Swiss Casinos recently received four new licenses from the Federal Council for their operations in Zurich, St. Gallen, Pfäffikon, and Winterthur. These licenses, including an online license for Pfäffikon, enable the casinos to operate from 2025 to 2044. However, Swiss Casinos faced a setback as they did not receive a license for Oftringen and did not apply for one in Casino Schaffhausen, which will cease operations by the end of next year. Employees from Schaffhausen have the opportunity to transfer to other Swiss Casinos locations or the new casino in Winterthur.

Despite the disappointment in Oftringen, the company expressed satisfaction with the trust shown by the federal government in granting the new licenses. The licensing process, acknowledged by company officials as challenging, reflects the company’s commitment to high standards in its operations.

The Swiss Federal Gaming Commission (SFBC) proposed dividing the country into 23 gaming zones, which the Federal Council approved. The Council retained the right to make licensing decisions, provided they aligned with the Gambling Act. This policy impacted Swiss Casinos’ bid for a license in Oftringen, located in the Basel area, where another casino is already operational. The government’s decision to reject the bid was understood and accepted by the company, despite their initial hopes for a positive outcome.

In contrast, the Winterthur casino represents a significant achievement for Swiss Casinos. Set in the Lokstadt hall, it promises to blend the area’s industrial heritage with modern casino culture, adding a unique dimension to the region’s development.

The St. Gallen area presented another challenge, where the Federal Council had to choose between Swiss Casinos and ACE Holding. Ultimately, Swiss Casinos’ existing presence and reputation in the region led to their selection.

Swiss Casinos remains optimistic about its future prospects, as highlighted in a statement: “We are relieved that the Federal Council has acknowledged our experience, our integration in the region, and our careful management and has given preference to our application. In Pfäffikon SZ, we will open the casino at the new location halten and offer an attractive nightlife offer for the region. Casino Pfäffikon also includes the online casino (swisscasinos.ch), which has established itself as a very successful online casino. And last but not least, we can further anchor our flagship, the Casino in Zurich, in the city and region of Zurich. Casino Zurich offers a large and regularly changing range of games and is an important player in the city’s nightlife offerings.”