I’m romping through the high streets of the United Kingdom in search of the country’s top casinos, and my journey to Glasgow is about to wrap up. The last stop of this long weekend trip to Scotland sees me stop by the Genting Casino. This company holds over 30 casinos in towns and cities across the country and this, surprisingly enough, will be the first time I try one out. 

Now, I’m well aware that Genting also offer one of the best UK casino sites, comprising mainly of slot gaming and live dealer tables. But I’m out for the real deal. In this review, I’ll talk you through my firsthand experience of Genting Glasgow Casino. I’ll reveal the games available, what benefits Genting members can expect, where the casino is located, and outline the areas where this venue is thriving or flopping.

The Genting Casino in Glasgow is situated in the northern part of the city centre. Found on Sauchiehill Street, Genting Casino is close to the Charing Cross Station, Kelvinbridge Park, and near the King’s Theatre. 

Now personally, I found the location great because there’s a KFC directly across the road. The casino is on a high street with familiar shops around it, but as I say, it is on the edges of the main centre of Glasgow. You might not know it was here unless you went out of your way to find it. 

The game selection at Genting Casino Glasgow lets you experience both live tables and electronic gaming. The lineup of entertainment includes all the staples; roulette, three card poker, blackjack, slots, and baccarat. Now, these are standard. Every good casino in the UK has these. However, at the Genting Casino in Glasgow, you can also access live e-tables, Dragonfire Roulette, Blazing Blackjack, and TCP Stud Poker. I was certainly impressed.

It’s this that made me pick up on a theme here. From the décor to the game selection, it’s all very Macau in its influence and homage. 

When it comes to the tables, you are presented with four for American roulette. You then have two blackjack tables and four baccarat tables. Oddly, there is a single table that offers you Multi-Win Poker, which is something I have not witnessed before. Now, some of these tables are linked to the casino's electronic terminals. These games are also streamed live via the online casino.  This means you could even invite friends not present at the venue to play at the same tables with you. 

Standout Poker

And let’s not forget poker. Genting Casino does house special poker tournaments, along with weekly Cash Poker games. Poker tournaments on-site included Mega-Stack, Double Chance, and Freezeout which operate between Wednesdays and Sundays.

There were several high-stake tables, but there was no private area or VIP room for such gaming. The highest wagering available was on the baccarat table. This accepted bets of up to £2,000. 

All the games were in impeccable condition, and this is no surprise. I learned that in 2020, the casino completed a £1.6 million refurbishment. And given the country would have been on lockdown for a large portion of time, its use would have been minimal. 

Slots and Electronic Games

The slots are supplied by Novomatic. They are a long-established software company that also provides some of the best online slots in the UK. Their cabinets are highly popular among high street casinos and can carry jackpots up to £20,000. Some of their titles inside the Genting Casino include Lucky Lady’s Charm, Book of Ra, and Pharoah’s Fortune.

More entertainment can be found at the events put on by the casino. These don’t just cover casino games and tournaments either. Players can watch sports from the TV screens in the lounge areas, and there are four karaoke rooms that add to the casino’s distinctly Asian vibe. 

If you want to venture to this area and stay the night, the nearest hotels in this area are the Safestay Glasgow, which is at Charing Cross, and The Novotel Glasgow Centre which is on West Regent Street.  

Plus, there is the Charing Cross Hotel on Renfrew Street, which is nowhere near Charing Cross station at all really. This hotel is on the street behind the casino. For something more exclusive, the city’s only five-star hotel is relatively nearby – it’s called Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel.

Glasgow’s Genting Casino opens from 12 noon and closes its doors at 6:00am. I arrived at 2:00pm to a very quiet casino. Now, it is no fault of the casinos that no one wishes to gamble on a Sunday at 2:00pm. However, today, the Genting Casino is very much my church and I am most definitely asking God to help cover my train fare back home. 

The dress code for the casino is as it is with every casino these days, smart casual. Basically, you can wear anything that’s not offensive or scruffy.

As I was one of the very few people to grace this establishment, the staff seemed pleased to see me. They were very polite, asking if I needed any assistance. Entry was free at the time, but I did need a membership, which was sorted at the door. Don’t forget some ID if you’re not already a member, have youthful looks, or both of the above.

The staff were small in number on my visit, again, it’s early Sunday afternoon. There were possibly two or three table dealers, bar staff, a receptionist, a cleaner who was in the lobby when I entered, and a manager person. Regardless, the place seemed perfectly well attended to for the level of busy it was. 

Food and drink: Now I admit that I had a KFC before I entered the casino. But had I not, I could have gorged on a reasonably priced bar menu that offers pies, burgers, and chicken wings. The Bar offers a wide variety of drinks as you would expect. You can even relax with a fancy cocktail while you play slots with real money, plus you can leave the dining area with bar snack type food and take it to the games.

