40 Years of Casinos Austria

1967-2007
40 Years of Casinos Austria
Foreword by the President of
the Supervisory Board
Contents
4 Difficult Paths Are Walked Alone:
Today Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries
together have six Board members
6 Making Gaming History: easy when you know how
The path from national casino operator
to internationally successful brand
12 Milestones in 40 Years of Casinos Austria
16 Leadership and Experience at the Top:
48 Casino Directors from 4 decades
18 Anniversary Article: The Unfinished
Helmut A. Gansterer on his failure
with Leo Wallner
20 In His Own Words: Dr. Leo Wallner
21 Hearts are Trumps:
Social responsibility: a way of life for casino staff
22 Messages from Around the Globe: Coffee, Goulash
Soup and Know-how “Made in Austria”
26 Gaming Law – The Present Legal Situation
and its Historical Roots
28 40 Years of Pure Glamour – Stars at the casino
30 40 Years of Artistic Excellence
32 The Dazzling World of Advertising
34 Press Review: A selection of press clippings
from 40 years of Casinos Austria
38 A Proud Look Back – A Dynamic Step Forward
Photos of the “40 Years of Casinos Austria” Gala Event
will be available from 26 June 2007 on www.casinos.at.
A run of good luck would by no means suffice to explain the success of
Casinos Austria. After 40 years of excellence in the gaming industry, the
company now has 11,000 employees and welcomes 19 million guests annually to its 75 casinos around the globe.
When Casinos Austria was founded back in 1967, the positive image
the company enjoys today was little more than a dream. Gaming at that
time was considered unsavory and shady, and the notion of running a
casino was thought to be doomed from the outset. But Dr. Leo Wallner
did not let himself be put off. He gave up a political career as economic
advisor to the Federal Chancellor, Josef Klaus, to become sole Director of
Österreichische Spielbanken AG, where he devoted himself with heart
and soul to making gaming a socially acceptable pastime in Austria. His
tireless dedication, his creative will and his determination to get things
done turned a business with a dubious reputation into a top company
both at home and abroad.
Today, Casinos Austria stands for reputable and responsible gaming of
the highest standard – a fact confirmed in numerous studies and surveys.
This outstanding image is also due in large part to the company’s professional staff, whose attitude and approach really epitomize these values.
On behalf of the Supervisory Board and the Shareholders, I would like
to thank Leo Wallner for having had the courage to take over the company in 1967, for his strength in leading Casinos Austria AG to success
over four decades and for his ability to see something positive in every
situation. I personally also take something positive from his departure as
Director General, as I now have the pleasure of welcoming him to his new
role as Vice President of the Supervisory Board. At the same time, I would
also like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the Supervisory Board
and the Shareholders to the new Director General of Casinos Austria, Dr.
Karl Stoss. I have every confidence that he will prove a worthy successor
to Dr. Wallner and that the company continues to be in the right hands.
Sincerely,
Dr. Walter Rothensteiner
President of the Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria AG
and Österreichische Lotterien GmbH
IMPRINT: This magazine was produced to mark the 40th anniversary of Casinos Austria. It will be made available to guests at the “40 Years of Casinos Austria” Gala
Event on 25 June 2007 in the Vienna Hofburg and distributed to employees of the Casinos Austria Group • Media Owner, Editor and Publisher: Casinos Austria AG,
Public Relations, Dr. Karl-Lueger-Ring 14, A-1015 Vienna, [email protected], www.casinos.at • Magazine Authors: Helmut A. Gansterer, Lukas Kapeller,
Supervisory Board President Dr. Walter Rothensteiner, Director General Dr. Karl Stoss, Associate Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Strejcek • Magazine Contributors: Elisabeth
Eiles, Alexandra Gräf, Iris Kraml, Peter Schmid, Mag. Bettina Strobich • Production/Graphic Design/Print: Painthouse, A-1190 Vienna • Print run: 4,000 copies
• Photos: Casinos Austria Photo Archive
2
3
Difficult Paths Are Walked Alone
Today Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries together have six Board members
On 23 October 1967, Casinos Austria AG, known then as Österreichische Spielbanken AG, was awarded the license to conduct games of chance in
Austria. The meeting to found the company had taken place on 17 March 1967, and there was still a great deal to be done in the short time remaining
before the launch on 1 January 1968: suitable buildings needed to be found, gaming tables brought in from France and the right staff recruited.
Catholic, and had insisted Wallner allow a decent interval between leaving the Chancellor’s Office and starting his new job. For many years to
come, Wallner would describe his “last” visit to the Chancellor’s office and
the hour-long discussion as “very, very depressing”. From one day to the
next, he had become “persona non grata”. As Klaus said to Wallner at the
end of their meeting: “You’re joining a dreadful company; I never want to
see you again.”
The Austrian public seemed to share the Chancellor’s misgivings. At
that time, a mere three per cent declared themselves to be in favor of
casinos. Friends and acquaintances distanced themselves and Wallner
found himself confronted with much shaking of heads. He had embarked
on a lonely path and there was no turning back. Had he failed, he would
have had no choice but to move abroad.
Dr. Leo Wallner had to wait until 15 February 1968 to be appointed to
the Board of Österreichische Spielbanken AG. His previous employer, the
Austrian Federal Chancellor of the day, Dr. Josef Klaus, was a strict
Today Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries together have six Board
members, who manage a well-known, internationally successful group of
companies. Their extensive gaming portfolio now extends to all the world’s
continents and oceans. More than 10,000 members of staff work together
to generate annual revenues in excess of e 3 billion.
Up, up and away
Casinos Austria
Mission Statement
In the game together – everyone’s a winner
Dr. Leo Wallner (center) with the six Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries Board Members
(l. to r.): DI Friedrich Stickler, Mag. Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, Dr. Karl Stoss, Dr. Leo Wallner, Mag. Dietmar Hoscher, Mag. Paul Herzfeld, Mag. Josef Leutgeb
Working in an advisory capacity, the 32-year-old Dr. Leo Wallner had
already played a crucial role in shaping the new company. He was also
involved in the numerous operational preparations, even setting off in his
4
Volkswagen to drive around Austria in search of appropriate casino locations. It was pretty evident to all concerned that this dedicated young
man was very much managing director material.
We provide gaming, entertainment and knowhow of the highest quality. Respectability, experience and total awareness of the special sociopolitical responsibilities that come with the
gaming industry all go to ensure that we enjoy
the trust not only of our guests and customers
but also of our shareholders and the licensing
authorities. Shared visions and strong innovative spirit encourage company development and
provide job security for our employees.
5
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Making Gaming History: easy when you know how
For 40 years, gaming entertainment and social responsibility have gone hand-in-hand at Casinos Austria. What was once a humble national casino
operator has now matured into an internationally recognized and successful brand. A lighter look at gaming history in the making.
Color television launches in Germany, Sweden changes to driving on
the right and young people across America revel in the “Summer of
Love”. So what does all this have to do with Casinos Austria? It’s 1967,
a year of new beginnings, and casino gaming is about to reinvent itself
in Austria.
Admittedly, the situation at the outset could have been better for Österreichische Spielbanken AG, the company known today as Casinos Austria
AG. Although the country’s new casino operator had a license to conduct
games of chance, it had no buildings in which to do so. Worse still, gaming
was still seen as a disreputable pastime and disapproved of by the majority of Austrians. 40 years on, it’s a very different story: Casinos Austria is
now an international company, renowned in Austria for its combination of
responsible, fun gaming and social commitment, a much sought-after partner abroad and a successful brand synonymous with top-class entertainment. So how did the company progress from its humble beginnings to
become a leading player in the international gaming industry?
