Located on Blackpool’s iconic Queen’s promenade, the Genting Blackpool Casino is one of Lancashire’s most popular gambling halls.

The castle-style building is intriguing to say the least, and while it doesn’t necessarily scream ‘casino’ from the outside, the range of traditional table games, slots and lively bar on the inside make for a great night out.

There are a few casinos in Blackpool to choose from and I think it’s safe to say that this is my favourite.

So, if you’re interested in how I came to that conclusion then keep reading. This review of the Genting Blackpool Casino will shed light on the games on offer, any relevant promotions, how to get there and much more.

Firstly, let me start by saying that the building itself is one of my favourites casino buildings I’ve ever come across. 

A bold statement, I know, but let me offer some insight on the history of the place and you may begin to appreciate why.

Formerly known, and still affectionately known by locals, as the Castle Casino, the actual building itself dates all the way back to 1906 when it was built by Lancashire cricketer Arthur Knowles for his French wife. 

After being sold numerous times throughout the decades, it became the Castle Casino in 1965 before being taken over in 2005 by the Genting Group and transformed into the casino we know today.

So, with the history lesson over, lets delve a little deeper into what this casino has to offer and what makes it worth a visit.

You might think from looking at the outside of the casino that it will be quite small on the inside.

While it’s true that it’s not the biggest venue in the world, the casino floor is deceivingly spacious. Well, spacious enough for it to not feel cramped or crowded, anyway.

In fact, there is quite a lot of dead space which I think could be used to fit another table or two or even some more slots, regulations permitting. Perhaps a re-think of the layout would be beneficial.

I noticed that the staff do a great job of keeping the casino floor clean and tidy. All the tables were in great condition and some of the furniture actually looked new – I always like to see that casinos keep on top of things like this.

The variety of games offered at this casino is yet another positive.

You’ll find four American Roulette tables, three Blackjack tables and a single Three Card Poker table, so there’s plenty to keep you busy.

I fancied my chances on roulette during my visit so that’s what I spent the majority of the time on. I’m glad I did too, as I had a few good wins.

Plus, there are a range of slot machines and electronic machines too. I had a go on a few different slots but without any success unfortunately. 

Interestingly, Mahjong is also available. Now, I can’t say that Mahjong is my cup of tea but I was impressed that it was offered as it’s not something you find everywhere.

Meanwhile, Poker enthusiasts will be glad to know that there is a dedicated room to play in at this casino. There are frequent poker tournaments and cash games available too.

The poker schedule is available inside the casino but you can ring up to check what’s scheduled in for the rest of that month.

There is no on-site hotel but there are plenty of places to stay nearby.

Some of the best rated hotels within a short walk of the casino include the Elgin Hotel, a one-minute walk away, the Fossil Tree Hotel, also a one-minute walk away, and the New Guilderoy Hotel, a five-minute walk away.

This casino is open seven days a week, 11am until 4am Monday to Thursday and 11am until 5am Friday to Sunday. 

However, one of the drawbacks of this place is that live gaming does not begin until 5pm every day. That means it can be quiet during the day.

As I visit a lot of casinos on my own, I really appreciate friendly staff, and the people at this place are absolutely fantastic. 

All of them, from the receptionist to the dealers, are all super friendly and were always happy to answer any questions I threw their way. They have no issues in helping people with the rules of the games either. So, if you’re a beginner, you’re well catered for.

In relation to the décor, I’d say it strikes a good balance between contemporary and traditional.

It’s not super modern, and I’m glad as it really wouldn’t suit it, but there are modern aspects such as elegant chandeliers and neon lighting which ensure its contemporary enough to stay relevant.

Restaurants

Perhaps one of my only gripes about this casino is that there is no longer an on-site restaurant.

The restaurant closed years ago, I believe as a temporary measure. It never reopened, which is a shame considering the food was great. 

Whether the restaurant will ever reopen again remains to be seen but I did request that the receptionist pass on my request for it to return to the general manager during my visit, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

But, being set just eight minutes away from the city centre, there are plenty of options nearby which does soften the blow a little.

You’ll find a mixture of pubs, cafes, and takeaways within walking distance so you can take your pick. 

Bars

There is an on-site bar which serves a good range of beers, wine, ciders, spirits and all your typical bar snacks such as crisps and nuts.

