Operator News
Germany – Casino Bad Neuenahr to reopen at temporary venue following floods
By Phil - 21 January 2022
Following the devastating summer floods in the German city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Casino Bad Neuenahr has found a new, temporary location at the train station with an opening expected in the summer.
Michael Seegert, Managing Partner of Casino Bad Neuenahr, said: “We have signed a rental agreement for an interim location for the Bad Neuenahr casino in agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and the city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. For an initial period of three years, the casino will find its new home in the train station on Hauptstrasse in Bad Neuenahr and will again be competing with classic games and slot machines from the summer of this year.”
The historic building from 1879 was completely gutted by the new owner after it was acquired from Deutsche Bahn and all the building services installations were renewed. The imposing and listed building is located outside of the flood area in a central and attractive location and has excellent bus and train connections. The city of Bad Neuenahr will provide the casino with guest parking spaces, and there are also sufficient parking spaces in the immediate vicinity.
The casino intends to start in the station with two American roulette tables, two blackjack tables and around 80 slot machines. There is a bar in the gaming room, but a suitable operator is currently being sought as a partner.
Even if a willingness to compromise is required due to the limited space available in the station, the casino considers the location in the station building to be optimal under the given circumstances.
Mr. Seegert said that currently nobody knows how the flow of guests has shifted since the Kurhaus was closed, how the departure of numerous older residents from Bad Neuenahr will affect it, to what extent tourism in Bad Neuenahr can build on the old attractiveness and, in particular, how competition from a new casino in Monheim (near Leverkusen / Düsseldorf) and another new casino in NRW will affect the business.
Shortly the owner will submit the planning application and application for change of use of the building. The casino assumes that it will be able to take over the premises from the owner at the beginning of March and then start with the interior work.
“Due to the complete destruction of the offers in the Kurhaus, we will start with a completely new range of machines in the new location, which gives us the opportunity to now offer the world’s most modern and attractive machines from all manufacturers,” said Mr. Seegert, who is happy and proud overall. half a year after this devastating natural disaster, the basis for a positive perspective for the future of the casino in Bad Neuenahr.