Not every beginning is easy. Before the Casinos Austria ball began to
roll, gaming in Austria had reached an all-time low: visitor numbers
were on the decline, casinos were in the hands of foreign owners and,
to cap it all, the industry had a very poor image. 17 March 1967 saw the
When Casinos Austria launched its first seven casinos back in 1968,
the ball began to roll across the country from Vienna and Baden over
Velden to Salzburg and then on to Kitzbühel, Seeboden and Bad
Gastein in the west. News of the new casinos rapidly spread, attracting
many foreign visitors to Austria. A further new casino was opened in
Seefeld in 1970, and the Casinos Austria success story began to gather momentum.
founding of Österreichische Spielbanken AG, with the new company
taking over the license from the previous operator, Österreichische
Casino AG. Although it also managed to take over all the existing staff,
it still had no suitable premises. So one man set off in search of new
locations, a man who would ultimately prove responsible for the company’s successful business philosophy over the next 40 years and
become intrinsically linked with its history: Dr. Leo Wallner. At the
time, Wallner was still serving as economic advisor to the then Austrian
Federal Chancellor, Dr. Josef Klaus. He set the Austrian casinos
on course for a new beginning, found premises in Vienna, Baden,
Kitzbühel and other cities, recruited staff and arranged the import of
Roulette tables from France.
The Deutschmark casino in Kleinwalsertal opened in 1972, followed
three years later by Casino Bregenz. By now, the casinos had developed
into major tourist attractions, a trend that continues to this day. Each
and every one of Austria’s 12 casinos is well established in its host community. And with more than 800,000 international guests – over a third
of the total number of guests – flocking to them every year, they create real
added value for their home cities and communities. But Casinos Austria’s
support of domestic tourism extends far beyond its 12 casino operations.
Together with its partners, the company markets Austria as a tourist destination both at home and abroad, while its various sponsoring activities
help boost the diversity of the country’s tourism sector. The opening of the
first Casineum in Velden in 1989 marked yet another new beginning for
the individual venues. Since then, casinos have provided far more than
just an elegant setting for sophisticated gaming entertainment: they have
become a stage for social and cultural events and a unique forum for the
arts, music, literature and fashion. And rightly so. Their distinctive archi-
The fledgling company’s first casinos opened their doors in 1968, the
same year Leo Wallner was appointed Director General – at the tender age
of 32. In taking up this role, he had to give up his position as advisor to the
Chancellor, who did not consider the gaming industry respectable enough.
But over the next 40 years, Wallner would go on to successfully turn around
this image, transforming a national casino operator into a global gaming
group with a portfolio that includes not only casinos across Europe, Asia,
Africa, South America and Australia, but also the successful Austrian
national lottery Lotto 6 aus 45 and the internet gaming platform win2day.at.
Visitors
1968-2006: 62.4 Mio.
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.4 Mio.
2.0
In keeping with the mood of change so prevalent in the Seventies, further
new casinos were built and new additions made to the gaming mix. Along
with the traditional favorites Roulette and Baccarat, Blackjack tables were
also soon to become permanent fixtures in Austria’s casinos. In 1974,
Casinos Austria created a real sensation with yet another new gaming innovation: an open-air casino in the summer months at Casino Velden.
The fledgling company continued to grow at a tremendous pace. New locations and an ever-increasing gaming mix saw guest numbers and revenues
shoot up year after year, bringing with them a huge rise in the company’s
tax contributions. Guest numbers more than tripled from just under
250,000 in 1970 to well over 760,000 in 1977. Right from the very start, the
company’s road to success was characterized by strict controls in each individual casino and a strong sense of responsibility towards guests and staff.
As holder of the sole license to operate games of chance in Austria, Casinos
Austria has always set itself the task of generating not necessarily the highest but rather the best possible results for the company and society as a
whole. This sense of responsibility towards its guests is firmly anchored in
the company’s philosophy and awarded particular emphasis in the day-today running of its business. It is even reflected in its advertising strategies,
where the focus of its print, radio and television advertising lies not on winning big money, but on the casino experience as a whole.
By the end of the Seventies, the Austrian gaming sector had successfully rid itself of its former reputation – a night at the casino was now seen as
a real social event. So it came as no surprise when Austrian casino expertise began to attract the attention of the international gaming market. In
1977, long before all 12 Austrian casinos had opened their doors (Linz,
Graz and Innsbruck were still to follow), Casinos Austria began exporting
its know-how and opened casinos in The Netherlands and Spain.
From national casino operator to global player
1.5
1.0
200,000
0.5
0
1968
6
tectures and stunning interior designs make them ideal venues for such
occasions. Austria’s casinos have also become true advertisements for
tourism in their host cities: Casino Wien echoes the splendor of a grand
city palace, Casino Baden reflects the flair of an elegant spa pavilion, while
Casino Seefeld offers a touch of true Alpine romance.
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004 2006
At that time, no one could have predicted that this would set the course
for an extremely successful expansion across five continents. Since then,
Casinos Austria has opened over 200 casinos outside its home country, making quite a name for itself in the process. Not even the oceans would stand
in its way: since the launch of its first cruising casino in the early Eighties,
the company has also taken casino gaming “Made in Austria” to sea.
7
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1981 saw the launch of its first cruising casino on board the SS
Norway. Nowadays, passengers on ten of the world’s best cruise liners
have the chance of winning back the cost of their fares in a Casinos
Austria onboard casino. Back on land, there was also cause for further
celebration in 1981 when the company was entrusted with the operation of the new casino in Budapest – then the only casino behind the
Iron Curtain.
In recent years, the company has continued to make its mark, with six
new casinos in Switzerland, the acquisition of ten casinos in Germany
and the award of an exclusive casino license for the Belgian capital,
Brussels, featuring among its many recent developments. Time and time
again, Casinos Austria hits the headlines with complex, flagship projects
like the opening of Gold Reef City Casino in Johannesburg in 2000 or the
launch of the Oasis Hotel Casino in the heart of the Palestinian
Autonomy two years earlier. And it will be celebrating yet another premiere in July 2007 with the opening of Casino Beograd, the first and only
casino in the Serbian capital. As with the Oasis Hotel Casino in Jericho
or Casino Goa in India, the new casino in Belgrade once again demonstrates that Casinos Austria is the partner of choice for numerous governments and international business partners when it comes to complex,
innovative casino projects. This trust not only provides confirmation of
the company’s ability to offer top quality entertainment, it is also proof of
the high level of responsibility it takes for its guests and partners. Of
course, the company’s successful track record has not been without the
Taxes
occasional temporary setback. The Oasis Hotel Casino was forced to close
its doors in October 2000 when political unrest in the region made a continuation of gaming operations impossible. But these are very much the
exception, and the company continues to conduct the far greater part of
its casino sector activities abroad. The Casinos Austria dice now roll not
just in Europe but also in far away gaming destinations like Argentina,
India and South Africa. In 1985, the company changed its name to
Casinos Austria AG to further facilitate placement and branding in the
international market.
Since 1981, the Roulette ball has spun to its own rhythm at the annual
Vienna Opera Ball. The 2007 Opera Ball welcomed some very special
debutantes of a different kind, when three female croupiers invited guests
to place their bets at the Opera Ball Roulette table for the first time.
In the meantime, the Austrian casino market had also undergone a
period of radical change. In 1979, Casinos Austria paved the way for a
new kind of gaming with the introduction of the country’s first slot
machines. In addition to the Blackjack and Roulette tables, guests at
Casino Baden could now try their luck on some 100 slot machines.
Incidentally, Roulette itself hit the headlines at Casino Bregenz a couple
of years earlier (in 1977 to be exact), when a German guest left the tables
some eight million schillings (around e 600,000) the richer. His record
has never been broken and still counts as the biggest Roulette win in the
company’s history.
Yet although the casino market continued to grow year after year, the
mid-Eighties saw Austrian gaming revenues increasingly starting to flow
into foreign markets. It might be hard to imagine today, but the reason
was very simple: lotto. With its neighbors all already operating lottery
games, Austria’s Sporttoto, the financial basis for the sponsoring of
sports in the country, was increasingly losing its attraction.
In 1982, Linz became the latest city to join the Austrian casino circuit,
followed two years later by Graz. The launch of Casino Innsbruck in 1992
finally completed the list of today’s 12 Austrian casinos. However, at least
once a year, guests have the chance to try their luck at a “13th Casino”.
And since 1993, the new Jackpot Casinos also offer an additional,
more relaxed level of gaming comfort. Polo shirts and casual trousers are
now no longer an issue and more casually dressed guests can also
enjoy access to an extensive range of slot machine games.
