Entertainment concept could spread to Holland Casino

Posted on June 29, 2010 by CasinoBazar

Holland Casino has received the go-ahead from the Dutch government to propose a new concept in the way it does business.

The state-owned monopoly company wants to offers broader entertainment-based concept to its guests across the whole of its estate. It will now outline what that means and present it to the government for approval.
Three months ago, Holland Casino opened its refurbished venue in Rotterdam, which incorporates a nightclub lounge, and which will act as a model for the sort of things it would like to offer.

Ron Goudsmit, vice president of business development for the company, said: "We don't know yet what we will do, we have only just been given permission to make the proposals, but it is likely that we will roll out the new concept gaming and entertainment centre model with our next new-build casino."

Holland Casino is currently operating two venues in temporary casinos, in Utrecht and Venlo. The former will be the first to move into a purpose-built location and, given the strong trend in European casinos to offer gaming as just one entertainment option available, and provided the government agrees, it would contain bars, restaurants and a theatre of some kind, also all subject to planning permissions. In this way it would follow the example of Lucien Barrière in Toulouse and Lille, of Casinos Austria International with the Viage in Brussels and RP5, soon to open in Hanover, as well as Casino 2000 in Luxembourg, currently undergoing works.

"We will now have to make a special presentation to ministers to put forward our ideas," said Goudsmit. Provided the government accepts the move to de-emphasise gaming (something it has been keen on in the past), it would represent another significant shift for Holland Casino, which has recently undergone reorganisation to create a much flatter management structure and a more agile company.

"I think we will see the results of that very soon," said Goudsmit, "but it's not something that can happen overnight. It is a change in culture for the company."