The bar area itself is tasteful and contemporary and has a screen which is used to show live sports.

The atmosphere in here was great when I visited, and I did end up chatting with some locals and having a few drinks.

It was quite busy though, and it took a while to get served. I felt like it would have been beneficial to have more staff members seeing as it was the weekend.

Dress Code

The management does request that customers wear smart/casual clothing during their visit and avoid things like football shirts and vests. 

Smoking

Neither smoking nor vaping is permitted anywhere within the building. There is a smoking terrace available to customers, but it is quite small.

Parking

If you’ve ever visited Blackpool, you’ll know that finding parking can be a nightmare. 

Luckily, this Genting casino offers free parking, just be sure to enter your car’s registration on the keypads located in the main reception area as Parking Eye is in operation. 

The casino is accessible for wheelchair users. The only part that isn’t accessible to wheelchair users is the smoking area. 

There weren’t any specific promotions running during my visit but I was told that there are often things scheduled in.

Sure enough, at the time of writing there is an upcoming promotion scheduled that silver, gold, diamond and platinum members can enjoy which involves collecting stamps every time you visit the casino, leading to slots matchplay and freeplay rewards. 

So, this is the type of thing you can expect.

As the Genting Blackpool Casino has an open-door policy, you don’t need to be a member to enjoy a day out there.

However, as is the case with all Genting casinos, the benefits of becoming a member are not to be sniffed at.

First of all, once you become a member you can then begin accumulating points when you play any of the available games at the casino.

For every 100 points accumulated, you get £1 worth of points to spend inside of any Genting casino, on games or food and drink.

Plus, as a welcome offer, once you become a member you can then download the app to receive £10 in points. 

As a member you also get to enjoy 10% of food and drink, access to complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks, and exclusive offers. For these reasons alone, I’d recommend becoming a member, even if you’re only planning on visiting the once.

Land-based casinos do sometimes struggle to match the best online casinos in terms of promotions, but Genting do okay here overall.

As one of the casinos most local to me, I have visited the Genting Blackpool Casino more than once and have never been disappointed.

I usually visit on the weekend and this time was no different. I visited on a Friday evening and the atmosphere was fantastic. 

The slots were very unkind to me, but I guess you can’t win them all.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the time I spent on the tables and had fun chatting in the bar until the early hours of the morning – a weekend done right if you ask me.

Will I return? Definitely.

⭐ Standout Moment

Without a doubt, the atmosphere of this place is what stands out to me and draws me back.

As I mentioned earlier, the fact that live gaming doesn’t begin until 5pm every day means it can be quiet during the day.

However, once the evening draws in it livens up dramatically, and it’s for this reason that I’d recommend visiting later on during the day.

There are some casinos that I think everybody should visit at least once and I think that the Blackpool Genting Casino is one of them.

The building itself makes it so unique and games wise it has everything you’d expect from a casino.

The fact there is no restaurant or even a simplistic bar menu is disappointing, but as it’s so centrally located and there are so many places to eat nearby, it’s not a deal breaker for me personally. It just means you might not be able to stay as long as you would at a casino that served food.

Another plus in relation to the location of this casino is that it makes it easy to make a weekend out of your visit and check out some other local attractions.

Ultimately, the Genting Blackpool Casino is a great night out and I’d totally recommend popping in for a visit if you can.

🧭 How to get there

The casino is located at 64 Queen’s Promenade on Blackpool’s iconic seafront. 

Due to its central location, there are plenty of different ways to get there.

Car: Free parking is available, and the entrance is located on Shaftesbury Avenue, just to the side of the building – FY2 9QG is the postcode you’ll need.

Bus: Blackpool has fantastic bus links and you’ll be hard pressed to find a street without a bus stop on it. 

The central bus hub is located just a five-minute drive, or 30-minute walk, away from the casino and supports travel all across Lancashire. 

The bus stops directly outside the casino support bus services 1, 1A and 21, which provide travel between Blackpool, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

Train: If you’d prefer to arrive by train, Blackpool North Station is your best bet as it has direct lines to most major cities and is just five minutes away by car or a 30-minute walk down the seafront. 

Blackpool South Station is also an option but it is a little further away as it takes just over 10 minutes by car.

Tram: There are tram stops located up and down the promenade which extend as far as Fleetwood, so this is a good option if you’re local to the area or are planning to make a weekend out of it.