Competing Gambling Venues in Hessia, Germany, Operating within the Wider Gambling Industry
Record Gaming Revenue at Casino Bad Homburg 2024
In 2024, the Casino in Bad Homburg managed toachieve a gross gaming revenue of 58 million EUR, marking its most successful year to date. This Figure was disclosed through a press release from the German Press Agency and subsequent reporting by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The casino's popularity stems from a wide range of offerings that cater to various age groups. According to Managing Director Lutz Schenkel, young people, in particular, frequent the establishment in search of an engaging casino experience. An average weekday sees approximately 650 visitors, with weekends showing a notable increase in patronage as the venue often reaches its maximum capacity. The establishment currently employs around 230 staff members to manage the increased visitor flow.
The gaming areas within the casino include both slot machines and classic games such as roulette and blackjack, with the latter obtaining merely a 10% share of the overall revenue. A significant 90% of the casino's earnings come from slot machine play.
In a unique arrangement, the casino in Bad Homburg is set to become the primary tenant and finance the renovation of the dilapidated Kurhaus. The city plans to cover the project's estimated costs almost entirely through the rent income generated from the François-Blanc Casino GmbH. The proposed renovation project entails the demolition and reconstruction of the current Kurhaus, built in the 1980s, which is deemed outdated in terms of construction and safety. The new building would provide the casino with more space, including accommodations for up to 50 additional slot machines, potentially boosting annual revenues by around 13 million EUR.
The casino's historical significance can be traced back to the 19th century, where it played a crucial role in financing the initial Kurhaus. The city's Kurdirector, Holger Reuter, sees the casino as an integral part of Bad Homburg's reputation and economic development.
Meanwhile, the Casino Wiesbaden continues to focus on traditional gaming, in contrast to the increasing shift toward slot machine play seen in many German casinos. The Casino Wiesbaden and Casino Bad Homburg remain committed to preserving the classic gaming experience.
Slot machines have gained prominence worldwide due to their popularity among a broader demographic. However, the German online slots and virtual casino sector has experienced a decline in revenue since 2022, down 16% year-on-year in 2024. This can be attributed to regulatory restrictions enforced by the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling, such as a €1 maximum stake per spin and a €1,000 monthly deposit cap for players, as well as a 5.3% tax on stakes. These regulations make regulated online slots less appealing, pushing players toward unlicensed platforms offering better payouts and features.
The Casino Bad Homburg is mindful of the issue of gambling addiction and is proactive in providing information about uncontrollable gambling behavior. Guests exhibiting signs of problematic behavior are offered preventive conversations, and some voluntarily choose to be banned. The establishment maintains a personal atmosphere conducive to staff readily identifying at-risk players. Interestingly, croupiers in the classic game do not undergo formal training, instead receiving internal tutoring that includes playing the games themselves to develop an understanding of the guests' needs. Schenkel believes that online offers pose a greater risk due to anonymity, making early intervention more challenging.
As the license for the Casino Wiesbaden is set to expire at the end of 2025, talks with potential successors, such as the Austrian gaming giant Novomatic, are underway. The city has also considered operating the casino itself, but faces challenges such as high start-up capital and a lack of expertise. The license in Bad Homburg, which remains valid until 2037, is currently unaffected by these discussions.
- Online casinos in Germany have seen a decline in revenue since 2022, with the casino gaming sector experiencing a 16% year-on-year drop in 2024, due to regulatory restrictions like the €1 maximum stake per spin and a €1,000 monthly deposit cap for players.
- Despite the popularity of slot machines worldwide and their dominance at Casino Bad Homburg, where they account for 90% of the overall revenue, traditional casino games like roulette and blackjack are still part of the casino-and-gambling offerings at this establishment, albeit with a smaller share of the earnings.
- As Casino Bad Homburg prepares for potential expansion with the proposed renovation of the Kurhaus, the focus remains on preserving the classic gaming experience, with casino personalities committed to upholding this tradition alongside new modernizations in the casino-games and venue.
