Reviewed: Genting Casino, Glasgow
Glasgow is a city known for its great pub, club and dining scene. But there’s another form of entertainment which is often overlooked, but which is very big business in the city - gambling. One of the biggest and most trusted casino brands in the UK is the Genting Group; we headed along to see if the odds were in its favour.
The casino has a truly professional set up and a great atmosphere. The casino floor is open every single day from 12pm to 6am. Slots and electronic roulette games are available as soon as the doors are open for business, while the table games begin at 2pm. This is actually a great place to spend whole night with a late night bar opening at 12pm and closing thirty minutes prior to the rest of the venue. While Glasgow is littered with many fine eateries, there is no need to leave the casino, as there is an in-house restaurant that opens at 7pm to stave off any hunger pangs that may arise throughout the night.
The game selection is of course very important and the Genting Casino Glasgow does not disappoint. There are two blackjack tables with a minimum bet of £2 and a maximum bet of £500, as well as five American roulette tables with minimum stakes of 50p and maximum stakes of £100. There is a three-card poker table with minimum £2 and maximum £100. The three baccarat tables allow best ranging from £5 to £2000, making them a favourite of high rollers. There are also nineteen electronic roulette games where it is generally easy to grab a seat, with minimum bets of 25p and maximum bets of £100.
Five nights per week there are Texas Hold’em poker tournaments held in the lounge that offer a bit more competition for poker players. The slots machines have a £4000 maximum jackpot to play for as well as plenty of Genting Rewards that can be won when using a Genting Reward Card while playing and registering all bets made. The points earned can also be redeemed for food and drinks at the restaurant and bar, or for additional slots play. The casino has more than just gaming; it has karaoke facilities and a dance floor to mingle with others on a night out.
The fully air conditioned bar has a big screen HD TV and the lounge has a huge projector screen, making it easy to keep up on the progress of the latest sporting events. This means bets can be made on events as well as on games, with football matches being shown regularly.
The Genting Casino Glasgow is always offering promotions and holding regular competitions and tournaments to take part in. Genting is a great and popular brand throughout the UK so visitors to the Genting Casino Glasgow can be confident they will be provided with great quality service and entertainment.
Tips for First Time Genting Goers
A trip to this casino will be filled with excitement, anticipation, and exhilaration. Some people may feel a little apprehensive on their first trip to a casino, but the staff at Genting is there to ensure the experience is enjoyable and memorable. The staff and dealers alike are friendly and more than willing to help no matter the experience level of the player. This means there is something for everyone to play.
While dealers, also referred to as croupiers, are very helpful, just keep in mind they generally have a large number of customers to look after. They will attend to your needs and requests and will explain the rules, but cannot give advice to players on how to bet. Anyone who is unsure about the rules, the game lingo, and/or the protocols for certain games may want to spend a bit of time watching what other players do to understand appropriate behaviours. For example, when playing blackjack, players can “double down” on their bet, depending upon the rules of the casino. It is important to know the basics, such as the casino terms and order of play for the various games being placed as to avoid any confusion.
Regardless of the weather climate in Glasgow, it is important to know what attire is appropriate when visiting the Genting Casino Glasgow. Visitors can forego the James Bond tuxedo for a smart casual look (as a general rule). Smart jeans and smart trainers are completely acceptable, but muscle/vest tops and football shirts are not. Furthermore, the wearing of caps or other hats is not permitted for the safety and security of all visitors.
Since everyone has a mobile phone it is also important to know use of these devices is not permitted in gaming areas. Taking pictures within the casino itself is not typically permitted; though exceptions can be made for special occasions (see the manager for special permissions). Even if permissions are granted, photography of any sort is strictly prohibited in the gaming areas. Mobile phone use is permitted in non-gaming areas, but always with respect to other customers.
Some people enjoy watching others play the various games; this is welcomed with the understanding that positions and seats directly in front of the tables are reserved for players. Enjoying a drink while gaming is simple, just ask one of the floor staff. These drinks can be paid for using cash, cash chips, or with points on the loyalty card. While drinks are allowed at the gaming tables, placing drinks on the gaming tables is not permitted. There are small trolley tables provided for this purpose.
Understanding chips is imperative to playing the various casino games. Casino chips can be purchased right at the tables when playing games like blackjack and roulette. Simply place money on the table and request some chips from the dealer. There are two types of chips at the casino; one is Cash Chips and the other is Colour Chips. Cash chips have values and are essentially the currency within the casino; they can be used to play on any table. The colour chips have no cash value and are only used to play roulette. Colour chips cannot be taken away from the table of play and are used to help the dealer identify which player has which chips. The dealer will cash out these chips (exchange them for cash chips) whenever a player wants to leave the table. When it comes time to leave the casino all cash chips have to be exchanged for actual cash at the cash desk; dealers to not have access to actual cash at the tables.
The Genting Casino Glasgow does not require membership and anyone over the age of eighteen is welcome. In Scotland, identification is not required unless the visitor appears to be younger than twenty-five.