Smoking: Should you need to break for a smoke, there is the street out front which is equipped with plenty of air and space for your cigarette butts. But please use the two wall-mounted ashtrays found on either side of the main entrance. 

Cash machines: You can find the casino’s single ATM by the cash desk.

The casino does have wheelchair access, allowing players to reach the two floors via the lift. There is also a disabled toilet on the ground floor by the fire exit doors. This comes with a pull-down rail and 3 alternative rails. There is an assist emergency cord as well. 

So, what promotions and bonuses await those who become members of this fine establishment?

Firstly, entry is free at any time. You can sign up for membership in the casino or online and it’s 100% free. Use of the My Genting membership card allows you to accumulate points. It also comes with challenges and badges. In return, you can get discounts on drinks and food at the casino.

The Genting Casino does have an app – My Genting. This can be downloaded on Apple and Android mobiles and tablets. When you do download the app, you’ll receive a £10 reward in points. This app keeps you up to date with your points total, live events, new game releases, and general news that comes out of Genting Casino. 

If you want promotions and bonuses that benefit you in a gaming capacity, then you need to look into Genting Casino online. There you can access player rewards and an exclusive welcome bonus. All round the online offering is good,  though with two to three day waits for winnings to hit your bank account, we wouldn't blame you for choosing a fast withdrawal casino instead.

First off, I have to say that the casino is pretty immaculate. The lobby alone greets you with two curving staircases which leads you up the games room both on the left and the right. What this looked like before the refurbishment, I haven’t a clue. It was an independent casino before the takeover by Genting, which was back in 2012. 

Given my arrival was at opening time on a Sunday, I cannot comment on how busy it would get. My visit only lasted an hour or two due to travel demands. Though it has to be said. It’s not every day a casino gets upgraded with over a million pounds worth of investment. It, therefore, tells me that this casino does have the interest of the public and that it wants to make all other Glasgow casinos know this.

The casino isn’t big on events outside the spectrum of gambling, so do not expect live bands here or parties. What the casino does is a very professional job of servicing players with the best games. The size of the casino allows for this, as well as a decent bar and restaurant judging by the menu and prices. 

The Genting Glasgow Casino is spacious with some dubious carpet choices, but it’s laid out without too many tables in the middle of rooms. There are some quiet spots in the casino. For example, the room where the poker tables are located. This is small fry though, and generally it’s a really pleasant space to be in.

⭐ Standout Moment

Blazing Blackjack and TCP Stud Poker are the sort of game variants you don’t find everywhere. So it was refreshing to play a twist on these classics.

As a first-timer to this part of Glasgow, I found the Genting Casino is in a spot that is very easy to get to. But I set out to go here. If I were a tourist in the city, I’m not convinced I would have stumbled upon it. Nevertheless, I am more than sure the locals know of this establishment, and they must do well. This venue has long been connected to gambling, going back as far as 1993. It has always been a casino to one company or another, so surely has the sort of place in local lore that any new UK casinos could only dream of.

I am oddly drawn to this venue, and I don’t know if it’s because of the masses of Malaysian money that has been pumped into it. It’s certainly different to other venues. It carries a different quality, and they aren’t afraid to pick very questionable carpets. 

The oddity of this casino is that it is all on one upper floor, bar the entrance. It’s peculiarly deep for a property and narrow. Yet the owners have done very well in making it look larger than it is. Would I return to this casino? If I was gifted a free train ticket to Glasgow, then yes, I would entertain the idea of coming here - but there is a problem. 

I have posed this very query with other casinos that provide online gaming. What does it take for me to want to go to a casino, when I can play online? Online there are more bonuses, it’s more convenient, and I can play games in just my underpants.

Now, I’m in no way suggesting that casinos allowing players to play in their pants is the key to keeping them busy. But I’d love to see a bit more USP from a venue like this.

I arrived by train and walked from Charing Cross, which took all of five minutes. Exit the station on Elmbank Cresent, left, then up Elmbank Street, cross 2 roads, with the third road being Suachiehill Street. 

If you’re coming to Glasgow from further afield, you’re more likely to be terminating at Glasgow Central. The walk from here to the casino is straightforward and takes 20 minutes. A little long for some, so you could always grab a taxi or take the number 3 or 4 bus from Argyle Street beside the station. That’ll get you much nearer.

You can, of course, drive to the venue, and the casino offers free parking to customers only – though it’s a little complicated. This trick is to park at Charing Cross Station, and the casino will refund your ticket. For those that can only commute by bus, there is a stop 100 yards from the door and a taxi stop area right out front of the building.

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