The Hippodrome’s Mathew Taylor-Harrison, European Dealer Champion 2025, reveals all about his win
Mathew Taylor-Harrison of the Hippodrome Casino in London has been crowned the European Dealer Champion for 2025 following two tremendous days of intense competition at the picturesque Casino Bregenz in Austria. Christoph Boo of Swiss Casino Zürich secured runners up spot with third place going Billy Clarke of Les Ambassadeurs, a casino also based in London. G3 caught up with the winner to find out more.
G3. How pleased are you to win the European Dealer of the year?
Mathew Taylor-Harrison: I was ecstatic when my name was read out, I genuinely didn’t believe it and even when I was holding up the trophy it felt surreal. It is a feeling I know that I will remember for the rest of my life, a close 2nd to being the best moment of my life (after becoming a Dad for the 1st and 2nd times). It feels good to be acknowledged for doing something that I enjoy.
G3. How would you describe the other contestants?
MTH: The other contestants were brilliant. There was 35 of the best dealers from around Europe and the quality was high, the stand-out factor though was how nice everyone was. I was blown away by how friendly and supportive people were with each other despite being in direct competition.
G3. How would you describe the intensity of the competition and its organisation?
MTH: The competition was fantastic and though, due to the amount of competitors the first day was a lot of waiting around, the intensity was certainly ramped up on the 2nd day. Casino Bregenz put on a first class event and I felt all the way through it was managed to a very high standard, and I couldn’t thank them, the organisers and all the sponsors enough for making it happen.
G3: What is your advice to other croupiers watching the competition from afar and maybe thinking of entering?
MTH: Just do it! One of the competitors at this event said you either win, or you learn, and I love that so much. The worst case is that you learn how to be better and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
G3. Why did you decide to become a croupier? I see you’ve worked in Manchester and Liverpool, what are your career highlights and what do you think are the most important attributes needed to become a top-class croupier?
MTH: Many years ago I was working in a call centre trying to decide what to do with my life when I went on a holiday to Las Vegas. I had the best time and just loved the vibe of the place. More than anything everyone there just seemed to be having a great time and I remember thinking that it was an environment I’d like to work in. When I came back an opportunity came up to do a training school in Manchester and the rest is history. The highlight of my career is winning the EDC but following on would be when I came to work at The Hippodrome. It’s a really special place to work and changed my life completely. I think the most important attribute to being a top-class croupier is being good with people. Being able to read a customer and know the way to treat them to ensure they get the experience they want is imperative in our industry.
G3. What do you enjoy most about being a croupier and also as an Inspector?
MTH: Whatever role I happen to be fulfilling in my job I just love the variety I get day to day with the situations you need to handle and the people that you meet. No two days are the same, so my work life is very rarely dull. As a croupier, you basically play games for a living, which is great, but as an inspector, I can pass on my knowledge to the younger members of staff, which I find incredibly rewarding.
G3. What is it like working in the Hippodrome casino? Is it different to other casinos you have worked in and how have the staff there helped shape you into the croupier you are today?
MTH: The Hippodrome is, I believe, in a class of its own. Being an entertainment venue in the heart of Leicester Square, the variety of customers we get in is amazing, it’s incomparable to any other casino I’ve ever been in, let alone worked in. Throughout my career here, I’ve worked with an incredible number of great dealers, inspectors, and wonderful people with a variety of experience and gaming knowledge. If you care about the job, it would be impossible to work here and not improve yourself. So many of them have helped shape me not just into a great croupier but also, I hope, into a good man too.
