Rainbow Casino Birmingham Reviewed for 2024

Rainbow Casino Birmingham is one of four properties owned by Double Diamond Gaming Ltd and is located just a ten-minute drive from Birmingham city centre.

Birmingham is known as the ‘second city of the United Kingdom’ due to it being the largest city outside of London, so it’s fair to think the gambling scene is going to be worth a look at. And you’d be right to think that.

Home to the famous Broad Street which is lined with bars, clubs, and casinos, there’s never a dull night out in the Black Country.

I have visited Birmingham in the past but I visited casinos that were part of big chains and were a bit more commercialised, so when I had plans to visit and review the Rainbow Casino I knew I was in for a different kind of experience.

So, stick around to see how I found my visit to the Rainbow Casino Birmingham and to see exactly what kind of gambling experience is on offer.

The Rainbow Casino Birmingham opened its doors all the way back in 1962 which not only makes it the oldest casino in the Rainbow chain, but the oldest casino in the entire city. Cool, right?

Despite numerous renovations over the years, the building has retained its character and charm and the fact it’s only small makes for a much more intimate type of gambling experience.

Indeed, the place is frequented by many locals who wish to avoid the bright lights of the casinos in town and the service tends to feel more personable on a whole.

Ultimately, there’s no doubt that this casino provides a pretty unique experience.

Location

Rainbow Casino Birmingham is located at 1 Portland Road, just a short drive away from the city centre and is therefore pretty accessible.

In terms of how to get there, the casino can be reached by car or public transport so it depends on your preference really.

Directly outside of the casino you’ll find a bus stop with buses that run around Birmingham as well as local areas. For instance, the 12 runs from Birmingham to Dudley, and the 13 runs from Birmingham to Oldbury.

If arriving by train is your preference, the casino is located just a ten-minute drive away from Birmingham New Street Station which is one of the busiest stations in England and provides plenty of connections to the rest of the country.

If you’d prefer to drive, B16 9HN is the post code you’ll need. There are ample parking spaces at the casino itself but if you do find that it’s full there’s plenty of free parking down the side streets next to the venue.

The Rainbow Casino Birmingham is open daily from 2pm – 6am and offers 5000 square feet of gaming space.

Obviously, this is a far cry from the 80,000 square feet venues you’ll find in London, for example, but there’s a certain charm about a small casino, or at least I think so anyway.

The exterior of the building is absolutely fabulous to say the least. Picture a white, Tudor style building with traditional bay windows and a castle-style roof and you won’t be far wrong.

Its always difficult to say whether the interior of a casino is traditional when you’re surrounded by screens but an old fashioned, pub style carpet helped set the scene.

Live Table Game Selection

There are over a dozen live tables at this casino and players can choose from all the classics which includes roulette, blackjack, three card poker, and punto banco. 

As I visited on a Friday evening, I found that almost all of the tables were manned which convenient considering the number of guests.

The atmosphere in every corner of the casino was fantastic during my visit and I therefore couldn’t wait to jump on the live tables, and I did so pretty much as soon as I walked through the door.

I started off with a stint on roulette which went my way for a few spins before my luck appeared to turn. I took this as a sign to move on to some poker and I found my luck to be a little more consistent there.

I learned that the casino regularly hosts poker tournaments too, which is always a bonus in my book.

One thing I will say is that the dealers were great here. They managed to remain professional throughout while coming across as friendly and totally approachable. 

Slots

Despite the quaint exterior of the Rainbow Casino Birmingham, the slot selection is distinctly modern.

Punters can choose from a range of standard modern video slot from big names like IGT and with classic titles such as Golden Goddess and Cleopatra as well as a handful of progressive jackpot slots.

One such slot is the IGT Diamond Spins which offers players the chance to walk away with £20,000 from a minimum bet. I did, of course, just have to chance my luck on the progressive considering I’d been fairly fortunate all evening but as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, I didn’t leave £20,000 richer.

Electronic Games

The handful of electronic roulette machines on the property are located away from the hustle and bustle of the live tables so they’re a good option for somebody seeking an alternative option.

Outdoor Gaming Terrace

I was pleasantly surprised to find an outdoor gaming terrace at this venue which was something a little different and something I did not at all expect. 

