London’s Hippodrome Casino has opened a new underground gambling venue where dancing girls perform in cages above the tables.
Lola’s Underground Casino—named for Lola McGuire, an Edwardian chorus girl famous for her illicit West End card games and drinking parties—is believed to be a first for Britain, where historically the mass marketing of casinos has been tightly restricted, a situation that did not change until the promulgation of the 2005 Gambling Act.
Visitors to the casino, which opened at the storied Leicester Square venue in July 2012, have exceeded initial forecasts of about 20,000 a week and currently stand at about 32,000, owner Simon Thomas said.
“To accommodate future growth we wanted to be well-prepared and open a casino that echoes what Vegas does brilliantly—putting the entertainment on the same floor as the gambling, much closer to the tables,” he said.
“Hitherto this this would have been impossible for any UK casino, but we’re bringing to life the vision and spirit of the 2005 Gaming Act, which now allows venues like ours to offer a much more rounded entertainment experience.”
Lola’s is located below the main auditorium of the Hippodrome, which has housed a circus, music halls and a nightclub in its 100-plus years of history.
