Essential information and facts about Liechtenstein: Capital Vaduz
Total Area Population Median Age
Ethnic Groups
Unemployment Government type
160sq.km 39,137
43.7 years
Religions Roman Catholic (official 73%), Protestant Reformed, Muslim, other
Liechtenstein (66%), Swiss, Austrian, German, other
Languages German (official) Currency
Tourism 87,000 (2019) Swiss Francs (CHF)
2.1 per cent (Aug. 2020) Constitutional Monarchy
Chief of State Prince Hans-Adam II (since 1989)
Head of Government Prime Minister Adrian Hasler (since 2013)
Elections Monarch is hereditary. Following elections leader of majority party usually appointed head of government by Monarch. Next election is due 2021.
“ I don’t believe the government will put a cap on the number, as it is very market driven and they don’t want to regulate the market they want the market to regulate itself. Tere are some opposed to the casinos in Liechtenstein, but the government is still supporting the casino industry. We never expected such a great success as we have obtained in Liechtenstein.” Christoph Zurucker-Burda, CEO, CAI
of casinos it can sensibly open and dismissed the postulate suggestions. Te postulate was discarded in November 2019.
In late 2017 two casinos were opened – Casino Ruggell (Novomatic) and Casino Schaanwald (CAI) - in quick succession, followed by plans for four more casinos. Tere was some criticism at the time about the proposed number of casinos opening and a higher casino tax rate was proposed but later rejected.
Tis was part of a discussion in April 2019 when the paper “How many casinos can Liechtenstein tolerate?” was published, which was later followed by a postulate for the creation of a large-scale Liechtenstein casino landscape.
Te government was invited to look at the possibilities of a licence moratorium and measures to sensibly limit the number of casinos and how to earmark revenues from gambling tax to various social welfare organisations.
Te government however decided to stick to its commitment to free competition and still believes the market will decide on the number
Tere are currently five casinos open in Liechtenstein with a sixth under construction in Schaan which is due to be operated by MCL Resorts and is expected to be open in early 2021. Tere are rumours of another two projects under discussion although the Office of Economic Affairs’ Gambling department says no applications have been submitted to date.
Home to just 38,000 people this means there is currently one casino per 7,600 residents. Liechtenstein has been labelled as a new gambling Mecca as this far outstrips the per capita share of other markets. Even Monaco only has four casinos for its 39,000 residents.
Casino Austria International’s CEO Christoph Zurucker-Burda said: “Tere has been a new market for casinos created in Liechtenstein and the casinos are doing quite well. Maybe we took away 20 per cent of the market from Switzerland and Austria but a new market has been created.
“Tere is no cap on the number of casinos
permitted, we just have to fulfil certain criteria and you receive permission to operate. I don’t believe the government will put a cap on the number, as it is very market driven and they don’t want to regulate the market they want the market to regulate itself. Tere are some opposed to the casinos in Liechtenstein, but the government is still supporting the casino industry. We never expected such a great success as we have obtained in Liechtenstein.”
Te main regulator of the gambling industry is the Office of Economic Affairs which supervises the sector under the Ministry of Infrastructure, Economic Affairs and Sport. Taxation is calculated on the basis of gross gambling revenues and the basic tax rate is 17.5 per cent with a progression of 2.75 per cent for each additional million GGR up to 40 per cent maximum. For lotteries and wagers the tax rate is between 10 and 20 per cent. Licensing fees for casinos is CHF20,000.
Slots are not permitted outside of approved casinos and although online gaming in Liechtenstein is technically permitted, it is not operational, as the licensing system remains on hold. At the end of 2019 the government decided to suspend the processing of applications for
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P47
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