Established all the way back in the 1970’s, the Genting Casino Westcliff claims to offer a ‘premier’ casino experience. 

I knew from the little bit of research that I did prior to my visit that this place is a little more upmarket than most, and I was looking forward to putting their promise of a premium experience to the test.

And that’s exactly what I did. During my evening visit to the Genting Casino Westcliff I tried out everything I could, from the different games to the food and complimentary coffee.

So, if you want to know what a night out at the Genting Casino Westcliff looks like and whether I think it’s worth a visit then keep reading and all shall become clear.

Located on Southend seafront just an hour away from London, the Genting Casino Westcliff is a mid-size venue that is set apart from any other buildings and offers picturesque views along with a decent variety of classic casino games.

I tend to prefer a more traditional style casino, so I was interested to see how I’d like this modern offering and I was surprised with how much I did.

Having said that, I wasn’t a huge fan of the look of the outside of the building. It looked more like a club than a casino and I don’t think it did the inside much justice.

The inside is quite dark with black carpets and walls, but this is softened by lighting supplied by fancy chandeliers. 

There is complimentary tea and coffee offerings for members which I’ll go in to in more detail later, but this is always a big plus for me.

All in all, there was a lot to like at this casino.

The size of this casino didn’t exactly live up to my expectations. It wasn’t small by any means, but for some reason I expected it to be much bigger than it was. However, I didn’t mind. The layout had been well thought out and it flowed nicely.

I’m not sure when it was last refurbished, but it was clear that the tables and furniture are well looked after as they were all in great condition. 

I was also very happy with the selection of games offered at this casino – it’s a great choice for people like me who like to switch it up throughout the night.

In terms of table games, you’ll find five Blackjack tables and four Three Card Poker tables.There are also ten American Roulette tables and more than 30 electronic roulette terminals alongside a range of different slot machines.

I spent an hour or so at one of the Blackjack tables before moving onto and trying out a few different slots. I did have some luck on the slots, which might explain why I ended up staying longer than intended.  

I was pleased to see that cash poker is available to play in the designated poker room. I spent around an hour playing at one of the tables. The dealer was really professional and I ended up chatting in drips and drabs to a local who informed me that there are regular poker tournaments held at the casino.

My luck at the poker table can only be described as dire on this occasion. Ah well, you can’t win them all.

Oh, and FYI, all of the live tables have the minimum bet allowed for each hand or spin on display so you know what expect before pulling up a chair.

There isn’t any on-site accommodation at Southend Genting Casino Westcliffe, but there are options nearby.

I fully recommend the Ilfracombe House Hotel, which is where I had the pleasure of staying during my visit. It is located just over a five-minute walk away from the casino.

Other options include the Premier Inn Southend-on-Sea (Thorpe Bay), Roslin Beach Hotel, and Camilia Hotel, all of which are under 10-minutes away by car.

I do wonder whether there will ever be any plans to add a hotel to the casino. I feel like it would be a good addition and the views from the rooms would be incredible.

The Genting Casino Westcliff is open daily from 10am until 5am, but live gaming does not begin until 2pm.

My first impression of the place was that it was incredibly stylish, contemporary and clean. Personally, traditional décor has my heart and always will. However, I appreciated the luxurious feel to the place.

I did have a look at a couple of pictures of the place prior to my visit and so I was expecting to be impressed by the view. However, in person, it really was spectacular. And the fact that there are no more buildings on that stretch made the place feel that bit more special. 

Another highlight was the staff. Firstly, the receptionist was super friendly and more than happy to answer the few questions I threw her way upon my arrival. The dealers were approachable and professional, and the waiter that looked after me was lovely.

Accommodation

There isn’t any on-site accommodation at Southend Genting Casino Westcliffe, but there are options nearby.

I fully recommend the Ilfracombe House Hotel, which is where I had the pleasure of staying during my visit. It is located just over a five-minute walk away from the casino.

Other options include the Premier Inn Southend-on-Sea (Thorpe Bay), Roslin Beach Hotel, and Camilia Hotel, all of which are under 10-minutes away by car.

I do wonder whether there will ever be any plans to add a hotel to the casino. I feel like it would be a good addition and the views from the rooms would be incredible.

Restaurants

I always like to check out what’s available at the casino I know I’ll be visiting before I arrive so I know what to look out for and expect. In this case, I’d read some promising things about the on-site restaurant, and I was looking forward to seeing what it had to offer. 

As I visited in the evening, I decided to treat myself to a proper sit-down meal. I always appreciate a varied menu and I wasn’t disappointed. From steaks, fish and chips, and chicken to pork belly, salads, and Thai curries, there’s was enough choice to suit everyone.

The restaurant did have a posh feel to it, which I guess fits in with the rest of the place, but the downside to this is that it is a little on the pricey side.

I opted for a classic beef burger which was messy but absolutely delicious. I really couldn’t fault it, and that made paying the bill that bit easier. 

