Live Poker At London’s Hippodrome Casino
The Hippodrome online casino is one of the most convenient venues for live poker in London. The casino has won several industry awards for its entertaining atmosphere and professionalism regarding customer services, food, dealers, and croupiers, as well as its huge casino games selection.
Access to the casino is easy, and it is in a safe area of London next to Leicester Square tube station. In fact, the right opposite is the Porcupine Pub for those Pale Ale fans out there who want to have a couple before you play or after a win at the Hippodrome’s Poker Stars live tables.
Heading to The Poker Tables
Once you are ready to get involved in a game of poker, head into the casino wearing reasonably smart attire, and as this is a non-members establishment, you’ll walk straight in. Just take a right after walking up the short lobby to the main casino floor and take the lift to the third floor.
Live Poker 365 Days a Week, 24/7
That’s right! The Pokerstars Live tables at the Hippodrome Casino don’t close. The casino is open seven days a week, so there are always dealers on hand, even on Monday nights when the tables are least busy.
You can order drinks and food at the tables, too, and on the same floor for all you smokers and vapers out there, you can nip around the corner to the balcony gaming area for a smoke.
24/7 Cash Games
Yes, you read this correctly, too. There’s no waiting around for tournaments to begin at this casino, as 17 cash game tables are ready and waiting with players.
When you come out of the list, all you need to do is make a diagonal left beeline to the cashier’s desk to change your cash into poker chips. Next, head to the friendly concierge desk by backtracking past the lifts to your right. They will give you a number, and you'll be seated as soon as they have a seat ready for you.
Video Slots While You Wait
As the Hippodrome is slap bang in the middle of one of London’s most popular tourist destinations, and the name PokerStars is known to poker-playing tourists from all over the world, you can imagine that this place gets quite busy.
While you wait, there are a few video slot machines with slot games like Rainbow Riches Locomotion, Rainbow Riches Pick 'n Mix, and Super Diamond Deluxe 2. Some of these machines also have multiplier Roulette titles and Key Bet Roulette. Bonus buy slots are unavailable in these machines as the UK doesn’t allow them due to regulations by the UK Gambling Commission.
No Limit Texas Hold’em
Of course, the main cash game poker played on the Poker Stars Live tables is No-Limit Texas Hold’em. We would suggest starting on the low-stakes tables to get warmed up, as there are quite a few sharks at the higher-limit tables, which you will regularly see if you are in London for a while and visit these tables often.
Here are the blinds:
• £1/£2
• £2/£5
• £5/£10
• £10/£25
• £25/£50
• £50/£100
• £100/£200
If you are a high roller, you may need to wait a while for the higher-limit tables to become available, as only a few are open at a time. Mainly because the £1/£2, £2/£5, and £5/£10 are the most popular.
That said, some high roller tables are playing 5 or 6 seats, and you might be in luck as PokerStars Live tables can accommodate 9. It depends on how busy the floor is on the day you visit.
If you plan on playing £100/£200 limits, the best time to go is at the weekend, while going on a weekday doesn’t mean you won’t get any high roller action. However, you may have to settle for £25/£50 or £50/£100 if you visit early in the week.
Pot Limit Omaha
The Pot Limit Omaha tables are not always available. Generally, one table is open for £1/£2/£5, depending on what the majority of those who agreed to play decided on.
The best way to get the Pot Limit Omaha action up and running is to tell the concierge that if a game is available or any other players have requested to play, please put your name on the list. However, don’t forget to tell them the stake limit you are willing to play, or you could end up sitting with the big boys at a table with £50/£100 blinds.
Here are the blinds:
• £1/£2
• £1/£2/£5
• £2/£5
• £5/£10
• £10-£25
• £25/£50
• £50/£100
Overall Thoughts
It is a must-go-to casino in London whether you are there for poker, video slots, or table games. Even if you don’t want to gamble, you can visit and dine at the award-winning restaurant or sit down at the bar and sip some top vintage wines or some of the usual branded larger you’ll find in most pubs and clubs around the UK and Europe.
As for the quality of players, it is a real mix. Some tourists splash their cash around, and as mentioned, there are some players here making a living out of the unsuspecting tourists, which is pretty much what happens in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and most other casinos with cash poker games.