Gambling in Swindon

Whether you like an annual flutter on the Grand National or are a regular casino visitor, or even if bingo or the greyhounds is more your thing then the good news is that there are plenty of options for you in and around the town, especially if there’s a car at your disposal.

Horse racing

While Swindon doesn’t have its own race course there are a couple within around an hour’s drive and they’ll give you the chance to enjoy racing both over the jumps and on the flat. For the latter there’s the course at Salisbury which holds around 16 meetings a year between April and mid-October. Although the course may be one of the country’s smaller ones this makes for a great atmosphere and there is also all the hospitality that you could hope for to make it a memorable day out.

About the same distance away is a course that is at the opposite end of the scale – Cheltenham. Known the world over for its March National Hunt festival it has numerous other meetings from the Autumn to the Spring. A particular favourite is the New Year’s Day event which many appreciate as a chance to get out and about during the Christmas festivities.

Greyhound Racing

While there may not be horseracing in Swindon it’s notable for having one of the few remaining greyhound racing tracks in the country. The Abbey Stadium is in Lady Lane and there are meetings all year round which take place in the daytime on Mondays and Fridays and on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Admission’s free for the daytime events and in the evenings it’s only £5.

The action’s fast and furious with races taking place every 15 minutes and if you really want to spend the evening in style there’s the Abbey Restaurant which offers a great view of the track and where you’ll even be able to place your bets from your table.

Casinos

Over the last decade or so there has been much debate over whether Swindon could or should have a casino but, as yet, there are no firm plans for one. But no matter because there are several within easy reach.

Probably the biggest is the Grosvenor Casino in Reading. Open 24 hours a day it’s a true entertainment centre with a restaurant, numerous bars and even a games lounge. As well as having a great selection of slots there are also all the table games you’d expect including blackjack, poker and roulette. But if you’re hoping to make your fortune on the spin of a wheel then maybe it would be a good idea to learn how to play roulette first.

Bingo

Maybe you just want the fun of a sociable night out playing bingo. If you do, you’re in luck. There are several bingo halls in and around Swindon with the main one being Gala Bingo. It’s open every day with three different sessions and a warm welcome’s guaranteed.

So there you have them – plenty of gambling opportunities for you in Swindon and the surrounding area. Whichever ones you choose here’s hoping you have the very best of luck!