Casinos are becoming essential to Britain’s Christmas nights out - and the night-time economy is stronger for it

Christmas and New Year are key celebratory moments when people go looking for somewhere that feels a bit special. Somewhere lively, welcoming and full of atmosphere.

Over the last few years, casinos have quietly become part of that search, and this December more than ever they are sitting alongside pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres as one of the places people now choose for festive celebrations.

This is not because casinos have suddenly reinvented Christmas. It is because they are gradually evolving into exactly what the night-time economy needs: warm, energetic venues that offer big social experiences under one roof. And they sit as part of a broader ecosystem, not replacing the pubs and nightspots we all rely on, but adding strength and variety at a time when that support genuinely matters.

Pubs, restaurants, theatres and nightclubs need stability and support; they remain the backbone of our social life, and the pressures they face are well known. Casinos cannot fix those challenges, but we can be part of the solution by keeping city centres busy, vibrant and safe during the busiest season of the year.

At the Hippodrome, you can see this shift happening in real time. Our bars, terraces and restaurants are filled with groups who are not here to gamble at all; they come for dinner, for cocktails, for a night out in a landmark building they have heard about for years. Magic Mike Live, now in its 6th record breaking year here and is still one of London’s must-see shows, brings in a completely different audience again: predominantly female groups, hen nights, office nights out and reunions who want a fun, theatrical start to their Christmas evening.

And then there is our new Paddy’s Sportsbook, a partnership with Paddy Power that has transformed how people come together around live sport. December’s football calendar and this season’s NFL fixtures have already created some huge nights in the building. There are not many places in London where you can watch a match, feel part of a crowd, have dinner, enjoy a drink and then continue your night without stepping outside. It creates energy not just inside the Hippodrome, but in the Leicester Square area itself.

Gaming itself has also, for many, moved with the times. People now treat it as one part of a bigger night out, relaxed and sociable, something friends do together as a shared and fun experience. And with new facilities from the gambling review allowing casinos to offer up to 60 more slots, the industry can now meet customer demand in a way that was impossible just a few years ago. It is a modest, sensible change that makes a big difference to how modern casinos operate.

What underpins all of this, and what people tell us they value most as the nights draw in, is that casinos are safe, well-staffed and carefully supervised places to spend time. You can walk in with friends, feel looked after, and enjoy your night without worry. That reassurance matters at Christmas more than any other time of year.

Britain’s night-time economy faces real pressures, but it remains one of the most exciting and creative parts of our national life. If we are going to keep it strong, we need every part of it, pubs, clubs, theatres, restaurants and yes, casinos, pulling in the same direction.

This Christmas, I hope people continue to explore what many casinos now offer: atmosphere, entertainment, great food and drink, and the chance to spend time together in places designed for exactly that purpose.

After all, that is what this season is really about.

Simon Thomas is Executive Chairman of Hippodrome Casino.