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Grosvenor Casinos

Industry	Gambling
Founded	1970
Headquarters	Maidenhead, UK
Number of locations	53
Number of employees	6,349
Parent	The Rank Group
Website	grosvenorcasinos.com

Grosvenor Casinos (formerly known under the monikers of County Clubs and Grosvenor Clubs) represents a prominent and well-established UK casino chain. This network comprises 53 exhilarating casinos that are strategically positioned within major towns and cities across the United Kingdom, as well as featuring two unbranded sister locations situated in Belgium. Owned by The Rank Group, Grosvenor Casinos exclusively navigates the realms of casino gaming, bingo, and online gaming, extending its operational reach across Belgium, Spain, and the UK.

As reported in June 2014, Grosvenor Casinos boasted an impressive revenue of £391.2 million accompanied by an operating profit of £56.8 million, all attributed to a staggering influx of over 1.7 million annual customers. Notably, these visitors tally over 8.5 million visits to the Grosvenor casino establishment on a yearly basis, showcasing the network's popularity and robust standing within the industry. In terms of workforce, Grosvenor Casinos currently employs over 6,300 dedicated individuals spread out across the UK. The online casino platform offers an exciting selection of over 250 games that encompass a range of themes, including traditional favorites like roulette, blackjack, and poker, alongside modern slot games and live gaming experiences. Grosvenor Casinos operates under the licensing and regulatory oversight of the UK Gambling Commission.

The evolution of Grosvenor Casinos can be traced back to their initial branding as ‘County Clubs’, which transformed into ‘Grosvenor Clubs’. This name change was officially executed on January 2, 1969, marking a significant milestone in the brand's history.

Grosvenor Casinos also holds the distinction of being the shirt sponsor for Fulham F.C., a partnership that commenced in July 2017 when they signed a deal to become the primary team partner for the renowned London football club.

In a significant expansion effort, Grosvenor Casinos successfully completed the acquisition of 19 casinos from the Gala Coral Group on May 12, 2013. This strategic acquisition propelled Grosvenor Casinos to the forefront as the largest casino network in the UK. Earlier in 2012, a comparable endeavor to acquire 23 casinos from Gala encountered roadblocks due to regulatory scrutiny from the Competition Commission and the OFT, but the revised deal in 2013 ultimately saw four casinos excluded from the agreement.

On March 25, 2011, Grosvenor Casinos announced the launch of a groundbreaking poker event, the Goliath. This event was designed to attract an impressive turnout of up to 1,500 players, showcasing an initial buy-in set at £100 plus an additional £20. The Goliath promised a guaranteed prize pool of £100,000, with 25% of the registration fees allocated to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Notably, the Goliath event in 2014 achieved milestones as the largest poker tournament ever held outside the United States, with an astonishing 3,394 participants.

In 2015, Grosvenor anticipated an even bigger turnout for the Goliath event, estimating over 4,000 participants. Additionally, Grosvenor employees showcased their dedication to charity by participating in a record-breaking poker tournament atop Mount Snowdon in September 2011, a feat reaching 3,500 feet. This remarkable Stunt aimed to raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity, resulting in a commendable total of £11,000 being collected.

Back in December 2006, the casino industry faced turmoil when employees from four Grosvenor Casinos in London ceased operations in a strike related to pay increases. This unrest escalated in January of the following year, when around 300 workers voted to strike in response to the ongoing pay dispute.

In September 2014, Northern Ireland's Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, dismissed any prospects of a Grosvenor Casino opening in the region due to existing restrictions on casinos.

In November 2011, Grosvenor took a significant step to enhance security by installing advanced software capable of detecting cheating at their roulette tables. Developed by Ipsotek, this technology is designed to identify various cheating techniques, such as the notorious "top-hatting," and functions in conjunction with CCTV cameras that monitor the table at all times.

In October 2012, Grosvenor introduced an innovative gaming experience known as Pinball Roulette machines. These machines offer a thrilling single-player roulette game, whereby the ball is launched into the wheel via a pinball-style trigger. The unique aspect of this product lies in the player's control over the timing of when they wish to spin the ball. A total of thirty machines, crafted by Austrian Gaming Industries, were strategically deployed at 22 clubs throughout the UK.

In November 2013, Grosvenor Casinos entered into a collaboration with Evolution Gaming to develop a 'Live Casino' experience tailored for online players. This new offering includes favorites such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, ensuring a thrilling experience available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The live game system aims to simulate the authentic environment of a real casino, providing players with a more immersive experience.

In July 2013, Grosvenor Casinos in London, Reading, and Coventry unveiled the world’s first multi-site cloud casino experience under the banner of the IGT Cloud. This cutting-edge technology incorporates analytical reporting tools that offer insights into product performance on a game-by-game basis. Operators now possess the capability to remotely modify games on the casino floor, thereby delivering a more personalized gambling experience.

In 2014, Grosvenor Casinos collaborated with Tensator to innovate virtual casino hosts. The Tensator Virtual Assistant Ultra, measuring 50 cm x 50 cm, effectively replicates a live gaming experience in real-time. This virtual assistant not only enhances the gaming atmosphere but also provides players with a wealth of information and responds to frequently asked questions, enhancing customer engagement.

February 2014 witnessed a pivotal collaboration between The Rank Group and Grosvenor Casinos alongside Jumio, as they integrated the Netverify solution into the online gambling space. This innovative integration is intended to streamline the identification process for customers, whereby individuals can simply scan their passports or driving licenses using their device cameras, after which Netverify authenticates the information using a series of advanced security features.

In November 2016, Grosvenor Casinos confirmed the launch of an exciting new sports betting platform tailored for both online and land-based players, marking a significant expansion into the sports betting arena.

Fast forward to 2022, the Grosvenor Casino brand was further amplified with the introduction of two niche online brands, The Rialto and The Vic. These new online casino products represent the most popular real-world venues in London, thus extending Grosvenor Casinos' digital footprint and enhancing their online offerings.