Supplier News

UK – Resorts World Birmingham becomes UK’s first casino resort

By Phil - 28 October 2015

The £150m Genting Resorts World Birmingham, has become the largest casino in the UK, bringing the resort style concept to Britain more than ever before.

Owned by Genting UK, part of the Malaysian Genting Group, the scale of the over-all property is like nothing seen before in the UK. Created in the guise of a cruise ship, Resorts World Birmingham boasts 18 bars and restaurants, 50 outlet shops, an Imax cinema with 11 screens, spa, hotel with 178 four-star rooms and five-star suites and the Genting International Casino.

The large licence, the third of the eight awarded to actually open in the UK, allows the gaming floor to run 150 slot machines, able to run a Slots Mania Tournament, 31 tables, a sports bar and an external high-tec gaming area offering Blackjack and Roulette and electronic gaming and a huge video gaming wall, the first of its kind outside London. There’s also two luxury high-stakes gaming areas and an outdoor area meaning smokers do not have to take a break from gambling.

“Whatever your gaming preferences, we give you outstanding choice, quality and service,” Genting said. “And our hosts and valets are always on hand to help provide the perfect atmosphere to relax, unwind and play.”

The casino accounts for just 11 per cent of the entire Resorts World Complex.

Peter Brooks, Genting’s UK President and CEO, said: “We are very excited following a two-year build program that Resorts World Birmingham is coming to life. There will be much more to experience at Resorts World Birmingham as the weeks go by and the resort becomes fully operational. We have a full programme of exciting events between our opening day and the end of the year which will demonstrate the wide range of experiences available to our guests. We are thrilled that, for the time, Resorts World Birmingham will bring the uniqueness and excitement of a large scale integrated resort offer to the West Midlands region and beyond.”

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) has also been renamed to Genting Arena.

Genting believes Resorts World Birmingham could attract 2m people every year but believes the majority of these will be visitors rather than locals.

The Resorts World brand is already in operation at much bigger casinos in New York, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. One is also being built in Las Vegas but this is the first time Genting has brought the brand to Europe. Mr. Brooks explained that to keep things in perspective, Genting operates 4,000 slots in New York compared to the 150 being launched in Birmingham.

Resorts World has overtaken two Aspers-branded casino properties in Stratford and Milton Keynes to become the biggest casino in the country.