Merkur Casino Leeds Brings Poker Back With New Room and Dealer Hiring Drive
Written by Blake Vogel · Sep 13, 2026
Merkur Casino Leeds Brings Poker Back With New Room and Dealer Hiring Drive
Merkur Casino Leeds, the 50,000-square-foot property formerly known as Victoria Gate Casino, is preparing to reopen its poker room and add another live poker option for British players, and this development follows the Merkur Group's acquisition of the site in July 2026.
The company has begun recruiting experienced dealers specifically for No-Limit Hold'em cash games, and the move builds on an earlier decision to restart poker operations at Casino MK in May 2026.
Acquisition Sets Stage for Poker Return
Merkur Group took ownership of the Leeds venue in July 2026, and management has since focused on restoring facilities that had been scaled back in recent years, while the poker room forms a central part of that restoration plan.
Staff recruitment is now underway, and hiring managers are targeting dealers who already hold experience in running cash-game tables, and this approach aims to ensure smooth operations from the first day the room reopens.
Dealer Hiring Focuses on Cash Game Expertise
Job postings emphasize No-Limit Hold'em cash games rather than tournament formats, and applicants are expected to demonstrate familiarity with standard procedures for rake collection, table management, and player relations in a live setting.
Those who have worked in similar environments elsewhere will find the Leeds opportunity listed through standard industry channels, and the company has not announced an exact reopening date beyond indicating that preparations are advancing through September 2026.
Context Against Wider Industry Patterns
While many poker rooms in Las Vegas have closed or reduced hours in recent years, the Leeds reopening stands in contrast, and industry observers note that European operators have taken different approaches to live poker compared with some North American markets.
According to data compiled by the Nevada Resort Association, several major Las Vegas properties have trimmed poker offerings since 2023, whereas Merkur's UK strategy has moved in the opposite direction with successive relaunches.
Earlier in 2026 teh same group restarted poker at Casino MK, and that venue's experience is now being used as a template for the Leeds operation, and management has indicated that lessons from the Milton Keynes site will guide staffing and game selection in Leeds.
Additional Venue for British Players
With the poker room active again, Leeds will join a small number of UK locations that continue to offer regular live cash games, and the reopening gives players in the north of England another option without requiring travel to London or other distant cities.
Local demand appears sufficient to support the room, and the company's decision to hire multiple dealers suggests plans for several tables running simultaneously during peak hours.
Timeline and Next Steps
September 2026 marks the period when recruitment notices appeared publicly, and the group expects to complete staffing and training before announcing a firm opening schedule.
Players who follow Merkur's other UK properties will recognize the pattern, and the Leeds project mirrors the phased approach used at Casino MK earlier in the year.
Conclusion
The reopening at Merkur Casino Leeds adds one more live poker venue to the UK landscape at a time when some international markets have reduced capacity, and the company's recent record at Casino MK provides a working example of how the Leeds room may operate once it opens.
Details such as exact table counts and operating hours remain to be confirmed, yet the hiring of experienced dealers for No-Limit Hold'em cash games signals a clear commitment to returning poker to the 50,000-square-foot Leeds property acquired in July 2026.