Brussels casino license up for tender, deadline May 22

The 14,000 m² establishment, located in the heart of the Belgian capital, has been operated since 2010 by Viage, a subsidiary of Casinos Austria International. Besides the current operator, who is seeking re-election, the reopening of the country’s largest casino has generated considerable interest.

While Belgian concessions typically last 15 years, Viage’s concession has been exceptionally extended by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore expires on December 31. Having invested nearly €80m [$92m] across two separate locations, as the casino was previously housed in the Salle de la Madeleine, the incumbent operator is the frontrunner to retain its concession.

Casinos Austria, Viage’s parent company, operates 12 gaming establishments in Austria, while Casino Austria International, a subsidiary, manages five venues in Australia, Switzerland, Serbia, and the Belgian capital, where the financial value of the concession amounts to €750 million.

In addition to the Austrian company, Casino Review reports that Belgian firm Gaming1, a subsidiary of the Ardent Group, is interested in acquiring the license as part of its next expansion phase. Other operators are also showing strong interest in the establishment and are seriously considering submitting bids to manage the casino, which receives approximately 310,000 annual visits and employs 270 people. 

Profitable since 2019, it also contributes significantly to tax revenues. It pays a regional tax of 50% on the gross gaming revenue (GGR) from each of its 400 slot machines, while its 37 traditional gaming tables are exempt. This tax rate is expected to rise, as the new Brussels government plans to increase gaming revenues by €20 million annually.

Currently, Viage Casino does not offer online gaming. In Belgium, this requires an A+ license, which is only granted to operators with a physical casino.

Applicants have until May 22 to submit their bids to the city’s land management agency for this concession, which will be valid until December 31, 2041. The operator will be selected based on the quality of the proposal and the financial contributions promised by the bidders. The specifications, for example, stipulate a minimum fee of €337.42 per square meter allocated to gaming, for at least 30 traditional gaming tables.

At the close of the 2023 fiscal year, Viage Casino generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €52.45 million, equivalent to 37.5 percent of the total offline GGR produced by all nine Belgian casinos.