Ritz casino london

Gamblers at the Ritz Club have been left more than £, out of pocket after the basement casino closed during the first lockdown.

Members including celebrities and billionaires were said to have been ‘devastated’ when the gaming establishment shut at the start of the pandemic before its permanent closure.

Clientele had included Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Bill Clinton before it closed for good at the end of May last year.

The club had been part of the world famous Ritz Hotel, which Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay sold in March to a Qatari investor.

Set in a basement ballroom, the handsome casino, which had posted losses of more than £20 million in and , failed to see the light of day after its sale for a reported £ million.

The Gambling Commission has now disclosed that the total outstanding amount owed to punters stands at £,

The figure was released after a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) by thisisnl.nl, which was initially declined until an internal review.

A separate amount under question stands at £, which was tied up in two table games, according to Private Eye.

The magazine reported that £, was taken on Three Card Poker and £, on blackjack, with the fate of the cash ‘as yet unknown’.

The money is understood to be for ‘progressive jackpots’ and subject to terms and conditions and legal obligations as players built up funds.

The club temporarily suspended operations on March 19 last year, just before the UK went into lockdown.

In an email, members were told: ‘Regrettably, we now write to inform you that the Ritz Club is permanently closed and will not be re-opening.’

Speaking to MailOnline, one member responded: ‘As members, we are devastated to hear of the closure of the Ritz Club London.

‘There is no other casino in the UK that is as prestigious and respected as the Ritz and we don’t have anywhere else for us to take our gambling now.’

The club dates back to the late s but reopened in under new ownership and had been promoted as ‘one of the most luxurious and exclusive private members’ clubs to be found anywhere in the world’.

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The billionaire brothers bought the Ritz in and pumped £8 million into the club in January as they sought a buyer for the hotel.

The casino had posted a loss of £ million in the year to December 31, and £ million the following year.

Sir David died on January 10, after a short illness, aged

The club’s licence has been taken over by the Hard Rock Café, and the new establishment will reportedly be in the venue’s basement nearby.

In its FOI response, the Gambling Commission said: ‘The total outstanding amount owed to gamblers at the Ritz Club at the time of your original request was £,

‘This is the latest information that we hold. We do not hold information relating to the individual amounts owed to each customer.’

According to Private Eye, neither the Commission nor the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is taking action over the progressive funds.

The Commission was said to have advised gamblers to ‘consider whether the operator has breached contractual obligations and, if so, seek compensation’.

A spokesperson told thisisnl.nl: ‘We remain in contact with Personal Management Licence holders at the operator who are clearly aware of our expectation that the £, is returned to customers where it is appropriate.’

Turning to allegations that the Ritz Club is keeping funds from progressive jackpots, the spokesperson said: ‘If customers wish to pursue this, they should refer to the Ritz casino’s terms and conditions on progressive jackpots, consider whether the operator has breached contractual obligations and, if so, seek compensation.’

thisisnl.nl has also made attempts to contact the DCMS and the Ritz Club London for comment.

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