Las Vegas-based luxury casino operator Wynn Resorts is set to buy Crown Casino Aspinalls London from Australian operator Crown Resorts.
Crown London Aspinalls is not quite the large multibillion-costing casino resorts Wynn or Crown usually deals with.
The upscale gambling parlor is located across two modestly-sized 17th century townhouses in the posh Mayfair district of central London. The private, membership-only casino has 20 or so table games, and not a single slot machine.
However, the long-standing historic venue is a favored haunt of some of Europe and the world’s richest gamblers when on a jaunt to London. Wynn executives reportedly consider it an investment in promoting their upcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island mega resort in the United Arab Emirates. Rich Emiratis are known to frequent the London gambling hall, as well as British and other international high rollers.
The Purchase
Wynn confirmed the acquisition this week in a press release, as did Crown Resorts. Neither company gave a price for the transaction. However, it would not have been cheap. Besides being a high limit gambling business, average property prices on central London’s Curzon Street are north of £10,000,000 (USD$8.135 million). The purchase is set to complete by Q3 2025.
Crown London will continue to operate under its current name until the transaction closes. It isn’t clear what Wynn will call the venue, previously known simply as Aspinalls, after it completes the purchase.
Although considered prestigious among its high-end clientele, Crown London will be by far Wynn Resorts’ smallest gambling property. The venue does have a dining room with various kitchens supplying different cuisines, but it doesn’t offer a hotel, or even private parking.
It is, however, a Grade II-listed historical building, having been first built in the late 1700s in the Georgian period. The pricey London neighborhood is within a short drive or walk of iconic London landmarks such as Hyde Park Corner, Buckingham Palace, The Ritz London, and the Oxford Street shops. Other properties on Curzon Street include the British Saudi Arabian Embassy and a house that was once rented out by The Beatles to famous artists, including American musician Harry Nilsson and The Who drummer Keith Moon.
Wynn’s Plans
Wynn said it is not using the purchase as a route to expand further into Europe. But it sees the historic London gambling hall’s destination location as a way to spread awareness of the Wynn brand among high limit gamblers across the world.
Particularly, it is looking at the opening of its Wynn Al Marjan Island casino resort in the UAE. The $3.9 billion venue is set to be the first legal casino gambling operation in the very wealthy but historically conservative Islamic country.
“This acquisition of an iconic asset offers us a presence in a global gateway city and will create a conduit for Wynn guests to visit our resorts, particularly Wynn Al Marjan Island, which is slated to open in the first quarter of 2027 in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates,” said Wynn CEO Craig Billings.
Crown Resorts Future
Crown Resorts’ sale of Crown London hardly came out of the blue. The Australian operator has recently been slimming down its business and selling off international assets to focus on its Australian business.
A series of controversies, including license revocations in some markets, large fines from regulators, and a revolving door of staff at senior levels has led to falling revenues and ultimately, loss-making years.
New leadership feels its core Australian casinos in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth are enough to sustain the business. But they’ve been lacking investment in recent years, and Crown hopes selling off its international assets can pay for improvements in its home market.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
