One of Germany’s leading casinos is in the midst of an €8 million renovation that will include 100 new slot machines.
By June, Casino Hohensyburg, just south of the city of Dortmund, will see a completely changed gaming floor that mixes slots and tables.
Casino Director Franz Hirthammer told Bild, “Come summer, the guest won’t recognize the place.”
The new concept also includes more live music and events.
Part of the inspiration for the makeover is the competition from the not-too-distant city of Duisburg. Since opening in 2007, the Duisburg casino of the Westspiel group has knocked Hohensyburg from its perch as the leading casino in Germany.
Duisburg is expected to up its game in response. But Westspiel spokesman David Schnabel said the venue won’t counter with renovation.
“The casino will focus on its plans for events and functions,” said Schnabel.
Besides each other, both operators are also battling a common enemy: the street slot arcades, or Automaten-Casinos, which are subject to far less regulation.
Hirthammer suggests his casino might take one particularly drastic step to separate itself from the street-market venues.
“In the future, we will get away from the designation ‘casino’ and return to calling ourselves a ‘Spielbank.’”
