Land-Based Casinos in Switzerland Reports Annual Revenue Increase of 3.4% Driven by Slot Segment

Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission, Switzerland’s gambling regulator, has published an annual revenue increase of 3.4% in their latest report. The said income is from land-based casinos only, as this country is due to launch its online gambling market soon.

This modest rise was mostly driven by the slot segment, as total revenue climbed to CHF703.6 million ($713.8 million). This is sourced solely from eight A licensed casinos (large properties in cities) and 13 B licensed properties that can be found in towns and smaller communities.

Slots Leading the Way

To the total revenue amount…

…A license venues contributed with CHF426.4m, which is in itself a rise of 3.8% looking at it annually, whereas B licenses properties’ leap was a bit smaller – 2.7%, with a contribution of CHF277.2m.

As far as specific segments and genres in Switzerland go, slots were the most popular type of games: this particular vertical rose 2.7% from 2017’s CHF567.7m. They ed for 80.7.% of total revenue. Table games also saw their revenue rise 6.2% to CHF135.9m.

Taxes On the Rise, Too

A 4.7% rise was also reported in the area of taxation of casino operators…

…which, in total, amounted to CHF332.4m. The largest share of this amount (CHF284.9m) goes to Swiss pension programme, while CHF47.5m was handed to cantonal authorities.

Another bit of good news is that actions of regulation enforcement against unlicensed operators has been on a steady decline – in total, 98 cases were opened in 2018, while rulings were made on 255 cases. By January 1st this year, there remained 117 cases. The regulator handed out fines that totaled CHF 1.5m.

A Big Challenge Ahead

It was noted in the report that regulator will face a “major challenge” in the year ahead, as the online gambling market is ready to be launched. ESBK will even have the jurisdiction over internet providers and can demand from them to restrict access to unlicensed sites.

This issue came into force on July 1st. The regulator already noted that they are preparing to ban first operators without a permit.

Four Lucky Casinos

The exact same date is the day when the country’s iGaming market is officially launched. According to Swiss law, only land-based casinos are allowed to secure licenses for this vertical.

So far, Playtech.

Inter-Caontonal Lotteries and Betting Commission has declared that gross gamign revenue rise 0.4% year-on-year to CHF 943m.

Source:

“Swiss casino revenue up 3.4% in 2018”, igamingbusiness.com, July 4, 2019.