Gaming in and around Swindon

Swindon has existed in one form or another ever since Anglo-Saxon times when it even featured in the Domesday Book, referred to as Suindone.

But it was Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Swindon Works and the growth of the Great Western Railway that first put the town on the map – and it’s now the largest town in Wiltshire with a population of 233,000 and rising.

Gaming both offline and online is a popular form of entertainment in the UK with Swindon being no exception of that. In particular, gambling has become a popular gaming niche, with all forms of gambling now forming an industry that, according to official figures, was worth £12.7 billion between April 2020 and March 2021 you might expect Swindon to offer plenty of options.

And, looking at the facts, you’d be quite right.

The Casino Scene

Across the UK there are estimated to be around 130 so-called bricks and mortar casinos. As you might expect, most of these can be found in the major cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

Many larger towns also boast one or two establishments – but, sadly, Swindon isn’t one of them. There has often been talk of one being developed and the local council have certainly seemed keen on the idea in the past.

However, no developer has put forward firm plans as yet. But don’t despair. Anyone fancying a game of roulette or blackjack just has to venture the 40 miles to Reading or Bristol instead. Both offer a selection of casinos from big name brands and can be reached in well under an hour.

Poker

Poker has surged in popularity in recent years with more and more pubs and clubs offering games nights where all are welcome. One that definitely holds these fairly frequently is The Ashford, one of the town’s oldest clubs, first opened in 1896.

So, you won’t have to look too hard to find a game that suits both your budget and your skill level in and around the Swindon area.

The most widely played game is undoubtedly Texas Hold’em, loved for its simplicity and speed. But you should also be able to locate games of stud poker too.

Bingo

Bingo is another game that has seen more and more people starting to play it over the last few years. This follows a long period of decline when many clubs have closed down and their buildings have been converted for other uses.

However, the good news for fans of the full house and dabber is that bingo is still going strong in Swindon. As well as the town’s main bingo hall in the Greenbridge Retail Park, there are plenty of others nearby in places like Chippenham and Didcot.

For those who like an altogether more modern take on the game, the now famous Bongo’s Bingo also run fun party nights in the town. Tickets sell out fast for these events, so it pays to snap them up quickly.

Horse Racing

For lovers of the turf, Swindon is also perfectly placed to give easy access to many fine racecourses for both flat and national hunt racing.

In fact, it’s effectively at the epicentre of a perfect circle of venues. Top of the list must surely be Cheltenham. Its March meeting is undoubtedly the high point in the jumping annual calendar but there are several other events throughout the season.

Other courses all within easy reach include Salisbury, Bath and Newbury, all fine locations offering a high quality of racing.

Sadly, the nearest racecourse to Swindon itself announced that its April 2022 meeting would be its last. Barbury had hosted three events a year for 30 years but the cost to the estate ultimately was found to be unsustainable.

A night at the dogs

There’s a greater success story when it comes to the sport widely regarded as the working man’s horseracing.

Greyhound racing has seen a gradual decline in followers over the years. Where once there were very many tracks around the country, more and more have closed down with stadiums like Wimbledon and the iconic Belle Vue in Manchester included.

So, it’s very good news that Swindon still has a thriving stadium that hosts meetings every day of the week except for Tuesdays and Saturdays. With up to 14 races per meeting, the action comes thick and fast, and the on-site Tote means that bets can be placed for far lower stakes than most bookmakers’ minimums.

There’s even an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy a snack or a meal and place your bets without even leaving the table. It’s these thoughtful touches that have surely helped to safeguard the continuing success of the stadium.

The online alternative

Of course, Swindonian fans of slots and other casino games do always have another ideal way to enjoy their favourite games. There are countless online casino providers available in the UK, all of which offer very generous welcome bonuses for new players.

Plus, many now also offer the chance to play in a “live” casino. Designed to capture some of the excitement and atmosphere of real casino play, this features action streamed live to a player’s phone, tablet or PC.

A dealer is in charge of the game, generally roulette, blackjack or baccarat and the action is digitised to allow the games to work online.

In terms of slots, there is always a very wide choice of themes ranging from classic versions of the old fruit machines to tie-ups with major movie and TV series.

So, as you can see, anyone wanting to gamble in Swindon has plenty of choice – and they may not even need to leave their front door to enjoy it!