UK casino closed after owner Aspers UK Holdings enters administration
This expansion reflects Merkur’s ambition to become a key player in the global gaming industry. Industry analysts have interpreted the latest move as a sign of Merkur’s confidence in the long-term future of the land-based gaming market, even as the wider UK casino sector faces challenges. The reopening in Milton Keynes reinforcesthe company’s broader UK growth strategy, showing a commitment to both regional economies and the wider casino industry.
Merkur recently re-entered the US market, while the Milton Keynes site will be the second venue in the UK, after svedok.org.mk Merkur’s Aberdeen casino launch in 2023. Aspers Casino MK is a great alternative for those looking for a nice casino with a good atmosphere and poker scene, but would rather not travel into London to attend the Aspers Stratford casino. La Partage does not apply to Double Zero roulette which makes it a far worse game in terms of odds, with a 5.26% house edge.
Poker has always had a large presence at The Casino MK due to the large poker room located at the back of the casino. Currently, the poker offering is very limited with only 2 tournaments per week which are super turbo (15 minute level) self-dealt shove fests. The casino will only run a maximum of 4 cash tables at any one time due to staff shortages. The stakes available are 25p/25p, £1/£1, £1/£2 and the occasional higher stake PLO game. There is plenty of action available at the 25p and £1/£1 tables although the £1/£2 games and higher are largely reg-infested and you would be far better served playing elsewhere for these stakes. Once operational again, the casino will provide a full range of classic table games, including poker, roulette, and blackjack, alongside a modern collection of slot machines.
- Merkur has indicated that upgrades will be implemented to align the casino with its brand standards, ensuring a premium gaming experience.
- The Milton Keynes casino has been closed until further notice due to the owners entering administration.
- The closure of Casino MK has been a rapid development, with staff members reportedly sent home and instructed not to return until further notice.
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Merkur Casino UK has acquired The Casino MK, which is situated within the Xscape leisure complex at Marlborough Gate. The acquisition represents Merkur’s second casino property in the UK, following the launch of its first casino in Aberdeen earlier this year. The Casino MK had previously been operated by Aspers, which closed its doors on April 7 after entering administration. In May 2025, its parent company, Merkur Group, received approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission, allowing it to re-enter the U.S. casino market after more than 20 years. That license also paved the way for Merkur’s pending acquisition of Gaming Arts, a Las Vegas-based supplier with regulatory approvals in over 155 jurisdictions.
Voyager is the basic membership available to all players at signup and entitles guests to 25% off on most food and drink throughout the casino. You will also receive birthday offers and invitations to exclusive slots tournaments. If you would like to play cash games and feel intimidated by higher stakes or would like to learn the game in a lower stake environment then the MK 25p game is a great way to get up to speed in a live poker environment.
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Please note, to buy in or cash out £1,500 or more, Aspers World Membership is required (including valid photo ID). Everyone who works at the Casino MK is friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. The staff’s warmth and willingness to banter with the patrons is undoubtedly one of the reasons for the large number of regulars who reliably attend the casino every week. However, it’s our experience that the Casino MK’s dress code is more on the casual side, as you are allowed to wear trainers and jeans, for example. The Casino MK is easy to travel to, with ample parking by the entrance and to the rear of the casino, and is also easily accessible by train from multiple stations around the UK, including London.
New Ownership and Local Impact
In addition to the benefits below you can get 50% off entry to Port Lympne Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park and 12% off at Holiday Inn Westfield Stratford City Just for being a member. The Casino MK’s restaurant, Clary’s Bar & Grill, serves up decent, reasonably priced food. If you have a standard Aspers membership card, you’ll also benefit from 25% off your food bill. The Casino MK is a spacious, well-decorated casino spread over the accessible ground floor. As an Aspers casino, the Casino MK feels more upmarket than your typical Grosvenor or Genting casino, which is reflected in the enforcement of the dress code, as mentioned above.
The MK casino currently offers 24 live table games, 100 slot machines, 76 electronic betting stations and 4 sports betting stations. The casino offers a uniquely wide range of live table games and betting options, including Roulette, Blackjack, Punto Banco/Baccarat, Three Card Poker and Supper Wheel. In addition to Texas Holdem and Omaha, other cash games are offered in Mixed Games or Dealer’s Choice. However, UK’s largest casino remains Aspers Casino London, the first Super-Casino built in the UK. Welcome to Skopje’s premier casino destination, where excitement and luxury converge to create an unforgettable gaming experience.
Aspers UK Holdings Limited, Aspers Group Limited, Aspers Finance Limited, and Aspers Milton Keynes Limited have all been placed into administration. Aspers Stratford has informed its members that the Genting casino group will be taking over operations immediately. Total gross gambling yield (GGY) in Great Britain rose 7.3 per cent year-on-year to £16.8bn, with the latest industry statistics released on the eve of Wednesday’s Budget and expected gambling tax increases. The Casino MK, located at Xscape in Central Milton Keynes, is shut after Aspers UK Holdings Limited, which operates the premises, went into administration.
