How the Leeds Casino is Reviving Poker: The Merkur Group Experience

While poker rooms around the world are closing, the Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds is opening a new chapter thanks to the Merkur Group. Find out how they made it happen.

In recent years, the live poker industry has faced serious challenges: poker rooms are closing en masse around the world, especially in Las Vegas. However, amid this decline, there is an exception in the UK — Merkur Group is bringing poker back to the recently acquired casino in Leeds. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the history of Victoria Gate Casino, the reasons behind its problems, the changes after the change of ownership, and also examine why poker rooms are disappearing from other casinos and what’s behind Merkur’s decision to bring back live poker. Victoria Gate Casino: the first super-casino in Northern England Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds opened in January 2017 and immediately became the largest gaming venue in the north of England. The project saw an investment of around £30 million by Global Gaming Ventures (GGV). The casino covers an impressive 50,000 square feet. It features 22 blackjack and roulette tables, 75 electronic gaming tables, and over 170 slot machines. From the very beginning, the casino had a spacious poker room for 100 people. The poker room manager made every effort to create a comfortable atmosphere and high-quality service for players. However, by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous management decided to close the poker room. The freed-up space was given over to additional slot machines and electronic tables, which they believed would increase the venue’s profitability. Problems of the previous owners: regulatory sanctions and losses Victoria Gate Casino repeatedly faced claims from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) — the country’s main gambling regulator. The casino’s license was suspended twice, most recently in October 2025. The reason was serious concerns about the management’s decision-making process and insufficient measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. In an official UKGC statement, it was emphasized that these shortcomings posed a threat to the key licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime in gambling. Alongside regulatory issues, the casino was accumulating losses: since opening, the total deficit exceeded £50.1 million. Against this backdrop, the previous owners decided to sell Victoria Gate Casino to the British division of Merkur Group. The deal amount was not disclosed. Transition to Merkur Group: a new chapter for the casino and poker The change of ownership marked a new chapter in the history of Victoria Gate Casino. Merkur Group is a major European company with extensive experience in the slot machine industry, owning more than 200 venues across the UK. In addition to Leeds, Merkur’s portfolio includes casinos in Aberdeen and Milton Keynes. The latter was acquired in 2025, and it was there that, in spring 2026, the company brought live poker back to its UK venues for the first time in a long while. In May 2026, Casino MK (Milton Keynes) reopened its poker room. Now Merkur Group is implementing a similar project in Leeds: the casino’s website already features job openings for experienced poker dealers. This is a clear signal that live poker will soon return to Victoria Gate Casino. Poker game format and schedule at Casino MK Casino MK offers cash games in No-Limit Hold’em — the most popular form of poker. Cash games run from Tuesday to Sunday, starting at 6:00 PM. Tables are available with various blind limits: £0.50/£0.50, £1/£1, £1/£2, and £2/£5. At the time of publication, there is no information about poker tournaments on the Casino MK website or social media — the focus is specifically on cash games. For reference: a cash game is a format where players sit down at the table with real money and can leave the game at any time, taking their stack with them. Unlike tournaments, where players pay a fixed buy-in and play until they are eliminated, cash games allow flexible entry and exit, as well as free choice of stack size. Why are poker rooms closing en masse? Contrary to the expectations of many poker fans, most casinos around the world are gradually abandoning poker rooms. This trend is especially noticeable in Las Vegas — the world’s gambling capital. During the “poker boom” of the late 2000s, there were about 60 poker rooms in Vegas, but by 2026 only 17 remain. Since 2012, more than 40 venues have closed their poker rooms. Notable examples include Resorts World, one of the newest casinos in Las Vegas, which opened its poker room in June 2021 but closed it permanently in March 2026. Planet Hollywood tried three times to reopen its poker room, the last time before the 2025 WSOP, but in January 2026 the room was closed again. Economic reasons for closing poker rooms The main reason is the low profitability of poker rooms compared to slot machines and other table games. The space occupied by poker tables can be used for additional slots or roulette tables, which generate much higher revenue for the casino. Live poker requires significant staffing costs: to run 10 tables, at least 10 dealers are needed if all tables are full. In cash games, the rake per hand is capped at a maximum, and it’s not always reached. Tournament poker is even less profitable: players pay the buy-in once and then don’t spend money during the tournament unless they buy a re-entry. As a result, casino accountants see that the return from poker rooms is much lower than from other types of gambling, and decide to close them in favor of more profitable options. So why is Merkur bringing back live poker? The exact reasons why Merkur Group decided to bring poker back to its UK casinos are known only to the company itself. However, several obvious advantages are noted by industry experts. Players spend a long time at the venue. Poker players usually spend several hours in the casino, increasing their spending on food, drinks, and other services. Interaction with other games. During breaks or after busting out of a tournament, players often move to slots, blackjack, or roulette, generating additional revenue. Building a loyal audience. Poker rooms attract regular customers who return again and again, forming a strong community and actively participating in loyalty programs. Thus, for Merkur Group, it’s important not only to directly increase profits, but also to create a unique atmosphere that fosters long-term relationships with players. Results and statistics: key facts Victoria Gate Casino (Leeds) opened in January 2017, investment — about £30 million. Casino area — 50,000 sq. ft., 22 blackjack and roulette tables, 75 electronic tables, over 170 slots. The 100-seat poker room operated initially but was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UKGC license was suspended twice (most recently in October 2025) due to shortcomings in anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing measures. Since opening, losses have exceeded £50.1 million. In July 2026, the casino was acquired by Merkur Group, deal amount undisclosed. In May 2026, Merkur resumed poker at Casino MK (Milton Keynes), with similar plans for Leeds. At Casino MK, NL Hold’em cash games run from 6:00 PM Tuesday to Sunday, limits: £0.50/£0.50, £1/£1, £1/£2, £2/£5. In Las Vegas, more than 40 poker rooms have closed since 2012, with only 17 remaining. Resorts World opened its poker room in 2021, closed it in March 2026. Planet Hollywood last closed its poker room in January 2026. Context: who is behind this material The original article was written by Matthew Pitt, a native of Leeds (West Yorkshire, UK), who has worked in the poker industry since 2008. Since 2010, he became an editor at PokerNews, and from 2015 he focused on the position of senior editor, stepping away from live tournament reporting. What this means for PPPoker club players The return of live poker to major UK casinos, despite the overall trend of poker room closures, is an important signal for all members of the poker community, including PPPoker club players. It confirms that even in the face of economic and regulatory challenges, poker retains its appeal and can be a sought-after format if the operator focuses on long-term relationships with players and community development. For PPPoker club players, this means that live play and social interaction are still valued and can be a great addition to the online format. Operators who invest in developing poker rooms, like Merkur, set an example of how to build a loyal audience and offer players more than just a game — atmosphere, service, and additional opportunities for leisure and socializing. At a time when many casinos are cutting back on poker offerings, clubs on the PPPoker platform can use this trend to attract new members by offering flexible formats, regular events, and high-quality game organization. Stay tuned for updates so you don’t miss new opportunities for live and online poker in your region!