Holland Casino revenue halved in 2020

The Netherlands’ casino monopoly Holland Casino has reported revenue of €333m for 2020.

The Netherlands.- The state-owned casino monopoly Holland Casino has reported revenue of €333m for 2020, down 53.8 per cent compared to 2019. The company reported a loss of €58.8m.

The brand, which has 14 land-based casinos in the Netherlands, was able to open for normal business for only 71 days of last year. 

All of its casinos were closed from March 2020 until July 1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Venues reopened in July, but were subsequently hit by a curfew order and two further periods of lockdown, the latest still in force.

As a result, visitor numbers were down 60 per cent year-on-year at 2.5 million. However, the average spend per visit increased by 13.7 per cent however, from €117 in 2019 to €133. Holland Casino said this was due to a “different visitor mix”.

Slot machines generated revenue of €185.9m, table games accounted for €124.7m, tips €10.7m and food and beverage €10.3m.

Holland Casino claimed it had remained financially sound with strong liquidity. 

Chief executive, Erwin van Lambaart, said: “Despite the constantly changing circumstances and major challenges that this crisis year caused, I firmly believe that we will get through it well.

“This is due to the resilience of our people, general government support measures, focus on cost control and a clear strategic investment vision for the future. 

“Together, this has meant that we were always able to anticipate the consequences of this crisis.”

Pilot casino reopenings 

Three of Holland Casino’s venues (Enschede, Venlo and Breda) will reopen for one day on Saturday (April 24) as part of a pilot reopening scheme. Another three casinos (Amsterdam West, Utrecht and Leeuwarden) will open for the day on Sunday. 

The openings are intended to trial a system of mandatory Covid-19 testing to allow re-openings.

Visitors must make reservations to visit the casinos and must show a negative Covid-19 test certificate.