The space allows guests to enjoy some fresh air and have a cigarette whilst they game.

Speaking of gaming, you’ll find a handful of slots as well as a few electronic roulette machines on the terrace.

It came as no surprise that this place didn’t have any on-site accommodation but thanks to its location near the city centre, there are plenty of options within walking distance.

Some of the better options within a mile of the casino include the Travelodge Birmingham Central Broadway Plaza, Park Regis Birmingham, and Novotel Birmingham Centre Hotel.

If you fee like something a little more upscale, Edgbaston House and The High Field Town House are two boutique hotels that are also located close by.

I originally decided to book the Travelodge Birmingham Central Broadway Plaza for my one night stay in Birmingham but the price came out in a similar region to the more premium Edgbaston House, so it made sense to choose the latter.

Dining

Unfortunately, what once was a full-fledged restaurant located inside the casino has been removed. Temporarily so, I was led to believe.

This wasn’t ideal as I was looking forward to a sit-down meal. The silver lining is that the casino does provide a snack menu, so it’s not completely food-less, with the menu offers things like sandwiches, toasties, pizza, and nachos.

Like I said, I had been looking forward to sampling some traditional casino grub and I felt as though the snack menu was an anti-climax, so I did choose to visit the pub over the road instead.

Whether the restaurant inside the casino will ever open up again remains to be seen but I think it ought to as it adds an extra layer to the experience.

Brick and mortar establishments should always be looking to maximise the ways they can distinguish themselves from the best online casinos, so it's disappointing Rainbow doesn't currently offer a dining option. 

Entertainment

Aside from the casino games themselves, the bar provides somewhere to take a break from the casino floor, have a drink, and catch up on some sport.

Multiple screens are dotted around the bar area so it almost doubles up as a sports bar too. Indeed, it’s a popular spot with locals for this very reason.

I visited on a Friday evening and thoroughly enjoyed having a couple of drinks in there. It was busy without being rowdy (the size of the place doesn’t really allow for that anyway) and the overall atmosphere was fantastic.

Dress Code

There’s no need to dig out your tux or ball gown for a visit to the Rainbow Casino Birmingham but the casino does ask that guests are presentable and for them to avoid wearing things such as tracksuit bottoms and caps.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted inside the main portion of the casino but guests wishing to smoke can do so in the outdoor terrace.

The casino is accessible for wheelchair users and there are dedicated disabled facilities.

I always appreciate a good range of promotions so it was every so slightly disappointing to see that there wasn’t much available during my visit.

However, I was told by a member of staff that promotions tend to become available around public holidays and the like, so that’s something to keep in mind.

The promotions that were running revolved around food, with the most prominent one being a complimentary Chinese buffet which takes place every Monday afternoon.

Membership

Interestingly, membership is actually a requirement at this casino to even step through the door which is rarely something you see outside of London to be honest.

Still, becoming a member is quick and easy to do and, most importantly, free.

You can become a member by visiting the casino and presenting a form of government issued ID such as a passport or driving licence. You’ll be asked to fill in a short form with some personal details and after that you’ll be good to go.

Membership isn’t just about gaining entry though as once registered you’ll benefit from over £90 of welcome vouchers to use in the casino, bar and restaurant and you’ll also be able to access member-only promotions.

As a self-proclaimed history buff and lover of all things traditional, I would have been shocked if I hadn’t enjoyed my visit to the Rainbow Casino Birmingham.

Despite the small space, I was impressed and most importantly satisfied with the games on offer. In particular, I enjoyed the atmosphere around the live tables and I thought the outdoor gaming terrace was a great idea.

Perhaps the only thing that I felt let down about was the fact the restaurant was closed. I had been looking forward to the all-rounder experience and the snack menu just didn’t quite cut it.

I do hope the restaurant re-opens in the future as I think it’s a total waste of an opportunity if not.

My feeling is that if you go to the Rainbow Casino Birmingham expecting a Las Vegas style experience, you’re going to be disappointed.

What you can expect is an intimate, old-timey venue with a small but mighty selection of classic casino games, an atmospheric sports bar, and great service.

If you feel like stepping away from the bright lights of Broad Street, I cannot recommend a visit to the Rainbow Casino Birmingham enough.