My only gripe was with the service, which was a little slow. However, it was quite busy considering it was dinner time and I received an apology from my waiter once he got round to me, so all was forgiven. 

Bars

The bar area in this place is ultra contemporary. It was a little bit dark for my liking and I didn’t think there was much of an atmosphere unfortunately, so I didn’t stick around for a drink. 

I imagine this would improve on a weekend when the crowds are bigger.

I’m more of a sports bar kinda girl and this setting felt a little too formal for me, but if that’s your thing, this place certainly ticks that box.

I did have a quick look over the drinks menu for research purposes and it was as I expected: a range of different beers, wines, ciders, spirits, and shots.

Entertainment

I thought the entertainment offerings at this casino were really impressive. From themed nights to tribute acts, there seemed to always be something booked in.

You can check out all the upcoming events on the Genting Casino’s website and they also have leaflets inside the casino. 

If you are interested in visiting the Genting Casino Westcliff, I’d definitely recommend having a look to see if there’s anything of interest that you could plan your visit around.

An example of a few upcoming events include a Michael Jackson tribute act, an Elton John tribute act, and an evening with The Barricade Boys.

Dress Code

Smart/casual clothing is advised and the casino specifically requests guests to avoid wearing things like football shirts, hats, and sportswear. 

Smoking

Neither smoking nor vaping is permitted anywhere inside the casino. However, there is a terrace which can be used for such purposes. 

VIP

You can choose to upgrade your visit by opting for one of the booths and drinks packages.

Such packages include a private booth for you and your party, a welcome drink, and you can choose to add food and extra drinks too.

To book a package or enquire about prices, contact the casino directly. 

The casino is fully accessible for wheelchair users, so no one should find themsevles struggling to get around and ejoy all it has to offer.

My expectations are always fairly low when it comes to the promotions offered by land-based casinos, because I generally feel it’s an area in which the best online casinos shine more. I was pleasantly surprised with what this casino had to offer, though.

The Genting Westcliff Casino is an open-door casino, meaning you don’t have to be member to visit. However, the casino does offer some of the best benefits I’ve come across for doing becoming a member, so I think it’s worth it.

Once you become a member, you can download the My Genting app and begin reaping the rewards which include 10% off all drinks, free tea, coffee and soft drinks, and exclusive offers.

You can also begin collecting points. For every 100 points, you get £1 worth of points which can then be redeemed on things like food and drink, gaming table bets, and slots and electronic games.

Oh, and new customers receive £10 in points when they download the app, so it’s probably worth doing even if you’re only planning on vising the once. I did, anyway.

There’s also a ‘Refer a Friend’ promotion which offers £10 in My Genting points for you and your friend when you bring them with you to the casino. You can introduce up to ten friends and earn a total of £100 in My Genting points, which I thought was quite generous. 

I wish more land-based casinos had this type of promotion as I think it’s a great way to show appreciation for custom.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at this casino. I had originally planned to keep my visit within a couple of hours, but I ended up staying for around five hours in total which speaks for itself really. After all, time flies when you’re having fun!

As I visited on an evening towards the end of the week, there was a buzz about the place, but it wasn’t too crowded. 

I did end up chatting with a couple of locals who informed me that it can get very busy on a weekend, but that’s to be expected. 

I thoroughly enjoyed being delivered complimentary coffee while celebrating a few decent wins on the slot machines.

⭐ Standout Moment

This is tricky as there wasn’t much that I didn’t enjoy about my visit.

However, as a foodie, I think what stood out the most was the restaurant. I’d definitely recommend treating yourself to a meal inside the casino if you can.

I had a great night at the Southend Genting Casino Westcliff, and I would probably return if I was in the area.

As I mentioned earlier, I always appreciate a casino that offers a decent variety of games and I was happy with what was on offer here.

The slightly more upmarket feel to this place wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but that’s just personal preference. Plus, that’s exactly what the casino promises to deliver on, so I can’t complain.

Which brings me to my next point: At the beginning of this review I stated that I intended to put the promise of a ‘premium’ casino experience to the test, and I can safely say that this casino does just that.

🧭 How to get there

By Car: For anybody wishing to drive to the Genting Casino Westcliffe, you’ll need the postcode SS0 7QY. The casino is located just over an hour away from the centre of London.

Simply park your car in the dedicated car park across the road and remember to pass your registration details to the receptionist upon arrival.

By Train: The casino is within a 15-minute walk of both the Southend Central Station and Westcliffe-on-Sea train station, both of which are on the London, Tilbury, and Southend line. 

By Bus: There are a few bus stops located within a 10-minute walk of the casino that support more local travel. 

There is a stop outside the Cliffs Pavilion just over a 5-minute walk away which supports local services 17, 60A and 817. 

There’s another stop just a few minutes further down the seafront which supports local services 68 and 99.