Operator News
Austria – Casinos Austria’s General Director Bettina Glatz-Kremsner to step down
By Phil - 1 April 2021
Casinos Austria will have a year to find a new General Director following the news that current General Director Bettina Glatz-Kremsner will not be renewing her contract which runs out in April 2022.
The Austrian operator said: “After careful consideration, Ms Glatz-Kremsner informed the Supervisory Board at that she won’t be available for a contract extension in the coming year for personal reasons. Thanks to the early information, the Supervisory Board has a full year to settle the succession. Glatz-Kremsner will of course make every effort to ensure an optimal handover for the benefit of the company.”
Chairman of the Supervisory Board Wolfgang Hesoun added: “In the coming year, the group of companies will lose Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, the figurehead of the last few years and decades. That is of course a painful loss for the company. Thank you very much for the outstanding performance of Bettina Glatz-Kremsner at the top of the group and for her transparent handling of her future plans. With this responsible step, Glatz-Kremsner ensures that your successor can be organized optimally and for the benefit of the company.”
“Bettina Glatz-Kremsner has shaped the company for many years as a board member of Casinos Austria with tireless commitment, great expertise and a lot of passion for the cause. As a board member of ÖBAG, I have always seen her as a competent and empathetic contact person who has foresighted ahead and is driving the realignment of Casinos Austria AG,” added ÖBAG board member Thomas Schmid.
Robert Chvatal, CEO of the SAZKA Group and Vice President of the Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria, commented: “The Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria has taken note of the fact that Bettina Glatz-Kremsner is not available for a contract extension. On behalf of the Sazka Group as the majority shareholder in the company, I would like to thank Bettina for her longstanding contribution and especially for her role in top management in sometimes challenging times. I have known Bettina since I lived in Austria, long before our professional paths met, and I have always valued her commitment to the company in which she has spent 30 years, as well as her constant efforts to meet the needs of Engage employees, stakeholders and customers. We are grateful to Bettina for the early information. Thus, the supervisory board can be active in the search for a successor with strong industry experience, so that he or she can take up management duties in the company as quickly as possible in these difficult times. The professional handover process is very important to us.”
At its Supervisory Board meeting, the operator said the corona pandemic left ‘deep marks’ on the balance sheets of both Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries Group in the past financial year. All 12 domestic casinos and 21 WINWIN locations were closed for a total of 135 days due to Corona in 2020 and the 26 international companies also had numerous closed days, consolidated gross gaming revenue (group turnover) came in at €1.134bn from €1.359bn a year earlier. The consolidated result fell to EUR €0.95m compared to €112m in 2019.
Restructuring costs of around €55m, which were incurred in the course of the ReFIT restructuring program, and impairments of around €21m were noticeable as additional burdens.
The company said: “The black zero at group level was saved by one-time effects. On the one hand, there was an increased number of multiple jackpots in lotteries in the “6 out of 45” lottery last year. On the other hand, it has been possible to successfully channel casino guests to the digital offer of the online gaming site win2day.at. With €594m in taxes and contributions in Austria, the group of companies remains one of the largest taxpayers in the country, although the declining sales of the past year are of course also reflected here. [In 2019 €643m).
Mr. Chvatal added: “The past financial year was the most challenging in the entire history of the company. Due to the extremely difficult framework conditions, it was extremely difficult for the entire group of companies to stay on course economically. In addition, we went through a large-scale restructuring program affecting all areas of the company, which laid the foundation for a positive future for the group. The past year was therefore a special show of strength, which showed the great unity on all levels. The owners, the supervisory board, management, employee representatives and all employees have pulled together to master these challenges. I would like to thank you very much for this and I am very proud that we succeeded in doing this.”
