Genting Casino Glasgow

Last updated: 19 November 2014
Chinese friendly, tasty smelling beauty

Before you go:

Reg/Walk In: Reg
Cashout at Machines: Card system
Dress Code: Smart casual
Rewards Programme: Yes
Parking: Free customer parking + Valet
Restaurants: Yes
Bars: Yes

Address: 506/516 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3LW
Telephone: 44 1413320992
Website: http://www.gentingcasinos.co.uk/casino/genting-glasgow/

The Genting site in Glasgow must feel a little bit outnumbered and vulnerable – there are four other casinos in town, three of which work together (used to be Gala, now Grosvenor).  Perhaps that’s why they seem to have aimed almost exclusively at the Chinese market, a fact that is abundantly clear as you walk in, for the decor and the clientele. One thing’s for sure – you don’t want to be coming in here hungry unless you plan to eat right away, the wafting smell of chinese food is almost irresistible, and had me drooling on my shirt (metaphorically speaking.  Although it was a close run thing).

Getting in was smooth enough, other than the receptionist telling me “that’s you” and then waiting expectantly – evidently that’s local speak for “you can go in now, have a lovely evening and good luck”.  Up the stairs you go until you pop out into a long, thin gaming floor with a more open area at each end.  One end holds the poker room – a lot bigger than it first appears – and the other has the bar and restaurant.

The site’s been refurbished since my last visit, and is now in wonderful order, with a fairly typical new Genting decor.  Lots of warm colours, a fair bit of red, and some slightly bizarre fabric sampler type wall decorations all add up to a pleasant environment. There are apparently hidden treasures too, with a sign pointing upstairs to a karaoke area. My normal experience of wandering into a chinese specialist singalongaroom is multiple death stares and a sound like a goat being murdered with a rusty soup ladle, so I’m afraid, readers, I elected not to sample the delights. Feel free to update us with news of the goings on in there.

Lots of new kit on the floor, both in terms of the shiny slots as well as the Electronic Roulette – new Sabres, as one would expect – although having forgotten my card, it is of course impossible to cash out without asking for a temporary card from the staff, which I clearly could not be bothered to do.  A sneaky way of getting you to play off all your money I reckon.

There’s a great big pit desk at one end of the floor, and I couldn’t help but notice the manager pretty much sat there through my whole visit. Was it Facebook ? Twitter ?  A spot of retro gaming, Tetris style ?  Who knows, but he certainly didn’t look like he was doing a whole lot of work.  Mind, there weren’t many gamers about – it was early. As this site is only a hundred yards or so from the Grosvenor Princes, if you’re in town you can check them both out in one fell swoop.  Judging by the smell, it’s worth wandering in just around dinner time ….