Liechtenstein, the 'Las Vegas of the Alps', to vote on casino ban
Tuesday 24 de January 2023 / 12:00
2 minutos de lectura
(Liechtenstein).- Renowned for its Alpine scenery and historic castles, this tiny principality also punches above its weight when it comes to a more down-to-earth tourist attraction - namely casinos. But all will have to close if supporters of a casino ban being put to a referendum on Jan. 29 get their way.

Six currently operate there, dotted across a microstate a tenth the size of London and with a population of just 40,000, earning it the nickname "Las Vegas of the Alps" among punters.
All have opened since 2017, after a change in the law made gambling legal, welcoming crowds from Germany and neighbouring Switzerland and Austria to try their luck on slot machines and at tables offering roulette and poker.
But all will have to close if supporters of a casino ban being put to a referendum on Jan. 29 get their way.
They argue that the fledgling industry risks damaging a reputation that the country, on an international blacklist of tax havens until it began easing bank secrecy laws more than a decade ago, has worked hard to regain.
The referendum, and the signatures needed to activate it, were brought about by pressure group IG VolksMeinung, formed to fight the "casino flood."
"We don't want to establish ourselves as a casino and poker hotspot in the middle of Europe," one of its members, Guido Meier, said at a discussion on the upcoming vote. "It's a big reputation problem."
If the referendum passes, the casinos will have to close within five years. Some major foreign gambling operators are behind some of the casinos, including Austria's Novomatic AG, whose sister company Gryphon Invest AG, indirectly owns majority stakes in half of Liechtenstein's gambling houses.
"We hope that the voters will follow the advice of the two major parties, as well as the economic chamber and further institutions and recognize that a well-regulated market is better than an outright ban," Gryphon told Reuters in a statement.
Casinos Austria International, which owns another of the casinos, did not reply to requests seeking comment.
Reinhard Fischer, president of Liechtenstein's casino association and director of the country's Grand Casino, believes that, irrespective of the referendum's outcome, natural attrition within a limited market will reduce the number nationally anyway, to a maximum of four.
He does not accept the argument that the industry represents a reputational threat. "What we do is in accordance with the law and in some cases even above the level required by law," he said.
Casinos also provide Liechtenstein with a sizeable income.
Last year taxes brought by the trips made by mainly foreign visitors to Liechtenstein's casinos, generated 50 million Swiss francs ($54.51 million).
"This is certainly revenue that is also relevant for our budget," Deputy Prime Minister, Sabine Monauni, said.
The government has been encouraging the population to vote against the proposed ban, which Monauni describes as "too radical, too excessive" and as not solving the problem of gambling addiction.
"We want to continue to allow gambling in Liechtenstein and that's why we now have to find a balance between measures that reduce activity but at the same time don't totally destroy the market," she said.
Categoría:Casino
Tags: casino,
País: Liechtenstein
Región: EMEA
Event
Peru Gaming Show 2025
18 de June 2025
Facephi presented its digital identity verification solutions for the online gaming sector in Peru at PGS 2025
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive).- Facephi is consolidating its position as a strategic partner for responsible online gaming in Peru, presenting advanced identity verification, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance solutions at PGS 2025, adapted to an increasingly digital and demanding ecosystem. In this interview, Bruno Rafael Rivadeneyra Sánchez, the firm's Identity Solutions Senior Manager, explores how its technology is redefining gaming security standards, with a preventative, seamless, and 100% regional approach.
Friday 18 Jul 2025 / 12:00
From PGS 2025, Win Systems Redoubles its Commitment to Peru: Innovation, Proximity, and Regional Expansion
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive).- In a revealing interview, Galy Olazo, Country Manager of Win Systems in Peru, analyzes the company's strategic role in one of the most thriving markets in the region. Its participation in the PGS 2025 trade show not only left its mark with its technological advances, such as the new Gold Club Colors electronic roulette wheels and the WIGOS management system, but also reaffirmed its commitment to the transformation of the sector and its consolidation in Latin America.
Tuesday 15 Jul 2025 / 12:00
Key debate during PGS 2025: Enforcement: Process to ensure compliance (laws, norms, rules)
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive).- During the 2025 edition of the Peru Gaming Show, the conference ‘Enforcement: Process to ensure compliance (laws, norms, rules)’ took place, with an international panel of professionals who debated about the current challenges to combat illegal gaming and guarantee the application of the laws in the sector, both in Peru and in the Latam region.
Monday 14 Jul 2025 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.