddess and I enjoyed a few decent wins actually.

Electronic Table Games

If you’re more inclined to an electronic table game, there are over 20 electronic roulette tables spread out throughout the casino.

One of the main advantages of the electronic terminals is the fact they’re open later than the live tables, so it’s something for the night owls at least.

You’ll find that the majority of UK casinos do not have any on-site accommodation and Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown is no different.

However, because of its central location there are plenty of hotels within walking distance from the venue.

Some of the best options within a ten-minute walk of the casino include Travelodge Birmingham Central Bull Ring, Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre, and the easyHotel Birmingham City Centre. 

I chose to stay at the Travelodge Birmingham Central Bull Ring considering it was located just a two-minute walk from the casino.

Food

As a self-proclaimed Chinese food connoisseur, visiting a casino in Chinatown will never not excite me as I know I’m going to get to sample some Asian style cooking.

With this in mind, as you’d expect from a Chinatown casino there’s an excellent restaurant inside the Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown.

The restaurant is located just off the casino floor and sports traditional Asian décor, with oriental lanterns hanging from the ceiling and room dividers for intimacy and it offers a diverse menu which features westernised Asian dishes alongside traditional Asian dishes. 

I opted for a fried noodle dish along with a couple of sides and all of the food was absolutely delicious and priced fairly.

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is a popular place to dine out in Birmingham so it’s advisable to book a table in advance to avoid missing out. While that can be an inconvenience, it's also nice to see Genting making the most of what separates it from the best online casinos.

Entertainment

If you’re looking for some form of other entertainment besides the casino games themselves, the casino features a late night bar which offers a dynamic drinks menu comprising of premium cocktails, lagers, spirits, and wine.

Plus, there are a few tv screens which show all the major sporting events of the day, so you can take a break from the casino floor with a drink and watch the game.

I did stay for a couple of drinks after my stint on the tables and I really liked the feel of the bar. It was only small, but this created quite a cosy feel.

If you’re looking for something a little extra after a night out on the tables this place is home to a handful of karaoke rooms which can be booked out prior to your visit. While I wasn’t quite feeling adventurous enough to belt out a tune, I think the booths are a great idea and they appeared to be quite popular as the night wore on.

Dress Code

There is no formal dress code in place here but the casino does ask that guests are presentable and avoid clothing items like ripped jeans and caps.

Smoking

Neither smoking nor vaping is permitted within the casino. However, there is a dedicated smoking area for guests to use.

Wheelchair users are catered for at this casino thanks to ramps and a lift which takes you up to the first floor.

There are also accessible toilets available.

Genting casinos tend to reserve most of their promotions for members of the My Genting Rewards program.

My Genting Rewards is a tiered loyalty program which links all Genting casinos together under one roof, allowing players to earn points and benefit from promotions in every venue they visit.

There are six tiers which are Red, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum, and the key to moving up a tier is by accumulating enough points.

Points are earned by playing games in a Genting casino, whether this be on a slot machine, electronic table game, or on the live tables, and by downloading the app and completing app challenges. 

For every 100 points, you earn £1 worth of points which can then be redeemed on food and drink, slots and electronic gaming play, and gaming table bets at the kiosk.

Plus, as I said, once registered as a member players can benefit from exclusive member-only bonuses and promotions as well as things such as 10% off all drinks and complimentary tea, coffee and draught soft drinks.

All in all, I think that My Genting Rewards is worth signing up for even if you only plan on visiting the once.

I always look forward to a visit to any Chinatown casino and this one was no different.

It was busy all throughout the time I spent at the casino so I feel like I got the chance to experience it at its best in terms of atmosphere. In particular, the atmosphere around the baccarat tables and the late bar was great.

Plus, I really rated the restaurant. Everything from the décor to the service to the food itself was fantastic and I think I’d return solely for it to be honest.

I wish there had been a few more slot machines as the area was quite cramped but there’s nothing you can do about lack of space.

One thing that stuck out was the service. All the staff, from the waiters in the restaurant to the receptionist to the dealers, were so friendly and welcoming and it really helped me to feel at ease.

The Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown is the only casino in the Birmingham’s Chinatown and I think it offers a really good night out.

What the atmosphere would be like during the week I can’t comment on, but I do think it has quite a lively feel to it in general.

It’s not the biggest venue so I think what it has managed to squeeze into the space is admirable, what with a good selection of live table games, a restaurant, a bar, and karaoke booths.

For baccarat enthusiasts in particular, I think Genting Casino Birmingham Chinatown offers one of the best, if not the best, experience in the city, so that’s something to keep in mind.