Hessian Gambling Venues Competing in the Cutthroat Gambling Industry
Hot Streak for Casino Bad Homburg: 58 Million Euros in 2024* 90% of Revenue from Slot Machines; Classic Games Account for Remaining 10%** Casino Wiesbaden Keeps the Tradition Alive*
Casino Bad Homburg Sets a New Record
The historic Casino Bad Homburg knocked it out of the park in 2024, raking in a whopping 58 million EUR in gross gaming revenue. This staggering figure, reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, is based on a press release from the German Press Agency.
CEO Lutz Schenkel attributes the casino's success to its broad appeal, attracting visitors from all walks of life, including a sizable number of youths intent on experiencing the casino scene. On a typical weekday, approximately 650 people drop by, and weekends often see the casino at capacity. With around 230 employees on the clock, they manage to handle the steady stream of visitors.
Apart from the slot machine area, the casino offers classic games like roulette and blackjack in the historic Brunnensälchen.
Casino Driving a Spa House Renovation
A significant development is on the horizon in Bad Homburg: The casino will be the primary lessee, funding the overhaul of the dilapidated spa house. The city plans to finance the project primarily with the pacht income of the François-Blanc-Casino GmbH.
The plan: demolish and rebuild. The current spa house from the 1980s is outdated in terms of construction and safety. In the new building, the casino will have more room - including space for around 50 additional slot machines. This expansion could increase annual revenue by approximately 13 million EUR.
In the 19th century, the casino was instrumental in financing the then spa house. Now, the circle could complete itself - with the casino moving back into a modern spa house.
Casino Wiesbaden Embraces the Classics
According to CEO Andreas Krautwald of the Casino Wiesbaden, preserving the classics is a strategic move: While many German casinos have switched to pure slot machine operation, Casino Wiesbaden, like Casino Bad Homburg, focuses on the classic gaming experience.
In this "Nizza of the North", the casino aims to maintain the traditional gaming area while incorporating modern technology to thrive in an evolving gaming landscape.
Although classic games remain important, economically, slot machines reign supreme, at least in Bad Homburg, where around 90% of revenue comes from them, with classic table games accounting for the remaining 10%.
For *Kurdirector Holger Reuter, the Casino Bad Homburg, founded by businessman François Blanc in 1841, holds the city's image and economic development in high esteem: "Bad Homburg wouldn't be what it is without its casino."
Despite its triumphs, the casino acknowledges gambling addiction as a concern. Information pamphlets about compulsive gambling are available at the casino's entrance, and there are preventative consultations for guests exhibiting signs of problematic behavior. Some patrons even choose to voluntarily bar themselves.
The warm, welcoming atmosphere in the casino allows staff to spot at-risk players promptly. Interestingly, croupiers in the classic game do not undergo formal training but learn on-the-job and engage in self-play to develop a sense for the customers, according to Schenkel.
In Schenkel's opinion, online offers pose a higher risk in this area, as anonymity makes early intervention challenging.
Wiesbaden: Time Ticking Down on the License
While Bad Homburg's casino license remains valid until 2037, the situation in Wiesbaden is more urgency-driven: The license is set to expire at the end of 2025. According to the city administration, the re-tendering process has already begun and is expected to be completed by summer 2025, ensuring a smooth transition.
Recently, gambling giant Novomatic has been in talks to succeed the current majority shareholder, Jahr + Achterfeld Gesellschaft. The city has also considered operating the casino itself but faces challenges such as high startup capital and a lack of expertise.*
- Beyond bad Homburg's record-breaking success, casino Wiesbaden has chosen to uphold the traditional gaming experience, focusing on classic casino-games like roulette and blackjack, similar to casino Bad Homburg.
- The 2025 deadline to renew Wiesbaden's casino license is looming, as the city administration has initiated the re-tendering process, expected to conclude by the summer of 2025.
- Despite the gambling-revenue predominantly being sourced from slot machines, both casinos in Bad Homburg (Germany) and Wiesbaden have recognized the importance of addressing gambling addiction, with information pamphlets available for visitors and preventative consultations for those exhibiting concerning behavior.
- In the online-gambling sector, the CEO of Casino Bad Homburg, Lutz Schenkel, has pinpointed anonymity as a significant concern regarding early intervention and prevention of gambling addiction.
- By 2024, Casino Bad Homburg is projected to generate an average of 58 million EUR in gross gaming revenue, a significant portion of which will come from slot machines, with classic games accounting for approximately 10% of the revenue. The casino's trusted reputation and wide appeal, attracting a diverse demographic, are key factors in its success story.
