Edinburgh casinos
How the ‘Athens of the North’ became a Genting casino paradise.
Famous for its castle, its festival and its military tattoo, Edinburgh’s casinos appear a fair way down the Scottish capital’s list of attractions. That this is the case has less to do with the quality of the venues than with the fact that the city has so much to offer both local and tourist alike.
Alas, one thing that the Edinburgh establishments can’t offer is variety. Since the Gala Maybury shut up shop, the city’s three remaining casinos are all part of the Genting chain. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing in terms of quality – each venue offers world-class gaming entertainment. However, if you’re looking for something a little different, you won’t find it in ‘Auld Reekie’.
Spend time at the casinos in Leith, York Place and Fountainpark and you might agree that Genting’s over-representation in the area is something to celebrate rather than complain about. That they share certain similarities is only to be expected of chain facilities. But it’s the trio’s subtle differences that ensure they don’t have the sameness one associates with, say, fast-food joints.
If one’s called on to contemplate Edinburgh and gambling, various things come to mind – Musselburgh racecourse, Powderhall greyhound stadium and sprint track, Herts versus Hibs derby games. The Genting trio mightn’t enjoy the same status yet, but we’d be happy to stake a fiver on them becoming a key part of the city’s gaming culture in the not-too-distant future.