Edinburgh’s Oldest Gaming Halls

9 June 2026

Most people don’t really come to Edinburgh thinking about casinos. They’re here for the castle. The old streets. The views. Gambling tends to sit somewhere in the background. Still, it’s been part of the city for a long time.

Scotland’s history with gaming goes back centuries. Before modern casinos existed, people were already playing cards in private homes. In the 16th and 17th centuries, that’s mostly where it stayed. Behind closed doors, among friends, usually in aristocratic circles.

Things changed in the 1800s. Gambling started moving into more public spaces as rules and attitudes changed, and gambling houses began to appear. Then much later, after the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960, casinos as we know them today started showing up in cities like Edinburgh.

Grosvenor Maybury Casino

The Grosvenor Casino at The Maybury still has a bit of history in the building itself. The former Maybury Roadhouse has been part of Edinburgh since the 1930s. Art Deco architecture isn’t difficult to spot, and the building still gets attention decades later.

What makes the venue interesting is the contrast. Some venues feel like they were designed entirely around gambling. This one feels like it had a life before the games and evolved into something new. Historic exterior. Modern gaming floor.

Visitors can move between table games and slot machines, while beginners have the option of free gaming lessons before jumping in, which makes it a bit more approachable than it first looks. That mix of old and new seems to work.

The Caledonian Casino

The Caledonian Casino is probably the easiest venue to imagine when discussing Edinburgh’s older gaming scene. It’s located within The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, The Caledonian and has the sort of surroundings people expect from a historic hotel. Victorian era decor, elegant furnishings, chandeliers. The sort of place where nobody would be surprised to see a well-dressed poker player sitting lost in thought.

People do know it for its exclusive Poker Room and tournaments, but the usual table games, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, are all there too.

It’s not trying to be the loudest casino in the city. It doesn’t really need to be. The atmosphere is a big part of why people remember it.

Maxims Casino Edinburgh

Maxims Casino is much smaller and more intimate compared to the larger venues in Edinburgh. It’s right in the Old Town and focuses on live gaming. The casino has two blackjack tables, one roulette table, and one poker table, so the selection is limited but very traditional.

Maxims doesn’t try to offer everything at once, and is instead all about a quieter, more exclusive atmosphere. Staff are close by, the pace is slower, and everything feels a bit more personal. It’s the kind of place where people don’t really rush in and out.

There’s also a bar area where you can sit down for a drink and look at the Old Town through the large windows. It’s calmer than most of the bigger casino floors in the city.

Genting Casino Fountain Park

Fountain Park is where things get a little busier. The place is modern and offers plenty of games, but also food and drinks.

On the gaming floor you’ll find poker, blackjack, roulette, slot machines, and state-of-the-art electronic roulette terminals and you can also watch sports on the screens in their bar area. There’s a lot going on, and it never really slows down. For visitors looking for variety, some of the best casino games are on offer here.

Not everyone comes in with the same plan. Some people are there to play seriously, for others it’s just part of a night out. That mix seems to work for it.

Final Thoughts

Edinburgh’s casino scene isn’t the first thing people think about when they visit, and it probably never will be. But it’s been there in some form for a long time. From private card games in old parlours to modern casino floors in hotels and entertainment complexes, it’s changed along with the city.

Most visitors walk straight past that side of Edinburgh without noticing it. It’s still there though, running in the background of a city better known for everything else.

Comments on this guide to Edinburgh’s Oldest Gaming Halls article are welcome.