Lasting values, contemporary products
In 1983, the Finance Minister of the day, Dr. Herbert Salcher, approached
Casinos Austria and asked it to develop a concept for a new Austrian lottery.
The Toto-Lotto-Projektierungsgesellschaft was subsequently founded in 1985
and followed by Austrian Lotteries in July 1986. The first draw of the new
Lotto 6 aus 45 under the lead management of Casinos Austria took place on
1 September 1986 – a groundbreaking milestone that went hand-in-hand
with the repositioning of the sports Toto. Lotto rapidly became a firm favorite
with the public, offering every Austrian the chance of high winnings for low
stakes, while Toto offered a form of football betting in which sports fans could
use their knowledge of the game to increase their chances of winning.
In 1988, Joker was added to the Lotto game, while Torwette further
increased the attractiveness of Toto. These successful developments
prompted the Finance Minister to also transfer the licenses for other lottery products such as Brieflos (break-open lottery), Zahlenlotto (numbers
lottery) and the Österreichische Klassenlotterie (Austrian Class Lottery) to
Austrian Lotteries. The range of games of chance available outside the
casinos has continued to grow ever since. 1995 saw the launch of the first
scratch lotteries, Cash and Schatztruhe, followed in 1997 by an additional mid-week draw for the popular Lotto and Joker games.
The company was also quick to recognize the possibilities offered by
“new media” for alternative, innovative forms of gaming. Its popular online
gaming platform, WebClub.at, was launched in December 1998, changing
its name in 2003 to win2day.at. To this day, Austrian Lotteries remains
the only professional and legal provider of internet gaming services in
Austria. 2004 marked the opening of the first WINWIN Video Lottery
Terminals (VLT) outlet in the Tyrolean tourist center of Mayrhofen. Since
then, further outlets for this innovative new electronic form of lotto have
(in euro)
1968-2006: 2,821.9 Mio.
180
160
140
125.9 Mio.
120
100
80
60
40
3.2 Mio.
20
0
1968
8
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004 2006
9
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
been opened at a total of eight locations across the country from Lienz to
Vienna. With these relatively new sales channels, as with all its products,
Casinos Austria attaches the utmost importance to ensuring players
can enjoy their gaming in a responsible and fair environment. The use
of two separate, independent computer centers enables win2day.at to
cleverly combine the apparently contradictory maxims of speed and
security. Its unique position as the only legal online gaming site in
Austria not only means that win2day.at can offer innovative, new
games, but also guarantees that winnings are paid out correctly.
Responsibility towards users takes absolute precedence: the maximum
weekly deposit is set at e 500 per user, with no further deposits allowed
once a player’s account balance reaches e 1,000 – only winnings can
then be credited to the account.
Casinos Austria also got involved in sports sponsorship at an early stage in
its history. The opening of Casino Bregenz in 1975 marked the start of its
long-standing sponsorship of the local soccer club, SC Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz.
In the Nineties, SV Salzburg, sporting a Casinos Austria logo on their purple
jerseys, caused quite a sensation in Europe. The company has also given new
impetus to show jumping in Austria with its Casino Grand Prix. Sport and
gaming have a lot in common: they’re both fun and dynamic, can both be very
aesthetic and, last but not least, both contain some magical moments.
Both Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries treat their socio-political responsibility with the utmost seriousness and dedication.
Austrian Lotteries’ long-standing support for Austrian sports is a
prime example. Legislation which came into force in 2005 now also
stipulates the annual amount to be contributed by Austrian Lotteries
in sports sponsorship: a minimum three per cent of revenues and not
less than e 40 million (no maximum amount is set). More than e 635
million have beencontributed to the sponsoring of sports in Austria
since 1986, with contributions for 2006 alone reaching almost e 55
million. Lottery sports grants are by no means reserved for top athletes; the company supports sports at a local, regional and national
Casinos Austria also seeks to capture more of these magical moments with
its support of cultural activities and the arts. The company has sponsored
the Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival) since 1968, thereby providing support for a high profile event in Vienna’s annual cultural calendar. Similarly,
Casinos Austria also does its bit for the Austrian cultural summer with its
long-standing support of the annual Bregenzer Festspiele (Bregenz Festival)
and the Mörbisch Festival on the Lake. Nowadays, the casinos also present
local artists with an ideal stage for their work. Whether for art exhibitions,
concerts or literary readings, the casinos have long been home to a wide
range of different cultural events, offering artists, guests and casino staff a
perfect opportunity to discuss and enjoy their own particular interests.
level, thereby establishing the financial basis for many sporting associations and clubs across the country.
One company, many winners
Last, but by no means least, the 12 casinos themselves can also confidently be described as works of art in their own right with many of their
extraordinary and eye-catching features created by leading architects
and artists. At Casino Innsbruck, for example, Max Weiler’s painting
Freudige Kompositionen hangs resplendent in the gaming hall, while the
ceiling of the slot machine room at Casino Kitzbühel sparkles with glittering Swarovski crystals, and Casino Wien boasts an entire room designed
by Austrian artist Ernst Fuchs. But there is far more to Casinos Austria
than just beautifully designed interiors: the company is also fully aware of
and committed to its responsibility to society. In 1976, it was one of the
founding members of the charity Licht ins Dunkel. And, over the last few
years, Casinos Austria’s “Casino on Tour” events have provided great
entertainment and, at the same time, helped to raise money for numerous
charities at various gala dinners, balls and promotional games.
Casinos Austria has always taken its responsibility to society as a matter of principle and treats it with the utmost seriousness, contributing
extensively to many different aspects of society: from culture to sports.
Ultimately, the value the company puts back into society can also be
measured in hard facts: over the years, the country’s casinos and lotteries have contributed some e 9 billion in taxes to Austrian society. This
sense of responsibility lies at the core of Casinos Austria’s business activities – responsibility to its fellow citizens and, of course, to its team of
dedicated staff. The company employs more than 10,000 staff worldwide
and, with over 1,700 of these in Austria alone, is a key employer in its
home market. Casinos Austria is rightly proud of its staff-oriented and
family-friendly company policy. Even in the recent more difficult period for its domestic casino operations, the company has continued to
serve the market with a broad team of experienced, expert staff. But
times are now also changing at the top. Dr. Leo Wallner, who transformed the humble national casino operator with slim chances of success into a major world player, handed over leadership to Dr. Karl
Stoss on 25 May 2007.
In the coming years, the company will no doubt face new challenges
regarding, for example, the much talked about monopoly on games of
chance or the flood of new and often obscure private internet gaming
providers. Like his predecessor, Director General Dr. Karl Stoss agrees
that the continuation of the sole license policy in the domestic casino
market is the only proper way to handle the sensitive gaming sector. But
one thing for sure won’t change: with Casinos Austria, the responsibility
remains in good, safe hands.
Gaming revenues (in euro)
250
1968-2006: 3,978.3 Mio.
