All Text copyright © the author (Michael Gallagher) and The QE2 Story - not to be reused without permission

The original plans for QE2 had a Casino located on Promenade (Upper) Deck starboard side between the Main First-Class Lounge (Queens Room) Room and First-Class Nightclub (Q4 Room) in the space that would become the Conference Centre.

Jean Munroe had been appointed to design the space which was probably too small to be a proper Casino so it was planned that various machines could be accommodated in a flexible design which allowed various pieces of equipment to be brought in as necessary. David Hicks would later assume responsibility for the design of the Casino.

When Cunard’s New York lawyers heard of the plan to include a Casino in the new ship they raised the legal position in New York and Port Everglades as American regulations at the time prohibited gambling or casinos on ships while in US waters. The lawyers came to the conclusion that Cunard would run into “serious trouble” if a Casino had been built and that any such facility would have had to have been dismantled while QE2 was reaching New York or Port Everglades and while in those waters. This would have meant regular disruption given QE2’s scheduling and Crockfords, who were to run the Casino for Cunard, decided that it would not be an economic proposition from their point of view and that there would be an empty (non-revenue generating) space for long periods of time.

In December 1966 it was decided that a Casino would not be included in QE2’s public rooms with the space becoming a dedicated multi-purpose space and Conference Room.

However in February 1967 the prospect of including a Casino was raised again and various debates would continue throughout that year and 1968 but QE2 would not have a Casino when she entered service in 1969.

The regulations were relaxed somewhat in the early 1970s so Cunard installed a temporary Casino in the 736 Club on Boat Deck – called, appropriately, the 736 Sportsman Club. The famous Sportsman Club of London was responsible for running the facility.

Cunard’s new owners Trafalgar House were determined to maximise the profits from QE2 and while plans for additional accommodation and shops were being drawn up a Casino was included in the major 1972 rebuilding of QE2. Not only was a new Casino to be built to increase revenue but a new Casino had to be built as the 736 Club was to be transformed into the Queens Grill in that refit so a new location had to be found and therefore the beautiful Library and Port Foyer midships on Upper Deck was demolished and a new Casino built in the space.

The Casino featured its own bar and offered roulette, blackjack and other table games.