CR63-p06-Euro5:SJC-Casino Review 22/12/07 20:27 Page 1
casinoreview
The normally tranquil mountain casino employees helped about 40 A decision on whether to move Spielbank Mainz from
resort casino of Garmisch- terrified guests to safety through a its current location in the Rhine wing to the ground
Shots fired
Partenkirchen was shattered just back door. One female player slightly floor of the Cathedral wing of the Hilton complex in the
after 11pm on Sunday 16 December injured her hand during the escape.
Still no
central German city should be taken by the end of
in Bavarian when a man wearing a motorcycle The cashier prevented the would-be decision in February according to reports. The casino, which is
casino
helmet entered the venue and fired robber from entering the cage. The
Mainz
partly owned by the city authorities, needs to
gunshots at the cashier’s protective man ran off through the renegotiate its contract with the new American owners
glass screen. While he was trying neighbouring park and has yet to be of the complex in order to make the move as cost
and failing to gain entry to the cage, caught. effective as possible.
German casinos braced
for more difficult trading
As the New Year
lottery and betting operators.” is the smoking ban that has because of the unfair compe-
He continued: “The come into force nationally tition, because of the restric-
clocked in, German
national database, which is with some regional varia- tions on advertising. We will
casinos were to
being organised by DeSIA, is tions. The basic rule is that be able to advertise - part of
really just a change of tech- smoking is no longer permit- our licence is to provide a
begin labouring nology: each operator has ted in bars and restaurants regulated channel for the
under a new set of
had its own and when a except in entirely separate natural impulse to gamble so
player was barred, either by rooms or smoking lounges. we must let people know
regulations and
him- or herself, by members Some casinos will be permit- who we are, where and what
obligations as a
of the family or by the casino ted to offer smoking lounges we offer - but we are not
itself, dozens of faxes were others will not. allowed to entice people.”
result of the
sent out so that others could “What is hard to accept is The new environment is
update their records. We’re that most slot arcades, which likely to have most impact
interstate treaty. In
now bringing the system into now operate machines that on private operators’ profits:
combination with a
the 21st century. We believe are almost at the same level taxes on and surplus from
that the information will be as those in casinos, will not state-owned operations all
widespread smoking the most up-to-date ever and be required to ban smoking end up in pretty much the
ban, already difficult
that it will be accurate to as most of them do not have same place anyway.
within 24 hours.” bars,” said Hein. “And they do While the aim of improved
trading conditions
Casinos have been aware not have any obligations player protection is entirely
are likely to become
for some time of the need to under the interstate treaty laudable, it was always just a
improve player protection either. It means that we will good political excuse for the
worse. Hugh
measures, thanks to a series lose yet another part of our real aim of the new treaty: to
of adverse judgements in business to them.” cement the ownership of
Sorrill reports. cases where barred players The effects of the smoking state-owned operations. It
have been able to gain ban and the interstate treaty was based on a seemingly
hardrowtohoe to try and prevent problem Matthias Hein, CEO of access. Provided the system will be seen in a reduction of wilful misunderstanding of
GERMANY gambling: there must be pro-
Schleswig-Holstein Casinos
remains effective, operators income to casinos. This will Federal Court and European
cedures for identifying
and spokesman for German
themselves are now pro- in turn also impact social and Court of Justice decisions
A year later than originally problem gamblers, effective
casino operators association
DeSIA
tected, as any barred players sports programmes, which and the fear of the impact of
scheduled, the interstate entry controls to all areas of will have entered by their are funded by the notori- internet gambling, which is
treaty on gambling, an agree- the casino with identity chief executive of Schleswig- own subterfuge. ously high tax rates - often 80 also now banned except
ment between the 16 states checks linked to a database Holstein Casinos. “I believe The entry controls are per cent. where licensed.
in Germany that seeks to of barred players and no we are all 100 per cent pre- likely to have an effect on rev- “We will receive no com- The result of all the fren-
curb gambling or at least pre- advertising that is consid- pared. We are in the final stages enues, at least in the short pensation at all for any losses zied activity, however, is
serve state-owned monopo- ered aggressive. of bringing together the more term, as has been demon- suffered,” said Hein, “and likely to be closure of some
lies where they exist, is finally “We have all now set up than 20 databases into one strated in France for example. unlike other markets where casinos in the face of ever-
to be imposed. reception areas in our new national player protec- However, operators expect similar measures have been higher taxes, over-regulation
The new regulations casinos,” said Matthias Hein, tion system which will be that in the longer term, players introduced, we will be and unfair competition. And
impose much stricter obliga- spokesman for the German accessible by all licensed will get used to the idea. unable to expand our busi- illegal internet gambling will
tions on casinos in particular trade association DeSIA and casino operators and legal Of more import, however, nesses to compensate continue unabated.
Casino Innsbruck
celebrates
15th anniversary
partytime rated the casino, the stage and tables.
AUSTRIA Just after the New Year celebra-
tions, the casino gets a birthday
Casino Innsbruck celebrated its present of its own, with works start-
15th birthday on 13 December with ing to renovate the foyer and the
a large party with 1,500 guests, gaming floor. Part of the plan
15,000 canapés, 15 large daily includes a new lighting system for
prizes and 150 employees. On the table games using LED technology.
guest list were celebrities from the Each of the 12 over-table lights will
worlds of sport, the arts and poli- have 108 bright LEDs, each over-
tics as well as large number of wheel light another 36 in a warm
regular visitors. white colour. Using the same
The politicians’ speeches con- amount of energy, the system will be
gratulated the casino on its success three times brighter without blinding
and thanked it for its contribution to customers. The wheel lights will be
the economy of the Alpine city. The able to change colour, symbolising,
Italian actress who opened the says the casino, “the game and the
casino in 1992, Ornella Muti, once dynamic, the expected and the
again launched a golden ball into the unexpected”.
roulette wheel to mark the official
CAPTION: Head of Casinos Austria
start of the party.
Dr Karl Stoss cutting the birthday
The party’s theme was three dice
cake with Casino Innsbruck’s
showing the number five which deco- manager Kurt Steger
6 January 2008 europeannews
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