Betting in Leeds

As the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area, Leeds has a population of just over 750,000 and a history that can be traced to the 5th century Kingdom of Elmet. During the Industrial Revolution, the city developed into a major industrial centre, dominated by the wool industry with flax, engineering, iron foundries, printing and other industries serving a key role. Today, the local economy centres on the service sector, including public administration, education and health, banking, finance and insurance, distribution, and hotels and restaurants. Leeds is the location of one of the largest financial centres in England outside London.

Culturally, the city is home to the Grand Theatre where Opera North is based, as well as the new Leeds Arena, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds United A.F.C., the largest International Film Festival outside London and the annual Leeds Festival, Western Europe’s oldest West Indian Carnival since 1967. There are numerous music halls, dance theatres, pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants, serving one of the largest student populations in the country. Much of the nightlife thrives along Call Lane as well as Millennium Square and the Civic or Northern Quarter.

One noteworthy Civic Quarter gambling establishment is the Grosvenor Casino inside the Podium Building on Marion Way. It has recently expanded its operating hours to 24/7, offering some 20 gaming machines and 14 table games, including Blackjack, Roulette, Poker and 7-Card Stud. Also on-site is a bar serving Aberdeen Angus burgers, fish and chips and authentic curries, plus a full-service restaurant with fresh salads, vegetables and pasta, steaks and tempting desserts.

Just west of the Financial District on Wellington Bridge Street is the Gala Casino, open daily 24 hours. The casino’s gaming space features 10 gaming machines and 17 table games, including American Roulette, Blackjack, Casino Stud Poker and Punto Banco. Recently installed are 64 electronic Roulette games, with stakes starting at just 10p, while the table limits on Blackjack range from £2 to £1,000.

Southwest of Leeds centre within the Leeds-Bradford urban corridor is Napoleons Casino & Restaurant. Its gaming floor is inside the Westport Centre on West Street, with 16 gaming machines and 19 table and poker games. The restaurant overlooks the casino, offering a “Dine in Style” dinner special that includes a four-course meal and a £5 gaming chip for just £17.95. Breakfast is available, too, and hours of operation are from 1pm to 5am daily.

Bingo lovers will want to check out the three Mecca Bingo facilities in Leeds. On the east side at Cross Gates Road is Mecca Bingo – Leeds Cross Gates with 63 gaming machines in addition to Bingo action. To the south at Mecca Bingo – Leeds Hunslet on Balm Road, there are 61 gaming machines plus freshly prepared food and drink, and at Mecca Bingo – Leeds Mayfair near the Arts Quarter downtown, Bingo action is available daily from 11am to 10:30pm, along with 58 gaming machines, a restaurant and a bar.

Just 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Leeds on the north bank of the River Wharfe is the Wetherby Racecourse, a track steeped in horse racing history. Romans raced Arab horses in nearby Netherby, and in 1891 the first race meeting was staged at Wetherby, which soon flourished as one of England’s leading jumping sites.

Today, the Wetherby Racecourse maintains the finest traditions of its steeple-chasing heritage with National Hunt events, while offering some of the most modern racecourse facilities available on 300 acres of park and farmland adjacent to the A1. Numerous Tote facilities are located within each enclosure, and there is a Tote Betting Office and Tote Credit Shop in the Paddock Enclosure among the official Betting Rings.

Published on: 02/04/2013

Related Articles