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Vol. 7 No. 10, October 2008, Dateline
Belgian Breakthrough
The nine casinos spread around Belgium have tripled their collective gaming revenue in the past four years, and a once-decrepit industry is now blossoming.
That is according to new numbers released by the nation’s Gaming Commission and the opinions of commission member Marc Callu, as reported in the Belgian newspaper De Tijd.
The country’s nine casinos grossed €115 million in 2007. In 2004, with only eight casinos operating, total revenue was only €43.3 million.
The improvement is primarily the result of a combination of continually evolving legislation and professional management by international and local operators.
“The introduction of gaming legislation in 1999 introduced a new era for Belgian casinos,” said Callu. “After decades of a policy of simply tolerating unlegislated gaming, suddenly very strict rules came into force. That kicked off a period of difficult times and various takeovers. Now, the casinos at Oostende, Knokke, Dinant and Chaudfontaine are all part of the French Partouche Group. Middelkerke and Blankenberge belong to the U.K.-based Rank, and Spa and Namur are owned by Circus Leisure, from the French-speaking part of Belgium.”
The big addition to the mix since 2004 is the Grand Casino Brussels, which opened in 2005. Owned by Casinos Austria International, the Brussels property contributed €37.6 million in 2007—one-third of the total casino revenue generated last year.
Callu believes that the Grand Brussels Casino has not yet reached its full potential.
“The casino crowd has not yet found its way to the capital of Europe,” said Callu. “Continuity is still missing, certainly now that the casino is moving to (its new, permanent structure in) the Anspach Center.”
The other eight casinos, which produced €43.3 million in 2004, combined for €77.6 million last year.
“The success is mainly due to the poker explosion and the reintroduction of gaming machines,” said Callu. “There is a lot of investment again in new bingo halls, poker tables, slot machines and personnel.”
That is according to new numbers released by the nation’s Gaming Commission and the opinions of commission member Marc Callu, as reported in the Belgian newspaper De Tijd.
The country’s nine casinos grossed €115 million in 2007. In 2004, with only eight casinos operating, total revenue was only €43.3 million.
The improvement is primarily the result of a combination of continually evolving legislation and professional management by international and local operators.
“The introduction of gaming legislation in 1999 introduced a new era for Belgian casinos,” said Callu. “After decades of a policy of simply tolerating unlegislated gaming, suddenly very strict rules came into force. That kicked off a period of difficult times and various takeovers. Now, the casinos at Oostende, Knokke, Dinant and Chaudfontaine are all part of the French Partouche Group. Middelkerke and Blankenberge belong to the U.K.-based Rank, and Spa and Namur are owned by Circus Leisure, from the French-speaking part of Belgium.”
The big addition to the mix since 2004 is the Grand Casino Brussels, which opened in 2005. Owned by Casinos Austria International, the Brussels property contributed €37.6 million in 2007—one-third of the total casino revenue generated last year.
Callu believes that the Grand Brussels Casino has not yet reached its full potential.
“The casino crowd has not yet found its way to the capital of Europe,” said Callu. “Continuity is still missing, certainly now that the casino is moving to (its new, permanent structure in) the Anspach Center.”
The other eight casinos, which produced €43.3 million in 2004, combined for €77.6 million last year.
“The success is mainly due to the poker explosion and the reintroduction of gaming machines,” said Callu. “There is a lot of investment again in new bingo halls, poker tables, slot machines and personnel.”
Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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