Some gamblers at the Ritz Club have lost over £780,000 in transactions following the club’s basement casino was forced to cease operation during the first lockdown.
Reportedly, patrons, including billionaires and celebrities, have been “devastated” after the announcement of the gambling establishment’s closure because of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak before it permanently stopped operation.
Celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Al Pacino and Bill Clinton have been among the customers of the gambling venue before it closed at the end of May 2020 never to reopen. The club had operated as part of the world-famous Ritz Hotel that was sold in March 2020 to an investor from Qatar by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay.
The iconic casino, which was situated in a basement ballroom, had announced losses amounting to over £20 million in 2018 and 2019. Despite its popularity, it was unable to start working again after its sale for a total of £750 million. Recently, the major gambling regulator in the UK – the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) – has revealed that the total amount that is owed by the casino to its customers is estimated at £781,585.
The aforementioned amount was released after Metro.co.uk made a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The request was initially rejected until an internal review was completed.
According to Private Eye, a separate amount of £409,551 that was related to two table games existed, too. As reported by the magazine, £224,666 was taken on blackjack and £184,885 was taken on three Card Poker, with the fate of the cash still remaining unknown. Reportedly, the money was intended for a progressive jackpot and was also subject to legal obligations and special terms and conditions as casino patrons built up funds.
Iconic Ritz Club London Ceases Operation for Good After First Lockdown in March 2020
The Ritz Club London stopped working temporarily on March 19th, 2020, right before the UK Government announced the first lockdown in the country. Its members received an email informing them that the club is permanently shut and will not resume operation.
Reportedly, the members were “devastated” to learn that, especially considering the clientele described the casino as the most prestigious and respected one in the UK. The club was established in the late 1970s but reopened in 1998 under new ownership after the billionaire brothers Barclay bought the Ritz in 1995. In January 2020, they injected £8 million into Ritz Club as they sought a buyer for the hotel.
The casino had announced an £8.9-million loss in the year that ended on December 31st, 2018, followed by an £11.3-million in 2019.
The operating licence of the club has been taken over by the Hard Rock Cafe. The new venue is set to be situated in the establishment’s basement. As a response to a Freedom of Information inquiry, the UKGC confirmed that the Ritz Club owes a total of £781,585 to gamblers at the time when the original request for information was made. Reportedly, the gambling regulator advised gamblers to consider whether the casino has violated any contractual obligations and to seek compensation if it has.
- Author
Olivia Cole
