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Switzerland – The Stadtcasino Baden Group signs contract deal as it looks to move in on Casino Locarno

By - 31 January 2022

The Stadtcasino Baden Group, majority-owned by the city, wants to take over Casino Locarno and is planning to submit an application before the end of this year to the Federal Council as part of the Project Gottardo. 

The Stadtcasino Baden Group has been looking at an expansion strategy for some time, having sold its majority shareholding in Casino Davos last autumn. It wants to transform the Locarno casino into an A Class casino, meaning more tables and more slots.

Patrick Senn, media spokesman for the Stadtcasino Baden Group, said: “A while ago, our partner in Locarno, Kursaal Locarno SA, asked us if we were interested in operating a casino in Locarno.”

Jürg Altorfer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Stadtcasino Baden Group, said: “I am convinced that we can do it, because in Baden we have shown for 20 years that we know our business. And, above all, because our project intends to create added value for the entire region and we want to work side by side with public bodies and foundations in the cultural and tourism sectors. We are convinced that we will be able to create a ‘win-win’ situation from which the entire Locarno area can benefit.”

He added: “When we were contacted by the Kursaal company and asked if we could imagine running a casino in their building, we inquired and discovered that in Locarno and Baden we have quite similar constellations, for example. as regards the involvement of the public body. Of course we would not have signed this contract without first verifying the possibility of running a profitable casino in Locarno, while at the same time guaranteeing financial support to the two foundations operating in the interest of the entire region. Thanks to our partners, it will therefore be possible to cooperate optimally in tourism and cultural activities and to implement our “House of Entertainment” strategy in Locarno, which we have been successfully pursuing in Baden for years.”

A spokesperson for the casino Locarno confirmed it was looking for ‘a new partner for the management of the gambling house within the Largo Zorzi building.’

A dispute has been going on between the current manager and Kursaal Locarno for some time. 

The company said: “The decision taken unilaterally by Casinò Locarno not to pay the agreed rent for the spaces it occupies and to interrupt the payment of contributions to the Lago Maggiore Tourism Foundation and the Culture Foundation in Locarno (contributions agreed in as many agreements), compromised the relationship of trust which is an indispensable premise for entering into new contracts, especially if they are of long duration.” 

Kursaal Locarno now believes that in Stadtcasino Baden Group, it has found a ‘reliable and serious contractual partner, with whom to face the challenge of the concession procedure and look constructively to the future.’ 

The rental contract will only come into force however if the Stadtcasino Baden Group obtains the concession to operate on the Locarno square, and will have a duration equal to the concession itself. 

The state government holds just over 50 per cent of the shares in the Stadtcasino Baden Group, operating the local Grand Casino, and also has a 25 per cent stake in two casinos in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany.

GLP councilor Gian von Planta criticizes the project: He wants to ensure that the city gets out of the casino business – why he thinks there are good opportunities.

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