200
181.7 Mio.
150
100
50
4.2 Mio.
0
1968
10
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004 2006
11
Milestones in 40 Years of Casinos Austria
84
76
1967.......... 1977
Founding of Austrian Lotteries under the
leadership of Casinos Austria
1967
Casinos Austria awards the first Golden
Grape for excellence in Austrian wine-making
1968
17 March: Founding of Österreichische
Spielbanken AG (now Casinos Austria AG)
and takeover of the casinos of the former
Österreichische Casino AG
1987
o Graz
Opening of Casin
15 February: Appointment of Dr. Leo Wallner
as Director General
Launch of Österreichische Spielbanken AG’s
operations in Casinos Baden, Bad Gastein,
Kitzbühel, Salzburg, Seeboden (closed in
1968), Velden and Wien
Casino Salzburg, Mönchsberg
1976
Casinos Austria co-founds Licht ins Dunkel
1977
Start of Casinos Austria’s international success story with the opening of casinos in The
Netherlands and Spain
Start of sponsorship of the
Wiener Festwochen
1969
Largest Roulette win in company history –
600,000 euro in Casino Bregenz
Opening of Casino Seefeld
(transfer of concession from Seeboden)
1982
Founding of CARD (Casinos Austria
Research and Development GmbH)
Opening of Casino Linz as 10th venue in Austria
Casinos Austria presents the first Golden
Roulette Ball for Austrian culinary excellence
in conjunction with Gault Millau
1983
American Roulette, the faster version of
French Roulette, played for the first time in
Casino Wien
1984
Opening of Casino Graz in the Grazer
Congress
Launch of the Austria Jackpot in all
Austrian casinos
1988 ......... 1997
1988
Launch of Wheel of
Fortune in Casino Wien
European premiere of
Seven Card Stud Poker
in Casino Baden
Introduction of Blackjack to Austrian casinos
(starting with Casino Wien)
1978 ......... 1987
1985
Österreichische Spielbanken AG renamed
Casinos Austria AG
1989
Opening of the first
Casineum in Velden
1972
Opening of Casino Kleinwalsertal in the
Sporthotel Riezlern
1979
Introduction of slot machine gaming at
Casino Baden
1986
Re-opening of Casino Bregenz
on the lake promenade
1990
1974
Launch of an open-air gaming area in Velden
First European Poker
Championship in
Casino Baden
1980
1975
Opening of Casino Bregenz
Opening of the first casino on board a
cruise ship
1991
Casinos Austria becomes Official Partner
of the Bregenzer Festspiele
75
1981
Casino Début at Vienna Opera Ball
Particularly successful year for international operations with
19 new land-based
casinos and 11 new
cruising casinos
Start of operations in
Denmark
Ski World Cup Casino in Schladming
Casinos Austria becomes first international
company to open a casino in Hungary
88
Wien
Launch in Casino
Wheel of Fortune
Ski World Cup Casino in Saalbach
Opening of Casino Wie
n, Dr.
Wallner, Dagmar Koller,
Dr. Helmut Zilk
Casino Bregenz
12
13
1997
1991
Launch of the dice game Sic Bo in Casino
Velden
Casinos Austria awarded an exclusive license
to open a casino in Brussels, Belgium
1992
Launch of Mystery Jackpot in Casino Velden
Casinos Austria International acquires all ten
casinos in Lower Saxony, Germany
Opening of Casino Innsbruck as 12th casino
venue in Austria
2005
Mag. Josef Leutgeb appointed to the Board
of Casinos Austria AG
2006
Launch of Easy Roulette, a mixture of classic
Roulette and slot machine gaming, in the
Austrian casinos
Founding of Congress Casino Baden GmbH
(CCB)
Casinos Austria awarded the license for
Casino Canberra in Australia
1993
1994
Opening of first Jackpot Casino (then
Jackpot Corner) in Casino Wien
Founding of CAST (Casinos Austria Security
Technologies)
www.win2day.at
1996
CARD presents its new “Shuffle-Star”
1997
Casinos Austria presents the first EberhardWaechter-Medal
Expansion into Canada and opening of
the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino
near Toronto
Casino Baden hosts premiere of European
Seven Eleven, a European version of the
American dice game Craps developed by
Casinos Austria
92
“Casino Salzburg” makes it to
the UEFA Cup Final and
becomes the first Austrian team
to enter the Champions League
1995
Mega Austria Jackpot
replaces Austria Jackpot
Largest slot machine win in company history:
1.5 million euro in Casino Graz
14
2001
1998 ......... 2007
1998
Opening of Oasis Hotel Casino in Jericho,
Palestinian Autonomy
Expansion of the gaming mix in Jackpot
Casinos to include table gaming
2000
Austrian casinos open 364 days a year for
the first time (closed only on Christmas Eve)
The company undergoes restructuring
Mag. Paul Herzfeld appointed to the Board
of Casinos Austria AG
First female croupiers take to the tables
in Austria
Founding of tipp3
Mag. Paul Herzfeld appointed Deputy
Director General
Gaming mix extended to include Easy
Blackjack and Easy Poker, a Poker game
with attractive stakes and opportunities of
winning; Joker Wheel, the first interactive
Wheel of Fortune, makes its world début
in Casino Baden
2007
Dr. Karl Stoss appointed to the Board
(Director General since May 2007)
Mag. Dietmar Hoscher appointed
to the Board
2006
Casinos Austria International opens six
casinos in Switzerland
Gala Opening of Gold Reef City Casino in
Johannesburg, South Africa
1999
Poker boom in Austrian casinos (+100%
Poker revenues)
Launch of internet casino games on
www.win2day.at
2001/2002
Changeover to the euro mastered without
a hitch
2002
Re-opening of Casino Baden
marks the start of operations
for CCB
The “new” Casino Baden
01
Opening of the “new” Casino Linz
2003
Casinos Austria invests in Casino Loutraki,
Greece, the largest and most successful
casino in Europe
2004
First WINWIN Video Lottery Terminals outlet
opens in Mayrhofen/Tyrol
Takeover of CARD by Shufflemaster Inc.
sy Roulette
New game: Ea
15
Leadership and Experience at the Top
48 Casino Directors from 4 decades
Skill, experience and dedication – these are the principles behind the management of Austria’s casinos. It is the Casino Directors who are responsible for
managing these casinos, for representing gaming operations internally and to the outside world as well as for the optimum choice of gaming mix. The 48
Casino Directors shown below (with the 12 current Directors framed in red) have all played their part in managing Austria's casinos over the past 4 decades.
16
Wernfried Amann
Peter Almassy
Adolf Blaha
Dkfm. Thomas Deimel
Peter Paul Etschmann
Robert Franz
Otmar Lindner
Hannes Matheowitsch
Rudolf Migacz
Paul Mirau
Robert Ottitsch
Rudolf Pessiak
Walter Gfrerer
Josef Gössinger
Ing. Edmund Gollubits
Bernd Habermann
Johann Haidner
Stefan Harra
Kurt Pipal
Heinrich Rakuschan
Walter Reichart
Mag. Othmar Resch
Gernot Rosenmayr
Hermogen Sandermann
Stefan Hartl
Prof. Franz Herdin
Erich Herzfeld
Herbert Hirschhäuter
Rudolf Homola
Stefan Horstenegg
Andreas Sauseng
Walter Schell
Alfred Schlögelhofer
Josef Semler
Friedrich Spellitz
Kurt Steger
Dr. Peter Ketzer
Josef Kneifl
Franz Köpf
Hubert Kosek
Leopold Laaber
Michael Leczek
Karl Steiner
Franz Strebinger
Gerhard Steurer
Hans Vyberal
Rudolf Wochner
Alois Zänger
17
Anniversary Article:
The Unfinished
Austrian journalist and writer Helmut A. Gansterer on his failure with Leo Wallner
“Non, je ne regrette rien.”
Edith Piaf
The ultimate aim of this article is to praise Leo Wallner. This might not be
my usual style or intellectual approach, but I nonetheless find it odd that,
in all these years, I have never actually paid tribute to his life's work – an
achievement I did not consider possible in the beginning. For 40 years we
walked and ran and raced alongside each other – but not one single story.
I can’t put it down to unfairness – for that you need someone who
themselves is unfair. And given all I know about him, Wallner definitely
doesn’t fit that bill.
Nor can I put it down to laziness – I could easily have dedicated one of
my 4,000 articles to Wallner, but I didn’t.
And I can’t put it down to indolence either – after all, I read Fyodor
Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky at length, because I thought a business journalist with a reasonable joie de vivre might benefit from doing so. So as
well as The Brothers Karamsov, various demons, younglings and idiots,
I was also familiar with Alexei Ivanovich, whom we could have had an
excellent time discussing. But that never came to be either.
From a purely professional point of view, I should really end the
story here. It had a beginning, a middle and an end. Adding anything
more is rather strange, but I will do so nonetheless. I had only just got
everything ready at the request of the “40 Years of Casinos Austria”
project manager, Bettina Strobich, when, out of the corner of my right
eye, I spotted an e-mail on my screen from Walter Rothensteiner in
Indonesia. As I read it, I took it as a good omen for the new Board and
for Leo Wallner.
