Gambling has been part of London’s social fabric for centuries. It has at various times been regulated, thriving underground, frowned upon and banned by monarchs – but throughout it all Londoner’s kept having a flutter on the horses or playing some cards in the pub. Today, there are more ways for Londoners to legally gamble than ever, but also more regulated and controlled than at any time. So how did the situation evolve to what it is today?
This piece will take a brief look at that long history. From dice games in taverns, to royal decrees, to aristocratic gambling clubs and underground betting networks in Victorian London, all the way up to the modern casinos of Soho and your smartphone, gambling is by now part of the capital’s identity. It’s story crosses class divides, technological and political developments that shaped the widespread gambling availability of today.
Medieval Gambling was Mostly Informal in Pubs and Taverns
Early records of gambling in London go back as far as the roman settlement of Londinium, with archaeological evidence suggesting the romans played dice games for money. By the Medieval period it was widespread in London’s taverns and alehouses.
In fact, it was the famous King Henry VIII who introduced the first known gambling regulation, with the Unlawful Games Act 1541. It aimed to make archery more popular again, and King Henry attributed its decline to gambling and other games. However, enforcement was inconsistent and gambling continued.
By the 1660s gambling was such a concern to the ruling class that they attempted to introduce the first recorded wagering limit. It aimed to limit stakes on any bet, informal or otherwise, to just £100. Which might sound limiting to even middle class modern Londoners. But was in fact worth around £17,500 in today’s money.
Georgian London Introduced Elite, Aristocratic Gambling Clubs
The first sports betting in London started around the late 17th, early 18th century. People would bet on English cricket matches regularly in this period. The first organised public horse racing near London also began around this time at places like Ascot, Newmarket and Epsom – all within 50 miles or so of central London.
By the 18th century, London’s elite began adopting organised gambling. Fashionable clubs in Mayfair and St. James were the haunt of wealthy nobles of the time, with fortunes won and lost overnight. This was the period of card games, such as baccarat, punto banco or rummy.
In 1774 Parliament aimed to restrict betting houses for the public, but Londoners continued to gamble on card games in underground clubs and through informal sports betting networks.
Victorian Era Attitudes Turned Gambling Underground Once Again
The Victorian era saw huge urban growth, industrialisation and moral reform movements that saw gambling fall out of favor with the aristocracy once again. This era of modernism saw gambling as a fin de siècle decadent vice.
However, that didn’t stop working class people from continuing to enjoy a few bets. In fact, once again, gambling in the Big Smoke continued to thrive throughout Victoria’s reign. Dog fights, rat baiting and prize fight boxing were all common events for underground betting rings in Victorian London.
Horse racing also thrived at this time, partly due to Irish people arriving in London during the great migration away from Ireland in the 19th century. They brought their strong horse race betting traditions with them, which they shared with London’s gamblers of the time.
Regulated Legal Gambling Across London in the Digital Age
The Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 really began the modern era of gambling in London. This saw regulated and fully legal betting shops for the first time, rather than tolerated backroom betting rings.
By the 1980s there were more than 15,000 betting shops across the UK, and several thousand in the capital alone.
Today in London, and elsewhere in the British Isles and all over the world, players increasingly prefer betting online. For example Casino.org’s list of the slot games that Irish players prefer still includes similar games to those popular with UK players, but with some key differences – partly due to regulation. Dedicated comparative guides for different markets enable gamblers to find exactly what’s available and popular in their specific region, across games, bonus offers and payment options.
Third party reviewers are used by gamblers because the scene is a competitive one, and there are literally now hundreds of choices in London alone. The total market in the UK is worth some £15 billion a year, so plenty of operators are jostling for gambler’s attention.
The 2005 Gambling Act was the most recent large update to the system, incorporating regulation for online casinos and bookmakers. There has been plenty of updates since, but mostly tweaking around the edges instead of wholesale reform.
One change gamblers of London might remember from recent years is when pub slot machines were limited to £5 a bet and a £100 top prize in 2023, although enforcement is still being rolled out on this apparently.
Nevertheless, despite regulation and taxes increasing, gambling continues to be a popular entertainment activity for many Londoners. From the glitzy casinos of the Soho to the online casinos in your pocket, to the iconic horse race tracks in the ‘burbs outside of the city or the betting shops on your high street, there has never been more gambling choice in the Big Smoke.