Crockfords Casino Closes for Business After 195 Years

Crockfords Casino, the oldest casino in Britain, has permanently closed its doors after 195 years of operation. The iconic London property, owned by the Genting gaming group, was a legendary home to high rollers and the elite of society.

The casino was located in the prestigious Mayfair area of central London, a hotspot for foreign high rollers ready to splash some major cash in the UK capital.

The closure of Crockfords Casino marks the end of an era. The casino was founded in 1828 as a private members gaming club for society's elite.

Over the years, it grew in popularity among the elite and high rollers from all over the world. However, the casino reportedly went through hard times during the Covid-19 pandemic that coincided with Brexit.

The owners believe that London does not seem as attractive to foreign tourists as it once was, and saw no return to the good days on the horizon.
Prominent factors behind the establishment's closure include the scrapping of tax-free shopping for wealthy visitors from overseas. Other casinos, including The Ritz and The Clermont, have also been forced to shut at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds to the Treasury.

Paul Willcock, president of Genting Casinos UK, stated that a combination of factors have put high-end London casinos at a competitive disadvantage to other global marketplaces. This has led to an unsustainable future for Crockfords in Mayfair.

The Edge Sorting Saga Between Phil Ivey and Crockfords Casino

Crockfords Casino was thrust into the spotlight in 2017 after a court battle with poker legend Phil Ivey. Ivey wanted £7.7 million of winnings paid to him after the casino refused following suspicions of cheating.

The accusations stemmed from his use of a technique called "edge sorting," which involves identifying small imperfections on the backs of playing cards to gain an advantage in the game.

In a nutshell, Ivey and his playing partner had some idea of which cards were more likely to come.

Ivey later admitted to using edge sorting during his high-stakes baccarat game at Crockfords, but he argued that it was a legitimate and legal technique, claiming that it was the casino’s responsibility to protect itself against a player of his ability.

However, the courts ultimately ruled against him. The High Court of England and Wales judged that edge sorting was "cheating for the purpose of civil law".

It was accepted that Ivey and others genuinely considered that edge sorting was not cheating, and deemed immaterial that the casino could easily have protected itself.

Ivey appealed against the judgement but was unsuccessful. He further appealed to the UK Supreme Court, which also decided in favour of the casino. All five justices upheld the decision of the court of appeal, "which dismissed his case on the basis that dishonesty was not a necessary element of 'cheating'".

Despite the court rulings, many argue that edge sorting should not be classified as cheating. They believe it is a form of advantage play, similar to card counting in blackjack, and not a form of manipulation like marking cards.