At last, after 40 years, a little story. And now the dam had burst, something also occurred to the love of my life: as a mathematician and physicist she remarked upon and praised Wallner's mathematical genius. And
I myself remembered just how often I had heard the name “Leo Wallner”
whenever I asked somewhere in the world about famous Österreicher,
Austrians, Austriacos and even Audili in Tibet.
The list of things I can’t put it down to goes on and on. So perhaps it might
be better to try the other approach. What can I actually put it down to?
The list remains empty. I have simply no reason. I feel as small and insignificant as Sigmund Freud must have felt when asked at the end of his days
what a woman did want. He let his head drop wearily and said: “I don’t know.”
I have Bernhard Ludwig, the stand-up comedian, to thank for this image.
It provides me with the only clue I can come up with as to why Leo Wallner
and I never got together in all those 40 years. Only once did it look like actually happening. By chance, we both arrived at the same time one evening in
Vienna’s Eden Bar. As gentlemen, we were also both early for our appointments. We chatted animatedly about Klaus and Koren and Schumpeter. I
remember it well. It was a nice – no, a first-rate – conversation. It could easily have developed into something good, perhaps even journalistically.
But as fate would have it, our conversation was interrupted by the
appearance of an apparently homeless beautiful angel. As gentlemen, we
could not, of course, allow her to be left on her own. So we have nothing
to reproach ourselves for. It was politeness and good manners that robbed the rest of our discussion of nine tenths of its intellectual substance. And so our first and last chance in 40 years came and went.
18
19
In His Own Words: Dr. Leo Wallner
Hearts are Trumps
Social responsibility: a way of life for Casinos Austria staff
…on eternity: Luckily, nothing in life lasts for ever.
…on the integrity of the Austrian casinos: If we were still living in the times of the monarchy, and if I were a
woman, the authorities would kiss my hand because the CIA and FBI have absolutely no grounds to investigate
money laundering and organized crime in our casinos.
As a successful international gaming company, Casinos Austria is well aware that fortune does not always smile equally on everyone. The company is actively committed to helping others, especially the more disadvantaged members of society. Social responsibility is an integral component of its corporate culture and finds expression, for example, in its sponsorship of numerous social and charitable causes.
…on faith: I was brought up to believe. I do believe in
something, but not in the traditional sense of the church.
When it comes to a worthy cause, Casinos Austria’s staff are also well
known for their generosity and big hearts. The Casino Staff Association,
for example, donated a new Fortuna house to the SOS Children’s Village
Wienerwald, which opened in Hinterbrühl, Lower Austria (near Vienna)
back in 1957. Over the years, Casinos Austria staff donations have
been used to provide Christmas gifts, birthday presents, savings
books, furniture and even a new camper van, bringing many a smile
to Fortuna’s residents.
…on housework: I don't cook, I just eat. I'm no gardener either. And if
anything should break at home, I'm not technically minded enough to fix
it. I just don't have that sort of talent. I am a lively, inquisitive person
who is interested in everything that happens in the world. I wouldn’t feel
comfortable in a “house-husband” role.
…on women in business: One of my university professors recommended to my female classmates that they should marry rather than study. Thankfully, those days are now over. I enjoy
working with women. They develop far more tact and sensitivity in the workplace than men.
…on the start: I joined an industry I wasn’t familiar with, one I had no links to and
one that at that time did not play a major economic role.
…on entrepreneurship: almost anything is possible for a good entrepreneur as long
as it is tackled in the right way.
…on sport: What I value about sport is that you get to know people who
think beyond business and look at things from a different perspective.
That can be very exciting and very enriching.
…on difficult times: The sun doesn't shine every day.
…on retirement: I’m not one of those people who – like John Wayne – will die with
their boots on. I'm looking forward to spending more time enjoying my house in Spain
and catching up on all those things I didn't always have enough time for.
...on vanity: At the start of my career I, of course, wanted to be seen
and make a name for myself, but only to show the public that I was
someone who could be relied upon. Nowadays, I practice a different
kind of vanity: I don’t need any of these things any more. I don’t accept
titles and I'd rather go to one of Vienna’s famous sausage stands than
to a fancy restaurant like Sacher, although I greatly appreciate that
establishment too.
Christmas auction presentation to the Austrian Institute for the Blind
Casinos Austria’s “Casino on Tour” program makes a major contribution to the money raised for the socially disadvantaged through charitable
events. These specially equipped mobile touring casinos are particularly
popular at gala dinners, charity functions or even company events. Guests
play for fun prizes using promotional chips with no nominal value. But the
mobile casinos offer more than just good fun, they also support a good
cause with all donations at the tables
automatically going to the designated charity. In 2006, E 120,000 was
raised by the “on tour” casinos at
some 400 such charitable events
around the country.
Events in the casinos themselves also form a key element in the
company’s social sponsoring activities. One such event is the regular “Charity & Fashion” show at
Casino Linz, where celebrities
take to the catwalk to raise money
for charity.
...on music: Music is something that has always fascinated
me and I have tremendous admiration for anyone blessed
with musical talent.
The Panta Petalouda charity campaign launched in Casino Salzburg in 2004 also provides help for children in need by raising
money for the so-called “butterfly children”, who suffer from the rare,
incurable genetic skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa (eb). Through
this campaign, a total of E 80,000 has been donated to the “eb-haus”
project, a specialized treatment and research center for butterfly
children in Salzburg.
This year not only sees Casinos Austria celebrate an important
anniversary, it is also the anniversary of a charitable initiative launched
by its Marketing Department. Twenty years ago, the Marketing team
decided to start auctioning off all the gifts sent to the office during the
Christmas period among the department’s staff. The amount raised each
year (around E 1,000) is then donated to a good cause. Over the years,
this money has been used to pay for a handicapped child’s weekly visits
to a special kindergarten and to help equip an accident and emergency
hospital in Temesvar in Romania. Since 2004, the proceeds of the annual Christmas auction have been donated to the Austrian National Institute for the Blind.
Charity & Fashion
21
Messages from Around the Globe: Coffee,
Goulash Soup and Know-how “Made in Austria”
Being present all over the world, you are a true
pioneer in the gaming industry and always set
standards with a very professional approach.
Uniting different countries and nations creates
a special atmosphere in our working environment and brings us together as part of one
great big family. Thank you for the opportunity
to be one of the members of this family.
For over 40 years, Casinos Austria has been providing top quality gaming and entertainment, not just in Austria but in the meantime all over
the world.
With the help of its seven-league boots, Casinos Austria has taken a little piece of Austria from America to Australia. The following 40th anniversary greetings from all around the globe take us on a whirlwind tour of the world of Casinos Austria.
Max Rösle
Managing Director
Spielbanken Niedersachsen GmbH, Germany
Casinos Austria and Switzerland. A relationship that has gone through various stages of
development since the Eighties and one in
which Casinos Austria has always assumed a
clear role: that of the strong partner who is
always on hand to provide experience, industry expertise, financial support and goodwill,
yet who deliberately keeps in the background
like an “eminence grise” and leaves the handling of any joint activities largely in the
hands of its local Swiss partners. In other words, a partner who
truly understands Switzerland's federalist principles and, in particular, the Swiss people's fierce pursuit of their independence. A
partner who also, at the same time, fuels the ambitions of its
“Swiss friends” with know-how “Made in Austria” and helps turn
these ambitions into a joint success story. So there are plenty of
good reasons to assume that there will be many sequels to the
much-quoted “Switzerland” chapter in the Casinos Austria success
story in the years to come.
As a long-serving Casino Director, I have had the
honor of being part of the Casinos Austria success story since 1969. While there are often
reports in the press about other Austrian companies (banks, insurance companies, telecommunications, trade and industry firms) who can look
back on 10-15 years of success in international
business, Casinos Austria has been a major
international player with an excellent reputation
around the world for nigh on 35 years.
We owe this success to one extraordinary character – Dr. Leo Wallner
– and to our integrity and respectability – traits that have gained us
great recognition both at home and abroad.
I was one of the “pioneers” who was involved in the opening of our
first-ever casino abroad. And I have to say, working for this company still gives me as much pleasure now as it did then.
