A project for a casino with a restricted license in the town of Neuchâtel was also approved.
Sommaruga said both projects fulfilled all the necessary criteria, including quality management, capital, security, anti-money laundering and social measures. Both casinos, still to be formally granted licences, are expected to open their doors to the public next year.
This means Switzerland will have eight A casinos – with an unrestricted licence that allows many different table games, slot machines and with no real capping on maximum bets – and 13 casinos with a B license.
The applicants for the Zurich casino pledged to make the new gaming establishment into a top entertainment venue for tourists.