Swiss federal council to issue new 20-year casino licences starting 2025

The Swiss federal council has announced that all casinos in Switzerland will receive new licences starting in 2025. This decision follows a delegate meeting of the Swiss casino industry last week.

The current licenses, set to expire at the end of 2024, will be replaced by new 20-year agreements. New casinos have been approved in Prilly and Winterthur, with Winterthur replacing the venue in Schaffhausen, which did not submit a license application.

Gerhard Pfister, President of the Swiss Casino Association, hailed the new licenses as a significant milestone in Switzerland's gambling history. "The granting of the new concessions is a milestone," Pfister said. "The federal government has recognized that today’s casinos ensure safe and responsible operations and generate great economic benefits in their region."

The Swiss Casino Group's venues in Zurich, Schaffhausen, St Gallen, and Pfäffikon have joined the Swiss Casino Association following a unanimous agreement. Winterthur will apply for membership after its opening. Now all 21 land-based and 10 online casinos in Switzerland are members of the association.

Pfister expressed optimism about the enhanced collaboration, stating: "I’m pleased that Swiss Casinos has joined the association, and with it, the entire casino industry can speak with one voice."

Marc Baumann, a board member of Swiss Casinos, 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 fall in revenue from its land-based venues, while online casinos showed major year-on-year growth. Land-based venues generated CHF623 million ($681.2 million) in gross gaming revenue (GGR), down 1.1% from the previous year. 

On the contrary, the 10 online casinos accumulated CHF286 million in GGR, a 14.3% year-on-year increase. The Swiss Casino Association noted that the shift in popularity from land-based to online offerings mirrors trends in other industries.

Additionally, casinos paid 3% more in taxes year-on-year, with the state receiving CHF409.3 million in contributions over 2023. Swiss casinos have contributed over CHF8 billion in taxes over the last 20 years, with the majority supporting the country’s AHV pension system.

Earlier this week, the Loterie Romande public lottery posted an increased net profit of CHF5.1 million for 2023, meaning a record CHF243.7 million payout to good causes. This achievement comes despite a 3.4% drop in GGR to CHF420.7 million for the year. In 2022, the lottery recorded a GGR of CHF435.5 million.

Loterie Romande Chairman Jean-René Fournier attributed the rise in profit to reductions in marketing and administrative costs. “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.