If you’re going to do poker in London, you may as well do it properly.
That’s exactly what father-and-son entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas have done at the Hippodrome Casino, managing to transform one of the capital’s most iconic buildings into a poker destination that rivals anything in the UK.
Right in the heart of Leicester Square, this isn’t a single table hidden behind rows of slot machines. It’s a beautifully restored, multi-level poker operation built in partnership with PokerStars the world’s largest online poker site and designed to welcome everyone from newbies to table-regulars. There’s even a Live studio where cash games are streamed live globally to Youtube and Twitch with over 60 countries watching along on a regular basis.
Whether you’ve found poker through our casino sites recommendations or you’re ready to experience the real thing, this is where London poker comes to life.
The People Behind the Poker
Director of Poker: Kerryjane Craigie
The Hippodrome Casino is about as high-profile as it gets, and a poker room of this scale doesn’t run itself. To host international players, major tournaments, and work in partnership with PokerStars, you need someone who knows the game inside out.
At the centre of Hippodrome poker is Hippodrome Casino’s Director of Poker, Kerryjane Craigie. Both a leader and a real player who cares about who gets to play it, Kerryjane has earned her stripes as one of the most respected figures in UK live poker.
Starting out as Manager of Poker at the Hippodrome on the casino floor in 2012 on only a 3 month temporary contract, Kerryjane’s passion for poker led to her appointment as Director of PokerStars, leading to her becoming one of the most influential women in the live game in the UK today. She’s had over 15 years experience in casino operations with a focus on poker.
Make no mistake: Kerryjane isn’t just an organiser and advocate. She’s a formidable player in her own right.
Her poker CV includes:
- a second-place finish at the World Series of Poker earning a career-best live cash of $46,420
- a win at the 2023 UK & Ireland Poker Tour Women’s Event
- winning the UKIPT Women’s Event in Brighton in 2023
- ending second in a WSOP bracelet event
- being the final Brit in the inaugural Colossus event at WSOP 2015 (finishing an astonishing 84th out of 23,400 players)
In other words, she understands poker from every angle.
Online, Kerryjane plays at PokerStars under the username ‘Kesney’, staying connected to the same digital world many players experience through some of the best casino sites before ever stepping into a live venue.
Making Poker a Safer, Friendlier Space for Women
Poker hasn’t always felt like the easiest space for women to enter. In fact, woman only make up 2% of players in the field.
That’s something the industry has slowly begun addressing, and leaders like Kerryjane are part of that change. She has worked hard to make poker a more inclusive space, particularly for women. Her commitment is exactly why she was chosen as PokerStars Ambassador for Women in Poker, a role reserved for people who actively improve the game, and VP of Women’s Poker Association.
In 2023, Kerryjane joined the Women’s Poker Association board leading the “Raise it Up” campaign and she also organises the hugely popular Women’s Winter Festival and Women’s Summer Festival. These are tournaments with serious prize pools, designed to encourage female players to join the table. She supports smaller events too, including grassroots poker meet-ups.
For women who’ve discovered poker through new casino sites or even bingo platforms, these festivals offer a welcoming bridge into live poker.
Kerryjane’s Impact at the Tables
Kerryjane Craigie isn’t trying to change poker overnight. She’s doing something far more effective; improving it steadily and obviously, from the inside.
A Message to Every Woman in the Game:
“To every woman making the ask, to every woman making the space – keep going. Keep showing up. Keep saying yes. Because when we uplift one another, there’s no limit to what we can achieve”.
Kerryjane Craigie
As part of the Inside Hippodrome series, her story is a reminder that the venue’s modern identity and poker in general is about more than gaming, headline events or perfectly-cooked steak. It’s about the people building and shaping the experience. People like Kerryjane who believe poker should be fair, welcoming and enjoyable, especially for women who are underrepresented at the tables. Whether you’re playing online via casino sites or sitting down at a table in Leicester Square.
For poker, for women, and for the future of the game, that’s a very big deal indeed.
Read what our experts say about Hippodrome Online Casino, a review of the online arm of Hippodrome Casino, and discover some of the best casino bonuses you can claim online.
Hippodrome Casino: A Tour
The entire third floor of the Hippodrome is dedicated to PokerStars LIVE. A purpose-built, state-of-the-art poker room created in partnership with PokerStars. This is where cash games run daily and where the action is bustling and lively. People are vibing and playing, or just sitting back watching the action.
Tournaments take place just below in Lola’s Underground Casino, a space that feels uber-modern, almost futuristic. The Hippodrome has been home to the UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT – the region’s biggest live poker series) Today, that same high-energy atmosphere lives on through monthly events like Our Series, Super Series, and the newer MEGA Series.
The opening hours are decent too. Third floor poker runs from 12pm midday to 8am Monday to Thursday, and 24 hours non-stop from Friday to Sunday.
Here are the floors in more detail:
- LG: Paddy’s Sportsbook – electronic casino & sports. Chop Chop by Four Seasons – restaurant
- G: The Grand Casino & Baccarat Lounge – main gaming floor
- 1: Heliot Steak House – top-rated steak open 5pm to 10pm (Sun-Thur), 5pm to 11pm (Fri-Sat). Permission Cocktail Lounge. Penny Bar. Magic Mike Live
- 3: Poker & Lower Gods Casino – cash poker games
- 4: The Gods & Upper Gods Casino
- 5: The Rooftop Outdoor Bar
The Hippodrome is open 24 hours a day, every day but Christmas Day. Mind you, there’s waiting lists for Hippodrome poker tables! It’s free to join Hippodrome Rewards (don’t forget your ID) and the nearest tube stations are Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Charing Cross.
Reader comments