Las Vegas gaming icon Wynn Entertainment has rebranded Aspinall’s Casino, one of London’s most exclusive gaming facilities, to what will be known as the Wynn Mayfair.
Wynn Expanding Its Footprint
After folding its tent in the race to obtain one of New York’s three downstate casino licenses and abandoning the project it had slated for its $12 billion Hudson Yards proposal, Wynn has pivoted to a global gateway city and acquired London’s legendary Aspinall’s Casino, founded in 1992 and subsequently purchased by Crown Resorts in 2011 after originating as the White Elephant Club in the 1960s.
The property caters exclusively to high-net-worth individuals at 27-28 Curzon Street, London, replete with 20 tables, a rooftop terrace, a public dining room, and several private gaming rooms. However, you won’t find any slot machines at the aristocratic venue located in close proximity to Buckingham Palace and Savile Row.
CBRE Equity Research analyst John DeCree believes this could be a coup for the American gaming firm, stating, “Aspinalls caters to very high-end VIP gaming customers from London but also internationally, including from Asia, India, and the Middle East, making it a very unique customer acquisition tool for Wynn Al Marjan Island.”
More Than a Hotel
The acquisition comes as a precursor and a complement to its exclusive gaming resort in the UAE, which is scheduled to open for similar clientele in 2027.
“This acquisition gives WYNN a flag in a gateway city that should help build the global database and boost Wynn’s brand power in the region ahead of a blockbuster opening in the UAE. Importantly, this is a high-end gaming asset with high-intent customers, making it a more deliberate customer acquisition channel relative to a branded hotel strategy or partnership,” DeCree added.
Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed, and according to reports, there will be no operational changes with the new management.
Wynn’s Middle Eastern Jewel Set to Open in 2027
The Aspinall’s Casino in London was just Wynn’s latest foray into expanding its international footprint. The iconic gaming company is in the premium service end of gaming resorts in the U.S., headlined by its eponymous Wynn Resorts and Encore Las Vegas establishments. The company also owns and operates the Encore Boston Harbor while holding a coveted license in China and operating at the Wynn Macau.
But Wynn Resorts’ Wynn Al Marjan Island in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the company’s crowning achievement, which will make it the UAE’s exclusive casino gaming operator. The UAE venue is reported to be 60% complete, and reports are that there are 9,100 construction workers on the site daily, and more than 100 concrete trucks delivering material to the location.
The Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 1,542 guestrooms, and its reported price tag is north of $5.1 billion, of which 40% is self-funded by Wynn. The casino is expected to represent only four percent of the venue’s 5.6 million square feet. However, a casino in the UAE is the draw, and it will attract the mega-wealthy from that area who often flock to London, where the Wynn Mayfair will be only too happy to greet their Middle Eastern guests.
Industry analysts have projected that the Wynn Al Marjan Island could generate up to $1.4 billion in annual gross gaming revenue.
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