Lynsey Thompson

As a freelance writer for both the land-based casino team and the news/PR team, I get to write about not only what happens on the casino floor but around it as well.

I’m a very keen casino-goer myself, so I enjoy reviewing the casinos I’ve visited. Not only in terms of the table games and slots, but the venue as a whole. 

Modern casino resorts are jam-packed with entertainment, amenities, restaurants and bars and they all add to the experience. Mind, I’ve been to quite a few that are just one room and a WC as well! But writing reviews means I get to share my experiences so readers know what to expect.

Writing for the news and PR team involves sharing info on anything casino related such as new developments, events and activities, loyalty programs, residencies, and all the key facts to keep people in the know. 

BA (Hons) Degree in Media Studies – Staffordshire University. I spent three years getting used to the local accent while writing a lot of academic assignments about film, TV, and radio, its history, relevance, and social impact. I was also involved in script writing and video production and was the local showbiz news reporter on BBC Radio Stoke!

Diploma – British College of Journalism. I went back to school while in full-time employment to hone my skills and get a qualification in journalism. I then freelanced for a couple of local newspapers writing reviews of nearby attractions and news on local people and their stories. 

After a decade of writing about casinos, visiting casinos, and playing in online casinos, I’ve picked up quite a bit of knowledge. Not to mention making Las Vegas videos and podcasts. Here are what I consider to be my areas of expertise:

• Slot games – you name it, I’ve played it. Whether that’s in a land-based casino or an online casino, I’ve played and reviewed hundreds of slot games. This includes articles on paylines, bonus rounds, progressives, and denominations too. I’ve also organized group slot pulls, won jackpot handpays and vlogged years of my slot play on YouTube.
• Table games – I've also been playing table games for several years, and I’ve written in-depth guides on how to play games. This includes step-by-step instructions on using various betting strategies and putting them to the test myself.
• Casino resorts - I’ve stayed in numerous casino resorts in different locations around the world, so I have first-hand personal experience of what it’s like to stay and play at them. I can compare and contrast, and I bring that knowledge and expertise together when writing casino reviews, which I do often.
• Attractions/Shows/Entertainment – although I love to gamble, I’m also a keen show-goer and thrill seeker and have visited multiple venues and performances in Las Vegas. I can write in detail about what it's like to ride the Big Apple rollercoaster, zoom the Fremont Street Slotzilla zip line, or get thrown off the top of the Strat on the X-Scream because I’ve been there and done it. I’ve also been to many residencies and shows within the casino resorts. 
• Casino restaurants/bars – its hard to know how to expand this further without saying I eat and drink a lot. But, its true, I’m very fond of all kinds of dining, whether that’s high-end fine dining or a quick hot-dog in a dive bar. I also love a good sports bar, a dueling piano bar and a fancy cocktail bar too. Although I’m not keeping count, I’ve sampled many casino restaurants and bars and can offer a mountain of personal experience. 

I love a good boxset and a binge watch, anything big and dramatic like Game of Thrones or Walking Dead is good. I am fond of an occasional true story documentary, and can’t resist a good reality TV show, as long as it’s in small doses. 

My go-to for comfort TV has to be Friends, or The Office (US version) though, they just bring a smile to my face. Film-wise give me a musical any day. 

Ok, so it’s not Shakespeare, but its simplicity is what makes it golden. Every person at one time or another has thought, ‘I’ll be happy when…’ or ‘I’ll be happy if…’. In the hope that whatever destination you arrive at will make you happy.

But we know life doesn’t work that way. Every part of it, the ups, the downs, the snakes, and the ladders, are all part of the journey of life. If you hold off living until you’re at the so-called destination, you may never get there, and even if you do, you’ll miss the incredible view along the way. That can also be said of gambling, I suppose. 

In Las Vegas

Honestly, if I’m not at home in the UK, Las Vegas is usually where I’ll be several times a year. Vegas, to me, is a mindset rather than a place. It’s where possibilities are endless, and entertainment is non-stop. It’s my happy place, even when I’m losing!

I’ve stayed in 14 different casino resorts in Las Vegas so far and gambled in them all apart from Vdara which doesn’t have a casino. I’ve also visited all the main tourist attractions and sampled some top music and sports entertainment too. This includes going to see the Las Vegas Raiders and a Copa America match at the Allegiant Stadium and watching Madonna and the Las Vegas Golden Knights at the T Mobile Arena (not together, obviously).

Watching Sports

I’m a huge sports fan and will watch just about any type of sport on TV, whether that’s football, tennis, darts, snooker, or golf. The Olympics are my TV heaven, giving me a daily fix of all types of weird and wonderful sports to enjoy. 

I’m also a fanatical Sunderland fan so you’ll find me at the Stadium of Light at every home game. Plus, I love tennis and was lucky enough to go to my very first Wimbledon this year to see the men’s semi-finals. 

Theatre

I love musical theatre and go to my local theatre a few times a month to see touring shows. I also enjoy visiting London’s west-end theatre district whenever I can. My favorite shows are Hamilton and Les Misérables, but generally, just give me anything with some humor and music, and I’m there.