Gambling in Southport

Southport offers multiple gambling venues for discerning punters. Our great seaside town has seen a significant rise in the number of visitors even when compared to pre-covid levels. This is a fantastic turn of events for Southport as a whole, with the hospitality industry in particular hopeful that its fortunes will turn around due to the increase in visitors. The hope is that the summer will once again bring a flux of native holiday makers to Southport who crave our towns beautiful beaches and summer amusements.

One constant source of entertainment here is our casino industry, which is one of the best in the whole surrounding area. The team here at OTSNews decided to bring to you our ultimate guide to gambling in Southport. It is our hope that this article will educate and inform you so that our readers will have enhanced knowledge on the gambling scene in the town of Southport.

The Grand, Southport

Certainly the most luxurious casino in Southport, Grand by name grand by nature, The Grand offers a sophisticated and classy experience even if you don’t intend on doing any gambling. The Grand boasts a world-class restaurant, a Piano bar and even a Brasserie where guests can sample and drink different wines. There will soon be renovations too including a Sky Bar which will offer a view of the town from above.

THere are numerous casino games available including Blackjack and Roulette tables. The disadvantage is that The Grand is only open until midnight. Be sure to turn up in your finest evening wear though, because The Grand has a dress code for all guests visiting after 6pm.

Merkur Slots

Fairly old fashioned and lacking modern games, Merkur Slots is an arcade from yesteryear that is doing its best to catch up with modern times. Merkur arcades can be found across the United Kingdom and offer a safe and fair venue for gambling, specifically slot machines. You will usually find dozens if not hundreds of different land-based slot machines here.

According to Google reviews of Merkur slots in Southport, the staff are friendly and refreshments for players are always available too. Some guests have complained that the selection of games can be improved, though. Nonetheless, Merkur Slots is a pleasant and clean gambling venue for anyone visiting.

Silcock’s Amusements

Another arcade type casino offering the chance to play slot machines, Silcock’s Amusements has been a staple of Southport life for a long time now. As well as the usual gambling machines, customers can also take advantage of other games similar to what you will find at fun fairs. The disadvantage here is that the majority of these games award tickets rather than instant win prizes. Expect to have to collect a lot of tickets before you can cash them in for anything good.

The slot machines are excellent though, and Silcock offers a mixture of both older and modern ones.

Reviewers have written of the quietness of Silcocks being a real positive compared to a similar experience on offer closer to Southport pier. Other customers have stated their delight at the friendliness of staff.

Recent Venue Closures

Unfortunately, one of the top casinos in Southport has recently closed permanently. Genting casino, Southport closed in 2021 due to complications following Covid. 40 jobs were lost due to the closure, as well as one of Southport’s favourite gambling venues.

Fortunately, the pandemic is over and the hospitality industry here is now recovering.

The Growth of Online Casinos, Slot Sites and New Gambling Laws

After literally years of back and forth debating, the government finally announced in 2023 the new regulations that will come into effect following the update of the 2005 Gambling Act. New gambling laws will enact stricter regulation on gambling firms in both the online and land-based sectors.

The update is long overdue given that the gambling landscape has changed beyond measure since 2005 when the Act was first put into law under Tony Blair’s New Labour government. The new laws will ensure that gambling remains a safe and enjoyable experience. The laws have received industry wide support from online casino operators, slot sites, Slingo slot sites, affiliates and the UK Gambling Commission which continue to work in unison to support players.

One of the main aspects of the news laws is the order for operators to ensure that gamblers are offered greater protection, especially those deemed more at risk. There will also be a levy on all gambling operators, the tax will be used to generate money for research and to support anyone with gambling related problems.