Manchester is becoming one of if not the best place in the UK for casino action.
There is a new casino on the block which has fast become Lancashire’s premier casino, delivering an opulent gaming experience 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Manchester235 is doing its best to bring a little bit of Las Vegas to the north-west of England and, in truth, it’s virtually impossible not to be impressed by the way the casino’s owners, Caesars Entertainment (owners of the iconic Caesars Palace), have gone about their business.
Image courtesy of Gene Hunt via Flickr, with thanks.
Bringing glitz and glamour to the Great Northern Warehouse
What really sets Manchester235 apart as an iconic place to gamble in Manchester city centre is its location.
Its elegant surroundings and furnishings have breathed new life into the previously defunct Victorian Great Northern Warehouse, which still features plenty of exposed brickwork as a nod to its industrial roots.
Manchester235 is perfectly located for those looking for a classy, glamorous night out, just a five-minute walk from both Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road stations in Spinningfields.
James Martin and five-star events
One of the jewels in the crown is its flagship restaurant, James Martin Manchester, operated by world-respected TV chef James Martin.
As one would expect from a James Martin menu, it stays very true to wholesome, hearty British cuisine and despite the portions being somewhat smaller than James himself would devour, it’s difficult to knock the flavours and overall dining experience.
The casino also features a bustling Chinese restaurant, Ocean Treasure, which caters to those looking for more distinct Asian tastes.
It’s not just all about the food in terms of entertainment though, with ‘Miami beach’-style house DJs playing music every Monday, Friday and Saturday night in the bar areas.
Furthermore, the casino plays host to five-star glitzy New Year’s Eve parties that attract Manchester’s rich and famous.
The home of poker in Manchester
With 12 professional full-sized poker tables and regular dealer-dealt tournaments, cash games in both No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha, Manchester235 is fast becoming the home for keen poker players in the city.
Its tournament schedule is impressive, with even a £10k guaranteed tournament on the last Saturday of every month.
The casino also offers a number of excellent poker packages that gives groups of friends their own exclusive table and dealer for two hours, as well as a free drink and snacks.
The challenge of iGaming
Despite all of this five-star gambling action and entertainment, Manchester235 and the city’s other casino resorts, namely Genting Club and Grosvenor Casino, land-based casinos face an uphill battle to compete with the rise of online casinos.
As the 888poker article explains, the turnover in the UK iGaming sector has almost quadrupled in 4 years, with online slots pulling in £86 million alone from 2009-2010 and a whopping £366 million in 2014.
Although blacked-out, back-street land-based casinos are no longer the norm, as Manchester235 testifies, the ability for men and women to play their favourite casino games from the comfort of their living room is something that the likes of Caesars Entertainment must look to counter.
In 2014, some 15.9% of the UK’s adult population were gambling online, but last year, the UK Gambling Commission has confirmed that online gambling now accounts for a third (33%) of all gambling in Britain.
The iGaming industry is also taking a creative approach to attracting new players, with state-of-the-art technology developments such as live streamed casino games and virtual reality gambling very much in the offing. It’s time for land-based casinos to sit up and take notice.
Image courtesy of Nick Ares via Flickr, with thanks.
