Thomas died at the London Clinic on 30 July after a short illness. He leaves behind two sons, Simon and Jordan, and two daughters, Lisa and Carla, along with seven grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren.
Thomas opened his first casino in Leicestershire in 1956, followed by casinos in Nottingham and Derby. In the 1960s, he founded Thomas Automatics Co Ltd, a supplier of amusement and leisure equipment. He also established other companies, including Showboat Entertainment Centre Limited and Beacon Entertainment Limited.
A number of these companies were sold to The Rank Organisation in 1987, while others were demerged and formed a new business called Thomas Holdings Limited. Jimmy Thomas served as chief executive of Thomas Holdings, with his son Simon as managing director.
| Company Name | Current Status |
| Thomas Estates Limited (trades as Showboat Amusement Centres) | Sold in 2006 to Mayfair Acquisitions Limited |
| Beacon Entertainments Limited (trades as Beacon Bingo and Social Clubs) | Sold in 2006 to Mayfair Acquisitions Limited |
In 2012, Jimmy and Simon Thomas opened the award-winning Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square. Simon Thomas expressed his admiration for his father’s business leadership and pioneering vision.
Jimmy Thomas was a prominent figure in the industry, being a life member of the British Amusement and Catering Trades Association (Bacta) and serving as vice president and chairman of the Bacta Charitable Trust. He was honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Casino Association in 2013 and the British Casino Awards in 2019.
