Jimmy Thomas, president and co-founder of the Hippodrome Casino in London, has died at the age of 88.
Thomas died of a short illness at the London Clinic on July 30th.
He left behind two sons, Simon and Jordan, two daughters, Lisa and Carla, seven grandchildren and three grandchildren.
Thomas opened his first casino in Leicestershire in 1956, followed by Nottingham and Derby.
In the 1960s he founded Thomas Automatics Co Ltd to supply amusement and leisure equipment. After that, he founded many more companies such as Showboat Entertainment Center Limited and Beacon Entertainment Limited.
Many of these companies were sold to the Rank Organization in 1987, while others were split off. The split company came under the umbrella of a new business, Thomas Holdings Limited.
Jimmy Thomas was Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Holdings, and his son Simon was Managing Director.
Thomas Estate Limited, a company of Thomas Holdings, was traded as Showboat Amusement Center and Beacon Entertainment Limited (traded as Beacon Bingo and Social Club) and operated until it was sold to Mayfair Acquisitions Limited in 2006.
Following this, Jimmy and Simon Thomas opened the award-winning Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square in 2012.
“My dad has been successful for several years and has been respected around the world for his business leadership and pioneering vision,” said Simon Thomas.
“I was honored to have his advice and guidance not only as a business partner but also as a son. He is unique and his family, many friends and staff are very I’m lonely. “
Jimmy Thomas was a member of many trade associations. He was a lifetime member of the British Amusement and Catering Trade Association (Bacta) and was also Vice President and Chairman of the Bacta Charitable Trust.
In 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Casino Association. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British His Casino Awards in 2019.
