The UK has seen a great migration of Londoners moving to Leeds in recent years, many looking for a much cheaper and less congested city to live. Leeds has quickly become a flourishing city home to what many say is the UK’s most diverse economy. Making up part of this economy are some of the top casinos in the UK.

In many ways, Leeds has become somewhat of a mini London, even complete with high-rise buildings. Situated in West Yorkshire, Leeds has also become a top destination within the UK for both domestic and international tourists thanks to easy accessibility by road, rail, and air.

Casinos To Visit In Leeds

There are a number of vibrant shopping centres that now offer retailers once only found within London. You’ll find plenty of pubs and restaurants in addition to incredible nightlife thanks to a large student population and an ever-present packed calendar of festivals and events.

There are also plenty of green spaces surrounding the city to escape to including two national parks. What may also have you seeing green, as in raking in some cash that is, is winning big at one of Leeds’ popular casinos.

Casinos in Leeds have become a major drawcard for those gamblers not choosing to gamble at home via one of the CasinoGap sites in the UK. If you’re planning on making a wager while in Leeds, here are the top 5 places to do so.

Victoria Gate Casino

As one of the UK’s largest casinos, Victoria Gate is definitely a great place to start if you’re looking to gamble in Leeds. Making up part of the glamorous Victoria Leeds shopping and leisure centre, the roughly 4,650-square-metre casino is known as the Super Casino of the North and surrounded by high-end and popular shops like Harvey Nichols and John Lewis.

Located in the city centre, Victoria Gate Casino is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll find over 20 live gaming tables and 140 slots, but the real highlight is the poker.

A 100-seat poker area awaits, as do 80 electronic gaming terminals. The casino also hosts Poker Bonanza tournaments which attract some of the UK’s best poker players.

Catch weekend live music in the champagne and cocktail bar and don’t miss the opportunity to check out Britain’s largest stained glass canopy in the shopping centre.

Grosvenor Casino Leeds Westgate

Grosvenor Casino Leeds Westgate underwent considerable refurbishment after changing ownership back in 2013. The casino now offers top-class facilities with two floors of state-of-the-art gaming which includes roulette, blackjack, baccarat, Punto Banco, slots, and electronic roulette.

Much like Victoria Gate Casino, Grosvenor also has a reputation for offering great poker, presenting guests with five cash poker tables as well as regularly scheduled tournaments and competitions.

Add in Sky Sports live sporting action and delicious Barrel & Stone artisan pizzas and you can see why it has become one of Leeds’ top-rated destinations. Just a few months back, a lucky 36-year-old man took home over  £250,000 playing blackjack during his first visit!

Napoleons Casino

Just a stone’s throw away across the street from Grosvenor Casino is Napoleon’s Casino. Less than a mile from Leeds train station, Napoleons Casino offers up old school glamour which it has done so for over 30 years.

In fact, it was the largest casino in Leeds until the opening of Victoria Gate. While Napoleons may have more limited gaming floor space and more restricted opening hours which are noon to 6AM daily, it remains a favourite of locals.

It offers most of the popular casinos games in addition to £10,000 jackpot slot machines and their new outdoor gaming terrace area.

However, more enticing seems to be the casino’s restaurant which overlooks the casino floor and offers diners an ever-changing menu which may include dishes like slow roasted belly pork and black pudding or shoulder of lamb braised with red currant and rosemary.

The restaurant also caters to vegans, vegetarians, and those restricted to a gluten-free diet. Come Sundays, you can look forward to their famous traditional roast.

Mecca Bingo Leeds Crossgates

For something a bit different to appease your gambling itch, ditch the casinos for a bingo hall. Mecca Bingo Leeds offers venues in both Crossgates as well as Mayfair just a ten-minute-drive away on vibrant New York Street.

Not only will you find both traditional and electronic bingo with Mecca Max digital consoles, but also a selection of slot machines and bar & grill. There are daily afternoon and evening bingo sessions as well as earlier morning sessions on the weekends.

Wetherby Racecourse

Another alternative to casino gambling is betting on horse racing. Just 30 minutes north of Leeds is the Wetherby Racecourse and Conference Centre which boasts races and events throughout most of the year.

Often referred to as the A1 Racecourse due to the fact it lies directly adjacent to A1 motorway, Wetherby Racecourse offers up both jumps and flat horse racing action.

You can catch jump races, or National Hunt races as they are formally known, during the winter months beginning around October. Meanwhile, the flat races take place over the summer months.

A few of the big name annual events include November’s Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase and the Castleford Chase held around the Christmas holidays. One of the best aspects of Wetherby is it’s informal atmosphere that has made it family friendly, with accompanied children aged 17 and under being allowed into all enclosures for free.

You’ll find plenty of tote facilities within each enclosure as well as independent bookmakers. Both the paddock and course enclosures offer betting rings.

Whether you decide to hit up one of these exciting casinos and gambling hotspots in Leeds or elsewhere in the UK such as Liverpool, remember to always bet responsibly.

If you find you may have a problem, you can get in touch with the Leeds Community Gambling Service or NHS Northern Gambling Service which provides specialist addiction therapy and recovery for those affected by gambling addiction.

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.