Stefan Hartl
Casino Director
Casino Baden, Austria
Hubertus Thonhauser
Managing Director
Casinos Austria Swiss AG, Switzerland
Over the past decades, the international division of Casinos Austria has established casinos in many countries and from the perspective of the wandering expatriate this has provided unique opportunities.
There are few casino companies who offer the
potential for working in such diverse locations
as those operated by Casinos Austria, and for
those who have taken the chance to sample
the variety of cultures on offer, the journey has
been interesting and educational.
John Young
General Manager
Casino Semiramis, Egypt
22
Wolfgang Bliem
CEO
Grand Casino Luzern, Switzerland
We wish you a Happy Anniversary!
Zoltan Hader
General Manager
Casino City, Croatia
I have been lucky enough to have worked for
Casinos Austria both in Austria and, above all,
abroad for over half the company’s 40-year history. Over this time, I think the company has
developed a real “corporate spirit”. This spirit is
characterized by immense innovative energy
yet is also coupled with steadfastness and
restraint. Keeping your feet firmly on the ground
and showing an appropriate level of restraint
are necessary to start and shape something
new, achieve success and also be able to accept the occasional setback. “Corporate spirit” isn’t something that just happens overnight, it
is the result of extensive cooperation and teamwork. Each of us contributes a bit of ourselves to the process, thus helping to define and
identify with the whole. I see this “we” feeling as a key building block
in the company’s 40-year success story. My own 20+ years with
Casinos Austria have affected me in a very positive way and I would
not liked to have missed out on this thrilling, exciting and dynamic
experience. I have had the opportunity to get to know different countries, other cultures and mentalities and have grown personally in the
process (even if the coffee still tastes best in Vienna). I look forward to
contributing to the “big picture” in the years to come and continuing to
participate in the success story. Happy Anniversary!
Dr. Leo Wallner is seen in Switzerland as a
guarantee for reputable, responsible gaming
and has had a significant influence on the
development of the Swiss gaming sector with
the “Casinos Austria” success model.
In keeping with a forty-year tradition of
making a difference, Casinos Austria International has made its mark in Canada. In just
ten short years, its flagship operation, The
Great Blue Heron Charity Casino, has emerged
from being only a vision of providing economic
development and advancement opportunities
to the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First
Nation into a considerable reality, one of the
largest employers and one of the most significant economic influences in the region.
Arnold Block
CEO and General Manager
Great Blue Heron Gaming Company, Canada
In 1991 Casinos Austria took the bold decision
to open the first post-war casino in Romania
and, in the 16 years since, has proven that the
values of quality, responsibility, care, service
and innovation will ensure success in even the
most difficult of markets. Locally the name of
Casinos Austria is synonymous with ethical
business practices and, whenever asked for
whom I work, I am always proud to answer
“Casinos Austria International”. Congratulations
on 40 years!
Michelle Cummins
General Manager
Romanian Austrian Casino Corporation S.R.L., Romania
23
There was a time when Hungarians thought they
were the best at making “goulash soup”. But
nowadays we have to accept that “goulash soup”
can be made in many different ways in many different countries. Anyone who tries to make it
automatically adds his own taste, character
and creativity. Yours is a work of art with a fabulous, memorable taste. Anyone who has had
the opportunity to taste it will always remember
it. You know the secret of your unique recipe.
AEIOU – Austriae est imperare orbi universo.
The old Habsburg motto most definitely also
applies – albeit in a much more peaceful way –
to Dr. Leo Wallner. And he also had great success in “conquering” the so-called Habsburg
countries like Bohemia, Hungary, Poland and
Croatia. Yet Brussels, the modern-day center of
Europe and a city under Habsburg reign for
many a year, was long missing from our
Chairman’s crown. But with all his energy and
spirit, it came as no surprise when we also brought our unique combination of Austrian charm and luck here as well. Three cheers for a
magnificent 40-year “reign”!
Istvan Vajda
Managing Director
Casinos Hungary
Dr. Peter Ketzer
General Representative
Grand Casino Brussels, Belgium
Cathy McGuire-Roussakis
Branch Office Manager
Shipboard Casino Services, Greece
Thomas Kellner
Managing Director
Casino Copenhagen, Denmark
It is easy to get “Austria” and “Australia” mixed
up especially for the less initiated. All of us
associated with Casinos Austria here in Australia, on the other hand, will never get it
wrong; indeed we appreciate the wonderful, ongoing association. Congratulations Dr. Wallner!
Casinos Austria International has been cruising all
the oceans of the world on board some of the most
opulent cruise ships afloat for nearly 3 decades.
I am proud to have been a part of this nautical
experience, and who better to have steered our
company at the helm than Dr. Leo Wallner –
our Captain!
Over 16 years later – and after all the other
prominent international casino operators
have sold their interests in Denmark to local
gaming operators and exited the market –
Casinos Austria International holds a market share of over 70 % and is currently the
only international operator active in the
Danish casino market. The great trust that
our local business partners have in Dr.
Wallner has played a key role in ensuring
that Casinos Austria International could cement its position as
market leader in Denmark.
I remember a meeting at Vienna Airport with
Dr. Wallner over ten years ago, where we discussed the prospects of success for casinos
in South Africa. At that time, we agreed to try
our luck in this country and, as has so often
been the case in our company history, this
luck once again proved to be on our side. We
now operate five casinos in South Africa, a
further two are currently under development
and our South African business has become
one of the most important pillars of our international casino portfolio. We are also the main sponsor of the annual “Viennese Ball”
in Johannesburg, demonstrating the key role Casinos Austria
plays not only in exporting casino know-how, but also in spreading Austrian culture and traditions around the world. The
“Viennese Ball” is now one of the annual highlights in the
Johannesburg social calendar.
Christian Neuberger
Chief Operating Officer
Gold Reef Resorts, South Africa
Allan Tan
CEO
Casinos Austria International (Cairns)
Pty. Ltd., Australia
It was down to the great dedication and
work of Dr. Leo Wallner at different levels,
both political and diplomatic, long before the
license tender process even began that
Casinos Austria International became what
it is in Switzerland today – the largest casino operator in the Swiss market. These foundations remain a key component of our ongoing work with the authorities and our local
partners in Switzerland. The result: the
excellent performance of our individual Swiss operations. In
Switzerland, know-how “Made in Austria” is synonymous with
quality in gaming.
Christian Aumüller
Casino Director
Grand Casino Kursaal Bern AG, Switzerland
24
25
Gaming Law – The Present Legal Situation
and its Historical Roots
by Gerhard Strejcek, Associate Professor and Head of the Center for Gaming Research, University of Vienna
Finance and must provide consumers with a wide selection of games of
chance. They are permitted to market this portfolio in line with European
Union legislation. The license holders’ right to advertise is also compatible with constitutional law and rooted in Article 10 ECHR (Convention for
the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms).
Neither the European Court of Justice nor any other EU body has
ever objected to this legal position. Only in informal proceedings in fall
2006 did the Commission ever ask Austria to comment on specific
individual aspects of the GspG. The monopoly situation formed no
part of these proceedings. The actual regulation and execution of this
economically relevant sector (which generates substantial tax revenues for the State) falls under the jurisdiction of the federal legislator. The Gaming Act stipulates that the Finance Minister shall only
award licenses for the casino sector to stock companies domiciled in
Austria under very strict conditions. Thus, there is no discrimination
against operators from other EU countries with a domicile in Austria.
Austria’s modern Gaming Act (GspG), which came into force in 1989
and has since been revised on several occasions, most recently in 2006,
is based on the existence of a “monopoly” as mentioned expressly in the
Federal Constitution. Accordingly, the state monopoly on games of chance
is a constitutional requirement that remained unaffected by accession to
the EU in 1995. In accordance with current legislation, 12 licenses are
issued for the casino sector in Austria as a whole under strict conditions
and requirements. In addition to the particular reliability of the Managing
Directors, the legal origin of the paid-up share capital must also be verifiable; if several operators apply for the license, the Finance Minister shall
award it to the company that produces the best monopoly yield. At issue,
therefore, is not maximum tax yield, but optimum observation of the legal
provisions regarding regulatory policy and player protection.
