Basel exhibition centre plans to open casino
Basel's exhibition centre has joined other Swiss companies in bidding for a new gaming licence.
The exhibition centre has joined forces with the company, Swiss Casinos, in an attempt to gain a concession to open a Grand Casino in the year 2002.
Under the deal, the exhibition centre would provide a hall for the enterprise while Swiss Casinos would take care of its day-to-day management.
The city authorities are also supporting the project, according to the centre’s management. It expressed confidence it would win a licence. A spokesman said no other company in the north-west of the country had so far launched a similar bid.
Swiss Casinos plans to set up a separate company, Casino Basel Betriebs, to look after the new business.
If it is given the go-ahead, Basel’s Grand Casino would have a floor area of 4000 square metres. Around SFr 35 million will be invested in the scheme.
The government is due to award between four and eight concessions for Grand Casinos across the country. In addition, around 15 to 20 B concessions will be given to smaller concerns. It’s expected to makes its decision by autumn of next year.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.