SIMON THOMAS
Perhaps we’ve been asking Government the wrong question
We continue our insightful series, as Hippodrome Casino’s Executive Chairman, Simon Thomas, answers the industry’s questions.
M
uch has been written recently about the Government’s proposal to reduce business rates for sectors such as pubs, clubs and live music venues. Predictably, the debate has centred on who qualifies, who doesn’t and whether the policy is fair.
For our industry, the obvious question might be: Should casinos be included? But I wonder whether we’ve been asking the wrong question altogether. Perhaps, before we ask Government for anything, we should first ask ourselves something rather more fundamental.
Have we ever properly explained the role a modern casino plays within its community? For decades, our industry has largely been defined by a single word: gambling. That is entirely understandable. Gambling is what we are licensed to provide, and it should continue to be regulated to the highest standards.
Yet I am increasingly convinced that single definition tells only a fraction of the story. The Government’s latest thinking appears to signal something rather interesting. Increasingly, businesses are being judged not simply by the products they sell, but by the contribution they make to the places in which they operate.
Think about the language ministers now use.
Pubs are rarely described simply as places that sell alcohol. They are recognised as community hubs. Live music venues are spoken of as cultural infrastructure. Libraries are valued as educational assets. Parks are discussed as contributors to public health and wellbeing.
Each has become known not simply for what it does, but for what it contributes. That’s an important shift and it raises an obvious question.
10 AUGUST 2026
If Government is beginning to reward businesses that strengthen communities and high streets, where do Britain’s casinos fit within that conversation? I suspect the answer depends largely on whether we continue to describe ourselves as gambling venues or whether we begin to describe ourselves as something considerably broader.
Because once you look beyond the gaming floor, a rather different picture begins to emerge.
Across Britain, casinos employ thousands of people in long-term careers. They invest heavily in hospitality, security, catering, entertainment, technology and customer service. They occupy prominent buildings that continue to sit at the heart of towns and cities for generations, having become part of the fabric of the places they serve.
They also attract visitors who don’t simply spend money inside the casino. Those visitors stay in nearby hotels, eat in local restaurants, attend theatres, use taxis, shop in neighbouring stores and help sustain the wider evening economy. In many locations, casinos continue bringing people into city centres long after many other businesses have closed.
Yet economics is only part of the story. Increasingly, casinos are becoming active participants in the communities around them. At the Hippodrome we’ve long recognised that if you genuinely care about your neighbourhood your responsibilities do not stop at your own front door.
When crime and anti-social behaviour have threatened the reputation of Leicester Square and the wider West End, we’ve worked alongside Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police, neighbouring businesses and local organisations to look for practical solutions. We’ve helped convene discussions between operators who might otherwise
never have sat around the same table, because thriving businesses depend upon thriving places.
Our involvement doesn’t stem from any statutory obligation. It comes from a belief that businesses benefiting from an area should also invest time, ideas and leadership in improving it.
The same philosophy has shaped our relationships with local charities, educational institutions and community organisations. We’ve supported fundraising initiatives, hosted events that bring people together, contributed to debates about transport, licensing, tourism and public safety, and sought wherever possible to play a constructive role in shaping one of the world’s most famous entertainment districts. None of those activities appear on a gaming machine and none generate gaming revenue. Yet all contribute to making the West End a better place to live, work and visit.
And I know we are far from unique. Across the country, casinos quietly support local charities, sponsor community events, provide employment and training opportunities, participate in Business Improvement Districts, work with councils and police, raise money for good causes and collaborate with neighbouring businesses to strengthen their town and city centres. The truth is that our industry has accumulated hundreds of remarkable stories. We simply haven’t become very good at telling them.
Interestingly, when you travel elsewhere in Europe, casinos are often viewed through a much wider lens.
In Monaco, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is not regarded simply as somewhere people gamble. It is one of the defining institutions of the Principality, attracting international visitors whose spending benefits hotels, restaurants,
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