Casinos Austria AG meets these conditions and currently holds all 12
licenses. License holders lie under the supervision of the Ministry of
However, the legal provisions quite legitimately require particular
reliability on the part of management and other precautionary measures such as a secured and legally paid-up share capital. According to
the Constitutional Court, this complies with the financial viability
requirement for casinos set
out in the Federal Constitution. In 1989, the Austrian
Supreme Court ruled that
the restriction of the number
of licenses in Austria (currently 12) lies in principle in
the public interest.
The awarding of casino licenses in Austria has its
legal-historical roots in the
First Republic. But the monopoly concept itself is far
older, as evidenced – in the
pay-out sector – in the 255
year history of numbers
lotteries. Emperor Francis
Stephen of Lorraine and his
wife, the Archduchess and Queen Maria Theresa, authorized a private
company in Vienna to offer this game of chance in a legally regulated
setting. Since then, a number of different models have emerged, such
as the total “nationalization” system introduced under Emperor
Joseph II. But Austria, with good reason, has always opted against a
liberalization of casino gaming in its efforts to effectively combat the
associated risks (such as impoverishment or criminalization). The fact
that the optimization of tax revenues also plays a role is an important
side effect for those areas of public spending that can no longer do
without the income they receive from the gaming sector (2 % of total
budget contributions).
prevention of money laundering, the combating of organized crime,
etc. So far, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has only passed
rulings concerning other EU Member States, such as the recent
Placanica ruling in March 2007 on restrictions in the Italian sports
betting market. Italy was also the subject of the ECJ’s Gambelli and
Zenatti rulings. Other European Court of Justice rulings have affected Finland (Läärä ruling on the legitimacy of the slot machine monopoly), the United Kingdom (Schindler ruling) and Portugal (Anomar ruling). In general, the name of the parties or companies involved is usually used to identify such rulings.
The European Court of Justice, which makes no further distinction
Nowadays, electronic games of chance play an increasingly imporbetween games of chance and betting at European level, follows a very
tant economic role in the casino sector. The internet gaming platform
consistent line and grants the Member States ample leeway as long as
win2day.at is the only such website legally authorized in Austria. The
they observe so-called legitimate regulatory interests. The weighing
site offers both forms of gaming and is thus, from a legal perspective,
up of measures in individual cases remains under the jurisdiction of
operated in cooperation with the respective license holders. There are
the national courts.
no current plans to issue any internet licenses
to third parties. Foreign license holders (for
Public Opinion in Austria
example, in Malta or Gibraltar) are not permitted to offer games of chance via the internet to
“The sole license held by Casinos Austria prevents
customers in Austria.
the spread of disreputable casinos.”
Unlike casino gaming, the regulation of sports
betting and the so-called “small games of
chance” falls under the jurisdiction of the Länder
(provinces). This situation results in fragmentation and varying levels of protection. Players at
the license holder’s casinos enjoy the highest
level of protection. No other country in Europe
affords casino guests as high a level of protection
as Austria.
The EU is by no means negatively disposed to
monopolies in the gaming sector. European law
(“community law”) itself contains no detailed
provisions with regard to games of chance and
betting. However, it does demand justification
for restrictions on freedom of services in the
gaming and betting sector for reasons of regulatory policy. This includes player protection, the
60 percent of Austrians are in favor of a sole casino
license to prevent the spread of disreputable operators.
Source: Fessel-GfK 2007
Lotto Privilege issued by Empress
Maria Theresa from 1751
26
27
40 Years of Pure Glamour
Excited expressions, happy smiles and perfect poker faces – the 12 casinos in Austria have entertained more than 62 million guests over the last
40 years. Among these many and valued guests, numerous international stars and celebrities have also added a further touch of glamour to the
elegance of the casinos.
John Denver,
Casino Innsbr
Vera Lischka
and Thomas M
uster,
Casino Linz 20
05
feld 1979
asino See
ler and
Armin Kog
uck 1992
uper, C
Hubert Ne
es,
rem
The Sup
ss and
o
R
a
n
Dia
1986
Bregenz
Casino
Uschi Glas, Casino Kit
Ornella Muti, Casino
Innsbruck 1992
zbühel 1990
ins,
Kessler Tw
bühel 1990
itz
K
o
Casin
o Baden 1995
Naomi Campbell, Casin
Filming for Dalla
s, Casino Salzbur
g 1989
Casino launches in Austria read like a true “Walk of Fame”. Stars like Diana
Ross and The Supremes, the Kessler Twins, supermodel Naomi Campbell,
singers John Denver and Etta Scollo and actresses Ornella Muti, Brigitte
Nielsen and Uschi Glas have all taken turns to spin the first Roulette ball,
while Monsieur 100,000 Volts Gilbert Bécaud further delighted guests at the
opening of Casino Bad Gastein in 1985 with his energetic performance.
28
“Kommissar Rex”, Casino Wien 2003
1985
Gilbert Bécaud, Casino Bad Gastein
The Roulette ball has not been the only thing to roll in Austria’s casinos
over the years: the movie cameras have rolled there too. An episode of Dallas
was filmed on location in Casino Salzburg in 1989, Casino Wien provided
the setting for the Austrian detective series Kommissar Rex, while in 2006,
Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky shot scenes for his holocaust thriller
The Counterfeiters in Casino Baden.
en 1999
, Casino Bad
lsen
Brigitte Nie
But the thrill of the casino not only attracts the stars of screen and stage,
it also captures the attention of the world of sport. The close links between
gaming and sport became apparent back in 1979, when ski jumping stars
Armin Kogler and Huber Neuper were spotted standing fascinated in front of
the new slot machines in Casino Seefeld. Since then, Casinos Austria has
had the pleasure of welcoming numerous sporting celebrities to some of the
Ar min Assing
er, Casino Wie
n
2006
many events held in its casinos, including ski legend Franz Klammer, ski and
quizmaster extraordinaire Armin Assinger, tennis aces Boris Becker and
John McEnroe and football star Lothar Matthäus to name but a few. Upper
Austria’s champion swimmer Vera Lischka even has her own Spo(r)tlight
show in Casino Linz, where she invites famous sports stars like Thomas
Muster and Michaela Dorfmeister to come along and reveal their secrets!
29
7
8
9
40 Years of Artistic Excellence
The perfect form of a Roulette ball spinning elegantly around the wheel, the vibrantly patterned gaming chips spreading a blaze of color across a table,
a player holding a beautifully arranged hand of cards, the skill and dexterity of the croupier effortlessly distributing the chips and the cards: wonderful
images which all transform the thrill of the game into a true work of art in the eye of the beholder.
1
2
11
3
But works of art are not just reflected in the gaming
on offer in Casinos Austria’s casinos, they are
10
also portrayed in the casinos themselves. Renowned architects played an important role in
designing the actual casino premises, integrating
them artistically into their surroundings. That’s
why Casino Wien echoes the elegance of a city
palace, Casino Baden reflects the flair of a spa
pavilion and Casino Seefeld offers a touch of rustic
romance. The creativity is also carried through into
the interior design, with the ceiling frescos and textile paintings by Erich Fröschl in Casino Baden
and the warm wooden paneling in Casino Seefeld
inviting guests to linger a while longer, and Manfred Welte’s fountain in Casino Velden
and Arik Brauer’s reverse glass paintings in Casino Bregenz never ceasing to amaze.
4
Thus, the design of the casinos perfectly complements the gaming, merging them together to form the special artistic unity that is so characteristic
of the Austrian casinos.
