Hippodrome Casino has partnered with RiskSmart to enhance its risk and assurance function, marking a significant step for the iconic London venue as it looks to strengthen compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
The Leicester Square landmark is no stranger to reinvention. The building, a Grade II listed site, has seen performances from cultural icons including Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland and Prince. Following a £50m renovation in 2012, it was relaunched as a modern entertainment destination, offering not just casino gaming but also theatre, live shows and dining experiences, claims RiskSmart.
This blend of glamour and heritage is matched by a serious focus on compliance. Earlier this year, the casino appointed Matt Harding as director of assurance, underlining its commitment to moving beyond regulatory minimums and embedding a more proactive approach to governance.
“We’re an industry-leading casino that welcomes 1.6 million customers through the door every year. Historically, our governance structures weren’t as robust as they could be,” Harding said. “We were always doing what was expected of us by the regulator, but without having the solid framework to evidence and continuously improve our processes.”
To achieve this shift, the Hippodrome began searching for technology that could help them design assurance roadmaps, run thematic reviews and anticipate risks before they reach the regulator’s attention. Moving away from spreadsheets and manual processes became central to the strategy, driving the need for a governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platform capable of scaling with the business.
After a competitive review of several providers, the team selected RiskSmart. While technical capabilities were crucial, Harding noted that it was the collaborative and human-centred approach of RiskSmart that proved decisive.
“It felt like we’d have a voice. With larger vendors, we’d have been a small fish in a big pond. With RiskSmart, we can grow together,” he explained.
RiskSmart positions itself as a GRC platform designed to simplify complexity, providing user-friendly interfaces and high levels of customisation. Its adaptability has made it attractive to organisations aiming to embed compliance more deeply across their operations.
“We are an industry-leading casino and entertainment venue,” Harding added. “And that means we need to have an industry-leading compliance and assurance function. RiskSmart is helping us get there.”
The platform will help the Hippodrome provide evidence that policies and processes are consistently followed, create a single source of truth beyond spreadsheets, and make it easier to test controls and monitor risks. It also aims to strengthen the casino’s risk culture and provide regulators with clearer demonstrations of compliance in practice.
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