Supplier News
Spain – EGASA plans Gran Casino Bilbao renovation
By Phil - 22 February 2016
Spanish operator EGASA is hopeful that it will be granted permission in April to remodel the Gran Casino Bilbao, making it one of the best casinos in Northern Spain.
Over a period of six months, EGASA wants to completely revamp the casino’s interior design, add an extension that will allow two of its floors to be better connected and add a restaurant to be run by Chef Oscar Rodriguez. The operator bought the venue in September 2014. Since then it has improved attendance at the casino by 20 per cent.
EGASA President Jose Gonzalez Fuentes said: “There has been an improvement although we understand that the vast improvement will come when we remodel. The project is not yet approved by the various administrations and, therefore, is not definitive. Although the time span may vary, we are not expecting to have to close the casino to carry out the renovation.”
The renovation would be carried out by Guillermo Gómez, a casino architect with over 30 years experience in the industry. One of the most notable changes in the transformation of the gaming floor will be to lighten up the décor.
Mr. Fuentes said the casino needs to adapt to modern times. Although the games will remain the same, the aim is to make it a more ‘social casino.’
“Today the game itself is not enough,” he explained. “With betting on line people have game anytime, anywhere. In fact 60 per cent of bets are made on mobile. When we acquired the Gran Casino Bilbao, it had one game, and we understand that this business model is outdated, the idea is to evolve.”
he added that the business model the company wants to implement is similar to those used at the Casino Gran Madrid in Torrelodones and Gran Casino Aranjuez.
