The Swiss offline gambling sector faces dark times in 2020, however, the late 2019 inclusion of regulated online casino games could save the four land-based casinos which received online extensions to their gaming licences.
The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) recently released its report on the 2019 results of the gambling vertical, in particular the impact of the Gambling Act which saw the launch of Switzerland’s first four regulated online casinos.
In addition to the commencement of legalised online casino gambling, the Gambling Act also enacted restrictions that resulted in the blacklisting of 110 illegal gambling sites which resulted in a further 108 criminal cases related to illegal gambling within Swiss borders.
Online Regulation Could Save Offline Swiss Gambling
The recent viral outbreak has seen many land-based gambling sectors brought low, with most casinos worldwide still not open for business, however, the inclusion of regulated online gambling in the Swiss market could be an industry lifesaver.
This is due to the fact that online casino games are being offered not by standalone online operators but by land-based casinos which have received a licence extension which allows them to offer online games.
While all twenty-one Swiss casino has the right to apply for said online licence at present only the casinos in Baden, Davos, Lucerne and Pfäffikon have done so.
2019 Revenues Shows The Massive Potential of Online
The financial reports for 2019 showed that the market had grown to a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of CHF 742.5 million (€698.7 million), an increase of CHF 40 million over the previous year. Online casino game revenue for the period, over the four licenced operators, showed a contribution of CHF 23.5 million (€22.1 million).
This is an exceptional revenue contribution when you take into account that the financial report is for the 2019 calendar year and while casino in Baden came online July 5th, 2019, the remaining three casinos only began offering online slots in from August 22nd to September 9th, approximately four months before the end of the reporting period.
It is further heartening for the gambling sectors 2020 results that 82% (CHF 613.2 million/€577 million) of the 2019 Swiss GGR was from slots, an arena where online casino game providers offer the widest and most entertaining array of games.
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