Russell Square casino: location, closure and advice for Australian readers

What was Russell Square casino?

Grosvenor Casino Russell Square was a physical casino in London and part of the Grosvenor venues discussed in Rank Group’s reporting. In its interim results for the six months to December 2022, Rank said the venue had permanently closed in November of that year.

A land-based casino is a place people visit in person. That is different from a remote gambling service, where customers take part at a distance, such as through a website. Evidence of the former London casino does not, on its own, establish that there is or was a separate Russell Square-branded online casino.

The supplied page associated with this search was unavailable during research, so its intended subject could not be confirmed. The London venue is the strongest match found, rather than a certain identification of every use of the name.

Russell Square casino location and opening hours

A SENSE participating-casinos document listed the former casino at 61–66 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JS. This is the historical casino-listing address, not a confirmed current casino destination.

The SENSE document includes the venue despite being dated after Rank’s reported closure. It is useful evidence of the address used in that listing, but it should not be taken as proof that the casino continued operating. Other property listings have used a different postcode, so WC1B 5JS should not be assumed to apply to every part of the surrounding complex.

There are no verified current Russell Square casino opening hours for the former venue. Rank reported that it closed permanently in November 2022. If a directory still displays opening times, check its date and compare it with the operator’s closure statement before relying on it.

• Former name: Grosvenor Casino Russell Square.
• Historical casino-listing address: 61–66 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JS.
• Status: permanently closed in November 2022, according to Rank Group.

How to interpret older Russell Square casino reviews

Russell Square casino reviews and directory pages may still appear in search results. An older review might be useful for understanding what a visit was like when the venue operated, but it cannot tell you what a visit would be like now.

Some third-party listings continue to show historical opening information that conflicts with Rank’s closure report. A listing’s presence in search results is not evidence that its hours, games or facilities are current.

For the venue’s status, the operator’s statement is more useful than an undated directory entry. Do not assume that an old rating or description applies to another Grosvenor casino, either: each venue is a separate place with its own current information.

Licensing: what the UK register does and does not show

The UK Gambling Commission’s business register lists active non-remote and remote casino licences for Grosvenor Casinos Limited. Non-remote gambling takes place in person; remote gambling is conducted at a distance, including online.

Those entries identify licensed activities for a named business. They do not independently establish the historical premises-licence record for the former Russell Square venue. The venue-specific record was not verified in the research reviewed, so the company’s register number should not be presented as a licence number for the closed premises.

The distinction also matters across borders. A UK remote casino licence is not, by itself, evidence that an operator may offer online casino games to people in Australia. The applicable rules depend on the service offered and the customer’s jurisdiction.

• Company and activity: check which business holds a licence and what that licence covers.
• Specific premises: a business-level register entry is not the same as a verified historical record for a particular venue.
• Customer location: check the rules that apply where the gambling service is offered, rather than relying on an overseas licence alone.

What Australian readers should know about online casinos

The identified Russell Square venue was in London, not Australia. No distinct Australian Russell Square online service was verified in the research reviewed. If a website uses a similar name, check its exact operator and domain rather than assuming it is connected to the former venue.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, says the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits providers from offering online casino services to people in Australia. Its examples include online pokies and casino-style games such as blackjack, roulette and poker. This is a restriction on providers offering the services; it should not be confused with an unverified claim about an individual player’s liability.

A site loading in Australia, accepting Australian dollars or displaying an overseas licence does not establish that its online casino games are authorised for people in Australia. For example, a purported casino could display a UK licence and accept Australian-dollar payments, but neither detail answers whether it may offer those games to customers in Australia.

ACMA’s register can help readers check named licensed interactive gambling providers, including relevant wagering services. Check the type of service as well as the operator: an entry for wagering does not make an operator’s online casino games lawful to offer in Australia.

What to check before visiting another venue or using a gambling service

If you are travelling to London, choose a venue that is currently operating and check its own official information before setting out. Opening hours, admission conditions, identification requirements and accessibility details can differ between venues and can change.

One separate London venue is Grosvenor Casino St Giles, listed by its operator at 262 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7RG. Its official page provides visitor information. It should not be described as a relocation, successor or replacement for the former Russell Square casino; check its current details before travelling.

If you encounter a purported online service, establish the exact business name and website domain before providing personal information or money. Consult ACMA’s guidance and use its provider register within the scope it describes. An accessible website or an old directory listing is not a substitute for checking the relevant rules.

For gambling support in Australia, Gambling Help Online offers assistance and lists the national helpline, 1800 858 858, as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Confirm the name and current status of the specific venue or service.
• Check an alternative venue’s own page for current hours and admission information.
• For an online provider, identify the operator and domain and consult the relevant regulator.
• Seek support through Gambling Help Online if gambling is causing concern.

FAQ

Is Russell Square casino available to people in Australia?

The identified venue was a physical casino in London, and Rank Group reported that it permanently closed in November 2022. No distinct Australian Russell Square online service was verified. Separately, ACMA says providers must not offer online casino services to people in Australia.

Where was Russell Square casino located?

A historical SENSE casino listing gave the address as 61–66 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JS. That address identifies the former venue in the listing; it is not confirmation of a current casino at the location.

What are Russell Square casino’s opening hours?

There are no verified current opening hours for the former venue. Rank Group reported that it permanently closed in November 2022, so opening times shown on older directory pages should not be used to plan a visit.

Was Russell Square casino licensed?

The UK Gambling Commission lists casino licences for Grosvenor Casinos Limited, but the venue-specific historical premises-licence record for Russell Square was not independently verified in the research reviewed. A company register entry should not be treated as that premises record.

Can I rely on old Russell Square casino reviews?

Older reviews may describe experiences at the venue when it operated, but they cannot establish a current experience after its reported closure. Dates matter, and historic ratings or comments should not be applied to a different casino.

What should I check before visiting another casino or signing up online?

For another physical venue, check its official page for current opening times, identification requirements and other admission details. For a purported online service, identify the exact operator and domain, then consult ACMA’s guidance before providing information or money. A foreign licence or an accessible website alone does not establish Australian authorisation.