Competing Gambling Venues in Hessia's Gambling Industry
Record Gaming Revenue at Casino Bad Homburg in 2024
In a notable accomplishment, the tradition-steeped Casino Bad Homburg reported a gross gaming revenue of 58 million EUR in 2024, marking its most financially successful year to date. This achievement, disclosed in a press release from the German Press Agency, was reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Lutz Schenkel, the casino's manager, explained that the establishment attracts visitors from various age groups, with a significant number of young people actively seeking the casino experience. On an average weekday, around 650 people pass through its doors, a number that swells on weekends when the casino often reaches capacity. Currently, approximately 230 employees cater to the influx of visitors.
The casino's extensive offerings, which include a slot machine hall and classic games like roulette and blackjack in the historic Brunnensälchen, are credited for its high demand.
A historic agreement is in the works in Bad Homburg, as the casino is set to become the main lessee and finance the renovation of the dilapidated spa house. Instead of using public funds, the city plans to finance the project largely from the rental income of the François-Blanc Casino GmbH.
The concept for this renovation involves demolition instead of restoration. The current spa house, built in the 1980s, is considered outdated in terms of construction and safety. In the new building, the casino will have significantly more space, including room for around 50 additional slot machines. This expansion could potentially boost annual revenue by around 13 million EUR.
Interestingly, as early as the 19th century, the casino played a significant role in financing the then spa house, a scenario that may soon repeat itself with the move back into a modern spa house.
Meanwhile, Casino Wiesbaden, like Casino Bad Homburg, has chosen to maintain classic gaming. Andreas Krautwald, the casino's manager, justified this as a strategic decision, as the casino consciously focuses on preserving the traditional gaming experience while combining it with modern technology in the city known as the "Nizza of the North".
Slot machines account for around 90% of the turnover at Casino Bad Homburg, with only 10% coming from classic table games. However, even with the dominance of slot machines economically, classic games remain important and prestigious. For Holger Reuter, the Director of Casino Bad Homburg, established in 1841 by businessman François Blanc, the casino is essential for the city's image and economic development.
Despite its success, the casino remains mindful of the issue of gambling addiction. Informational brochures about uncontrollable gambling behavior are available at the casino's entrance in Bad Homburg, and there are also preventive conversation offers for guests who show signs of problematic behavior. Some visitors even choose to voluntarily ban themselves.
The personal atmosphere in the establishment allows the employees to recognize at-risk players in time. Interestingly, croupiers in the classic game do not undergo formal training, but are trained internally and even required to play themselves to develop a feel for the guests, according to Schenkel.
Online offers, due to the anonymity they provide, pose a greater risk in this regard, as early intervention becomes more difficult.
In Wiesbaden, the casino's license is set to expire at the end of 2025. The city administration has initiated the procedure for re-tendering, scheduled to be completed by summer 2025, to ensure a smooth transition. In the past, the majority shareholder of the casino was Jahr + Achterfeld Gesellschaft, but Novomatic has recently been in talks to take over. The city has also considered operating the casino itself, but faces challenges such as high start-up capital and lack of expertise.
Slot machines are typically the economic mainstay of many casinos, due to their high-volume play and ability to adjust profit margins. Traditional games like roulette and craps, on the other hand, appeal to different types of players, attracting big bettors and those preferring a more classic gaming experience. Although no specific data is available for Casino Bad Homburg and Casino Wiesbaden, their offerings of both slot machines and classic games align with this typical casino model.
- What was the reported gross gaming revenue of Casino Bad Homburg in 2024? It was 58 million EUR, marking its most financially successful year to date.
- Who is the manager of Casino Bad Homburg, and what does he attribute the establishment's high demand to? Lutz Schenkel, the manager, explained that the casino attracts visitors from various age groups, with a significant number of young people actively seeking the casino experience.
- What major renovation is in the works for Casino Bad Homburg, and how could it potentially boost annual revenue? The casino is set to become the main lessee and finance the renovation of the dilapidated spa house, and this expansion could potentially boost annual revenue by around 13 million EUR.
