Switzerland's Federal Council Announces Comprehensive Casino Licensing Renewal for 2025
After the Swiss casino industry's delegate meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd, an announcement was made. The current licenses are set to end by the close of 2024. The new agreements, lasting 20 years, will start next year.
In addition, new casinos in Prilly and Winterthur have been approved. Winterthur will replace the current venue in Schaffhausen since no license application was submitted for it.
Gerhard Pfister, Swiss Casino Association president, believes the new licences mark a landstone moment in Switzerland’s gambling history.
“The granting of the new concessions is a milestone,” Pfister said. “The federal government has recognised that today’s casinos ensure safe and responsible operations and generate great economic benefits in their region.”
Now, all Switzerland casinos are part of the association. Furthermore, the Swiss Casino Group locations in Zurich, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, and Pfäffikon have unanimously agreed to join the Swiss Casino Association. Winterthur will apply for membership once it opens.
This development signifies that all 21 land-based and 10 online casinos are now association members.
Pfister believes that the increased collaboration among all Swiss casinos within the association will benefit the industry.
“I’m pleased that Swiss Casinos has joined the association and with it the entire casino industry with one voice can speak,” Pfister said.
Swiss Casinos board member Marc Baumann added: “The online business is changing the Swiss casino industry sustainably. We are happy to work together with the Swiss Casino Association to help shape the future.”
In 2023, Switzerland experienced a slight decrease in revenue from its traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, while online casinos saw significant growth.
Last year, revenue from land-based venues amounted to CHF623 million, marking a 1.1% decline compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, online casinos recorded CHF286 million in revenue, showing a notable 14.3% increase year-on-year. The Swiss Casino Association observed that this shift in preference from traditional to online platforms mirrors trends seen in other industries, not just in gambling.
Casinos also paid 3% more year-on-year in tax, with the state receiving CHF409.3m in contributions over 2023. Swiss casinos have contributed over CHF8bn in taxes over the last 20 years. The majority of that total has gone towards the country’s AHV pension system.
Earlier this week, the public lottery in Switzerland, Loterie Romande, announced a record net profit of CHF5.1 million for 2023. Additionally, the lottery will distribute a record CHF243.7 million to charitable causes.
Despite a 3.4% decrease in gross gaming revenue (GGR) to CHF420.7 million in 2023, compared to the record GGR of CHF435.5 million in 2022, Loterie Romande achieved a higher profit.
Despite a 3.4% decrease in gross gaming revenue (GGR) to CHF420.7 million in 2023, compared to the record GGR of CHF435.5 million in 2022, Loterie Romande achieved a higher profit.
Chairman Jean-René Fournier attributed the increased profit to reductions in marketing and administrative expenses.
“This result can be attributed in particular to the rigorous management of operating costs, the strengthening of our digital offering, and – with the launch of the European draw game EuroDreams in October 2023 – the diversity of our product range,” Fournier said.
