The Ritz Club London Owes Over 781,000 to Customers After Casino Permanent Closure in May – Casino Guardian

Some gamblers at the Ritz Club have lost over 780,000 in transactions following the clubs 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 establishments 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.

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 establishments 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.

Olivia Cole has worked as a journalist for several years now. Over the last couple of years she has been engaged in writing about a number of industries and has developed an interest for the gambling market in the UK.

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The Ritz Club London Owes Over 781,000 to Customers After Casino Permanent Closure in May - Casino Guardian