5
6
12
1 – Casino Wien Exterior View
5 – Casino Kleinwalsertal
2 – Casino Linz Gaming Room
6 – Casino Baden Ceiling Fresco
3 – Casino Wien Staircase
4 – Casino Bregenz Jackpot Casino
13
14
7 – Casino Baden
Gaming Salon
11 – Casino Baden Bar
8 – Casino Velden Bar
13 – Casino Graz Bar
12 – Casino Linz Slot Area
9 – Casino Salzburg Staircase 14 – Casino Innsbruck
Max Weiler Composition
10 – Casino Linz Artwork
31
The Dazzling World of Advertising
Leo Wallner and the staff of Casinos Austria are not the only ones to have played a decisive role in shaping the company’s success: creative marketing strategies have also contributed to turning the previously poor reputation of the gaming sector in Austria into the positive image it enjoys
today. A quick glance at some of the advertising materials used over the years shows that some of the “old” ideas still remain valid – and effective – today. Gaming guides – in various shapes and forms – have decorated the casinos since 1971 and female guests have been invited to “place
their bets” on Ladies Nights for over ten years. There has even already been a 40-year anniversary: “40 Years of Casinos in Austria” back in 1974
to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Österreichische Casino AG in February 1934. It is this combination of tradition and innovation
that makes Casinos Austria so successful. This innovative spirit is also reflected in the company’s distinctive up to date advertising campaigns.
50 Years of Ca
Pre-invitation Casino Ba
rs of
a
40 Ye
1974
inos,
Cas
s,
Rule
lette
Rou -1972
1
197
Open Day, 1977
Austria
J
Premie ackpot
re, 198
7
sinos, 1984
den, 1995
Cas
in
197 os Aus
3-19
t
74 ria,
ip,
pionsh
Cham
ll
a
tb
Ladies Night, 1993
n Foo
uropea
Flyer E
1988
en Advent
Casino Veld
1974
Promotion,
,
te Ball” Awards
“Golden Roulet
1989
“4-wheel Jackpot”
Casino Linz, 1988
o Kleinwalsertal, 1974
Season Opening Casin
32
“The First Time”
Voucher, 1999
Opening
of
t Café”
“Jackpo
Casino
Wien, 1
993
Advertisin
g Campa
ign, 2007
33
Press Review
A selection of press clippings from 40 years of Casinos Austria
1978-1987
1967 - 1977
ach
T iroler N
richten,
4.6.196
9
Tourist Au
stria Intern
Wiener Zeitung 18.1.1981
ational 1.4
.1977
Kurier 9.12.1986
NÖ Volksblatt 3.6.1972
Neues Volksblatt 15.3.1
chten 1
ri
er Nach
rg
Vorarlbe
982
72
8.12.19
Neue Krone
VZ
en O
Kär nt
T irol
tung 24.6
er Tageszei
st 22.7
.1975
touristik aktuell 26.2.1
86
985
.1974
ress
Die P
Kronen Zeitung 20.9.1
Salzburger Nachrichten
Die Presse June 1976
Salzburger
Die Presse
34
n Zeitung 19
5.10.1976
Vorarlb
10.6.1975
erger Nachrichten
Wochenpre
ss
e 16.11.1
e 10.
1.198
5
980
29.1.1987
Nachrichte
n 2.1.198
6
982
35
1988-1997
1998-2007
Kronen Z
Die Presse
Süddeuts
11.10.1990
Jerusale
Salzburger
Nachrichte
n
27.5.1989
m Post
8.9.199
che Zeitu
ng 1.12.2
eitung 7.5
.2004
004
Het Laatste Nieu
ws 26.11.2005
8
Tiroler Tageszeitung 24.5.2004
Kurier
6.12.199
2
Täglich Alles
11.3.1995
Süddeuts
36
g 13.10.1
che Zeitun
992
Der Standard
14.11.1992
Neue Kronen Zeitung 13.
5.2000
Die Kleine
10.5.2001
37
A Proud Look Back –
A Dynamic Step Forward
by Dr. Karl Stoss, Director General of Casinos Austria AG and Austrian Lotteries
Over the past 40 years, Casinos Austria has proved to be a real success story. The company started out small and with a fairly weak
hand back in 1967. Nowadays, it is one of the world’s most successful international gaming groups, with operations on all the continents
and oceans of the world. The company has enjoyed solid growth, continued expansion and its strong roots offer enormous potential for
further development.
Real success is rarely achieved without risk. Those who don’t take the
lead and act in time, leave the door open for others.
For some time now, the Austrian and European gaming markets
have been in a period of transition. The speed of development in the
online gaming sector is a case in point. Yet the companies in our group
have already established the best possible conditions for a long-term,
secure future, even in such times of change. We might operate within
the framework of a state monopoly, but we are still a commercial
enterprise that faces strong competition from the numerous other
leisure activities available to consumers.
In no other country does a casino operator enjoy the same high level of
respect that Casinos Austria has earned in Austria. I am confident we
will continue to be as successful at home and abroad in the future as we
have been over the past four decades. We look back on a golden past, and
our future promises to be just as bright.
Although we sometimes speak of “fairytale luck”, this by no means
implies that a casino operator is simply handed success on a plate.
Together with my fellow Directors on the Boards of Casinos Austria and
Austrian Lotteries, I share a duty to uphold the great responsibility
entrusted to us. Accepting responsibility and taking an entrepreneurial
approach – doing something instead of just letting things be – are, in my
opinion, essential factors for success.
We must take a long hard look at the times which lie ahead of us.
Looking forward is essential for success in the business world. We can
only set the right course at the right time if we are able to recognize, analyze and act upon the signs of the future. We also need the courage to
take calculated risks and have faith in our own strengths and abilities.
38
Our great strengths include our high degree of diversification, our
innovative range of contemporary products, our many years of experience
and know-how, our dedicated staff and our willingness to assume
responsibility for our guests and their gaming behavior. In the years to
come, we must seek to capitalize even more on these advantages to further increase the strength and potential of the Group.
Our efforts for success go hand-in-hand with our corporate responsibility. We have a responsibility to the State to provide optimal tax yields,
a responsibility to our guests and for their gaming behavior, a responsibility to our investors, to over 10,000 members of staff and, last but not
least, to the society in which we live.
Responsibility has been an integral part of life at Casinos Austria right
from the very outset. Since it was founded 40 years ago, the company has
always had a dedicated department for Responsible Gaming. That’s when
it also began sponsoring the Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival), a partnership that still continues to this day. 30 years ago, Casinos Austria
was one of the co-founders of the charity Licht ins Dunkel. It has supported the Bregenzer Festspiele (Bregenz Festival) for over 20 years and
awarded its first Eberhard-Waechter-Medal for emerging artists 10 years
ago. Together with Austrian Lotteries, the company has paid over E 9 billion in taxes. On top of that, it provides some E 50 to E 60 million annually in sports sponsorship.
I don’t think there is any other casino company that takes such a comprehensive, ethical approach. This is perhaps one of the reasons why
Casinos Austria enjoys such a unique, strong reputation worldwide in
the gaming industry.
This fact will continue to prove invaluable as we move ahead with our
international expansion plans in both the casino and the lottery sectors.
We might already be represented on all continents and oceans, but a
particular challenge for the future will lie in achieving and then maintaining elsewhere the same level of popularity for the Casinos Austria
brand that it already enjoys in Austria.
Of course, this does not mean that we will in any way lose sight of
our homeland and the 12 casinos in Austria. Here, the rolling of the
ball should become an even stronger symbol of regional and local
strength.
Casinos Austria has always been seen as an attractive employer, and that’s
the way we want it to stay – both for our current workforce and for the new
members of staff who will join us in the future.
We will also further increase our focus on customer demands and service excellence. Key here is an ability to always see and understand things
from a guest perspective and continue to serve long after others would
have given up. After all, it is the guests who decide how they want to
spend their money and who ultimately pay our salaries and provide us
with our job security.
This company has achieved many remarkable and successful things.
But this does not mean we should now simply rest on our laurels.
Instead, it gives us a duty to perform and set ourselves targets others
would not dare to consider and thus can never attain.
We will continue to actively shape the future and expand our position
in the international gaming market in the years to come. We are the ones
who will choose the path we want to take and demonstrate just how
innovative we can be. We will remain great and strong, yet also show
foresight and react with the appropriate speed. We will enjoy many more
golden years.
The Casinos Austria success story is, of course, intrinsically linked
to Dr. Leo Wallner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him
wholeheartedly for his tireless dedication that has turned our company history into a truly remarkable life's work. As his successor, I
would like to assure him that I, my team and all the excellent staff
at Casinos Austria will do our utmost to continue to follow the path
he has set.
39