Brussels opens casino concession tender, set to run until 2041

The city of Brussels has put its casino concession up for tender. The new concession was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on Thursday, March 26. Operators seeking to run the property will have to meet licensing conditions, including requirements tied to operations and minimum gaming space fees.

Interested parties must submit applications by May 22 to the city’s land management agency. The concession will run until December 31, 2041. The current license, held by Viage since 2010, expires on December 31, following a one-year extension granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tender specifications require a minimum fee of €337.42 ($388.03) per square meter allocated to gaming operations. The concession also requires at least 30 traditional gaming tables.

Selection will be based on the “quality of the offer and the financial contributions promised by the bidders.”

The property covers 14,000 m² in the city center and records approximately 310,000 visits annually. It employs 270 people and has reported profitability since 2019.

The casino operates 400 slot machines and 37 traditional gaming tables.

The operator pays a regional tax of 50% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) generated by slot machines. Table games are exempt from this tax. Authorities in Brussels plan to increase gaming-related tax income by €20 million ($23 million) per year, which could affect future concession terms.

The incumbent operator, Viage, a subsidiary of Casinos Austria International, is seeking renewal of its license. Casinos Austria operates 12 casinos in Austria, while its international division manages five locations in Australia, Switzerland, Serbia, and Belgium.

Gaming1, part of the Ardent Group, is also reportedly considering submitting a bid. Other operators have also shown interest in the concession.

The Brussels concession carries an estimated value of €750 million ($862.5 million). The current operator has invested nearly €80 million ($92 million) across two locations, including a previous site at Salle de la Madeleine.