Wire EMEA
Swiss Licence Renewal Scrutinised
Switzerland’s Kursaal-Casino AG Luzern has set its sights on the prospect of new casino licences in the Swiss land-based gaming sector.
Te casino wants to renew the existing concession for Lucerne and for the online casino by 2044 and also open up new casino markets.
SWITZERLAND LAND-BASED
Slovenia - Alfastreet back on track in 2022 Results for the first quarter of 2022 have shown a bounce back for Slovenia’s multi-player developer, Alfastreet. Results exceeded forecasts by 18 per cent as the casino equipment supplier recovers from the impact of the pandemic.
Alfastreet CEO, Tjasa Luin Peric, commented on the quarterly results: “We recognised positive movement in terms of sales in the last two months of previous year, but honestly we were not expecting our customers to re-start their investment at the beginning of this year, when the pandemic was still present in many countries all around the world and operators were facing low visitor numbers.
“Our sales and profit forecast for the first quarter of the year was very conservative and we were a little bit surprised by the turn of events, as we didn’t expect the increase before the next quarter. By exceeding the sales plan by 18 per cent we finished the first quarter in profit, in part due to the decision to not attend the ICE show in April, as well as some other regional gaming shows, therefore relieving unnecessary expenditures.
“Our sales staff recommenced travels to our worldwide partners two months ago and now we are fully focused and committed upon our new goals for the second quarter of the year. The forecast is very positive and we finally see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully the situation with the deliveries of materials will also improve in the next months, because as do many other industries, we are facing long delays, considerably affecting our planning and re-organization, while trying to fulfil most of the orders in time. It is the first time in our history that we have to operate with such long delivery dates for crucial materials and it is surprising to known that similar situations are happening in all sectors all over the world.”
Alfastreet promises a lot of surprises for the next ICE show in 2023. Even though the ICE show is still relatively far away, some of the novelties will be presented at G2E Las Vegas show later this year, but the big surprises are saved for the ‘re-launch’ in February 2023.
France - PandaScore appoints PandaScore has added more talent to its growing team of specialists with the appointment of David Trehondart as Head of Customer Success.
David has been tasked with ensuring that customers unlock as much value as possible from PandaScore’s platform and suite of products, as well as building strong and long-lasting client relationships.
P12 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
In addition to the positive figures for the last financial year, the upcoming renewal of casino licences was the dominant topic at the Annual General Meeting of Kursaal-Casino AG Luzern.
Te casino wants to renew the existing concession for Lucerne and for the online casino by 2044 and also open up new casino markets. Te holding company Kursaal-Casino AG Luzern significantly increased operating income and corporate profit in 2021. Te Annual General Meeting approved a dividend of six francs each per registered share and profit participation certificate. 579 shareholders took part in the Grand Casino Luzern. Tey personally represented 57.44 per cent of the share capital. With a gross gaming revenue of CHF 92.89 million in 2021, the Grand Casino Luzern Group is the leading casino company in Switzerland.
National Councillor Gerhard Pfister (Zug), President of the Swiss Casino Association, informed about the significance of this concession renewal.
For the first time since 2019, the Annual General Meeting of Kursaal-Casino AG Luzern was held on site at the Grand Casino in Lucerne on 14 June 2022. Te personal reunion after the long
pandemic is a moving moment, said Chairman of the Board Guido Egli: “Our annual meeting is not just an ordinary General Assembly. Rather, it is a place of encounters with interesting people, a place of conversation as well as a place of conviviality and collegiality.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors Guido Egli, CEO Wolfgang Bliem and CFO Rudolf Widmer reported to the Annual General Meeting on an overall successful 2021. However, the pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the authorities had a strong impact on the financial year. Te online casino mycasino, which belongs to the group, was able to almost completely compensate for the corona-related decline in the land-based Casino Luzern as well as in the restaurant and event sector.
Te Annual General Meeting supported all proposals of the Board of Directors. It approved the management report, annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements. Te retained profit of CHF 14 million will be used for the distribution of a dividend of six francs per registered share and profit participation certificate as well as for the contribution to the statutory reserve and as a carry-forward to the new account.
UK Hippodrome shifts to cashless with OKTO
OKTO has partnered with the London Hippodrome to enable customers to pay responsibly for their entertainment with OKTO.WALLET made available in their Hippodrome members’ app.
Simon Dorsen, OKTO’s Chief Commercial Officer, believes partnering with such a respected and high-profile gaming and entertainment brand is a powerful endorsement of OKTO’s capabilities and features. He stated: “Te Hippodrome was the first to interpret changes in legislation bringing about a new style of UK casino that has put the venue firmly on the world map. Now the established cornerstone of West End life introduces OKTO to its visitors, being always in front line of digitalisation.
“Under the terms of our agreement the OKTO.WALLET payment method will be embedded within the Hippodrome Casino mobile
app, providing customers with enhanced payment capabilities. Te proprietary platform meets all the niche demands of gaming customers, allowing users to transfer funds responsibly and enjoy real-time payments.”
George Constantinou Head of online of Hippodrome Casino added: “Since opening nearly a decade ago on July 13th, 2012, the Hippodrome is the UK’s largest and subsequently most popular casino and entertainment venue has set new standards in everything that it has done and that includes digital payments and the first casino membership app that includes a customer wallet.
Te OKTO.WALLET delivers safe and secure transactions which will be embedded into our members mobile app, embracing safer gambling which is a philosophy close to the heart of the Hippodrome business.”
Germany
APEX Gaming has acquired Bally Wulff Holding with Tomas Niehenke, current Managing Director of Bally Wulff becoming co- shareholder. Te negotiations have been successfully concluded and Ulrich Schmidt is pleased to have an ideal partner at the side of Bally Wulff Games & Entertainment in the APEX Group under the leadership of Johannes Weissengruber.
“Te outstanding cooperation opportunities with APEX will ensure that Bally Wulff continues to be an important and successful market player with creative ideas. I would like to expressly thank the employees and exhibitors for the successes of the past and wish all those involved the best for the future,” said former shareholder of Bally Wulff, Ulrich Schmidt.
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