CR83-p10-Europe CE&CIS 2:SJC-Casino Review 23/8/09 01:45 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
Century sees increase in Polish earnings
Century Casinos has seen its earnings from its investment in
News
Casinos Poland increase by $66,000 due to an boom in gaming
revenue offset by a decline in the average exchange rate
between the US dollar and the Polish zloty of 49.5 per cent. For
the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the three
months ended June 30, 2008 its earnings increased by
EUROPE CENTRAL, EAST & CIS 167.1 per cent from PLN 189,000 in the second quarter of
2008 to PLN 506,000 in the second quarter of 2009.
Greeks hope self regulation will
stub-out all-out smoking ban
Greece’s casinos have dodged inclusion in a
smoking ban that came into force last
Mont
month, but the chief executive of two of the
Parnes
country’s largest casinos says they are
nevertheless preparing for tougher
half way
restrictions to be implemented. Andrew
through
Gellatly of Gambling Compliance reports.
E140m
smokeinpatches our customers declare they
GREECE don’t want to smoke then
revamp
we will give them the oppor-
Lobbying by Greece’s land- tunity to be in a clean air
based casino industry has environment.” halfprime
saved it from the worst Desperate to avoid the GREECE
effects of the country’s estimated 15 to 20 percent
public places smoking ban revenue hit that an outright Following an interim renova-
which came into effect on ban would bring, Theodor- tion programme with a total
the July 1, 2009, but industry ides said he believes there is cost of E64m, Regency
participants are aware that still room to manoeuvre Casino Mont Parnes has
their full exemption may not because political opinions new gaming areas, a new
last much longer and are are divided on the issue in a quality restaurant, bars as
taking steps to mitigate country which has one of well as the Club Rebency, a
future changes. the highest rates of smoking private room for its members
Speaking at the Gaming in the world, both in terms (with 63 table games and
Executive Summit (GES) in of annual cigarette sales per 1,000 slot machines).
Madrid, Stepanos Theodor- capita and by percentage of All communal spaces in
ides, CEO of Regency Enter- smokers among the adult Regency’s casinos have so try for the Greek economy - The Regency Casino in the Greek casino have been
tainment, said his company, population. far dodged the worst effects it affects many jobs and
Thessaloniki
renovated and decorated
which operates the Regency “There are still different of the economic downturn, incomes. Where we are in with precious works of art
Casino Thessaloniki & views from various minis- in 2008 turnover was up 2-3 September will determine we will be given the oppor- which were discovered at
Regency Casino Mont ters over the right way to percent in the year with the success of this year.” tunity to install PacMan type the facilities and preserved
Parnes, is already taking vol- address this. Between gross revenues down just While the Greek govern- machines, but they will be by the company.
untary steps to separate revenue concerns and social two percent, but Theodor- ment is currently consider- skill-based games, not games The complex also fea-
smoking and non-smoking impacts there are still some ides said that he was appre- ing changes to its laws of chance,” said Theodorides. tures a new state-of-the-art
areas on its gaming floors open debates and that is hensive about the coming regarding skill-based video He also indicated that cable car, with a transfer
and in its restaurants. where we are.” half year as indications games, following EU pres- there was only limited polit- capacity of 2,000 passen-
“Our thinking now is to Because the anti-smoking already suggested the 2009 sure to reform its controver- ical will to address the issue gers per hour, as well as a
self-regulate, to create law also empowered the tourist season in Greece sial laws, few in the casino of online gambling, either by new boarding station - an
smoking and non-smoking country’s minister for health would be substantially down industry expect wholesale foreign operators or by impressive building
areas based on the demand to fully or partially exempt on previous years. changes that would bring domestically licensed designed in full harmony
and the percentage of our certain businesses from the “For 2009 I’m more con- about the introduction of casinos. “I’m not expecting with the environment and
customers who are not scope of the restrictions there cerned, especially for the slot arcades in Greece’s any change over the next decorated with unique
smoking,” said Theodorides. is further lobbying to be second half and especially towns and cities. few years - I do not see any works of art.
“We are looking to develop done. Theodorides notes any because the tourism season “The government is appetite from the Greek gov- After the completion of its
the process so that if, for further changes could take “a isn’t what it used to be. looking to liberalise video ernment to open up online full renovation programme,
example, thirty percent of few months or a few years.” “Tourism is a major indus- games not slot machines, so gambling.” which is expected to exceed
E140m, the Mont Parnes will
become a unique recre-
ational complex that will add
slothaul They said that illegal opera- a fresh perspective to
Maltese crackdown
MALTA tions were leading to losses Athenian entertainment. In
due to unfair competition. addition to gaming areas,
Malta’s four casinos look set Eight slot hall operators - the new complex will
mired in mitigation
to benefit from a crackdown Allied Games, Best Play, feature a luxury five star
on illegal slot halls on the Gaming Operations, Media hotel, a modern spa with
island. Gaming Malta, Laak, Vanguard heated indoor and outdoor
Among the machines taken Gaming, Zammit Videomatic swimming pools, several
as evidence were those given and Silver Play - all refused to restaurants and bars, con-
a temporary licence to be let police onto their proper- ference rooms and a busi-
tested behind closed doors. ties unless they had a warrant ness centre.
These licences had run out of prohibitory injunction. The Mont Parnes
and had not been renewed The courts upheld this complex is situated in one
by the Lotteries and Gaming request preventing police from of the most privileged
Authority. confiscating their equipment. spots of the Attica basin
Police have targeted all 80 Fenech said the crack- and can boast a history of
arcades in Malta but have only down was ‘mired in a swamp four decades in entertain-
confiscated around 23 slots of loopholes’ but said the dif- ment. After undertaking its
from San Gdotabovewann, Floriana and ficulties with enforcement management, Regency
Qormi as many operators simply highlighted the need Entertainment S.A. is
closed for fear of having their for better regulation. He upgrading the complex,
equipment taken. expects new regulations which covers an area of
In January, Malta’s casino establishing distances from 17,936 square meters,
owners filed a judicial protest places where young people offering Athenians and visi-
The Dragonara: one of
against Finance Minister Tonio congregate and introducing tors a luxurious recre-
four Maltese casinos Fenech over the lack of control hefty licensing fees to be ational complex of
over small gaming arcades. approved after the summer. international standards.
10 September 2009 • europecentraleast&cisnews
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64