Per Jaldung: “Every market has unique regulations, customer preferences, and cultural expectations”
Focus Gaming News spoke to Per Jaldung, newly appointed Managing Director of Casinos Austria International, about his priorities, challenges, and vision for the company’s global operations.
Exclusive interview.- Focus Gaming News spoke to Per Jaldung, who was recently appointed Managing Director of Casinos Austria International. In this interview, Jaldung outlines his main priorities as he takes on the new role, including strengthening existing operations, driving international growth, and ensuring excellence across customer experience, compliance, and financial performance.
Jaldung also reflects on the challenges of balancing dual responsibilities as CEO of Grand Casino Brussels Viage, discusses the cultural and regulatory complexities of managing a global portfolio, and shares his perspective on the role of technology in shaping the future of the casino industry.
Jaldung spent 14-and-a-half years as CEO of Svenka Spel’s Casino Cosmopol brand, holding the position until March 2023. He became CEO of Grand Casino Brussels Viage in December of the same year.
Before entering the gambling sector, Jaldung was a police officer in Stockholm and served in Sweden’s National Criminal Investigation Department. He joined the recently closed Casino Cosmopol Stockholm in 2002 as security manager and later became general manager of Casino Cosmopol Gothenburg.
He also served as chairman of the European Casino Association between 2015 and 2023 and is now honorary president of the organization.
You’ve just been appointed managing director of Casinos Austria International. What will be your main priorities as you take on this new role?
My priorities are twofold: strengthen the performance of our existing operations and identify new growth opportunities internationally. I also want to ensure every property delivers excellence in customer experience, compliance, and financial performance.
You will continue as CEO of Grand Casino Brussels Viage. How will you balance the strategic and operational demands of both roles in practice?
I rely on a highly capable team at Grand Casino Brussels, which allows me to delegate operational management effectively. That frees me to focus on CAI’s strategic agenda while I still remain engaged in key decisions in Brussels. Clear communication and disciplined time management should ensure both roles are managed without compromise.
Casinos Austria International operates in diverse markets. What regulatory and cultural challenges do you anticipate in leading such an international portfolio?
Every market has unique regulations, customer preferences, and cultural expectations. The challenge is maintaining strict compliance with the national standards and stay updated on, and adapt to national legal and political developments in the various countries. My focus will be on building strong relationships locally and respecting cultural differences, while ensuring all operations reflect CAI’s high standards.
“My focus will be on building strong relationships locally and respecting cultural differences, while ensuring all operations reflect CAI’s high standards.”
Per Jaldung, managing director of Casinos Austria International.
Cashless, AI, and data-driven personalisation are hot topics in the industry. Where are you leaning in—and where are you pressing pause?
Cashless: Leaning in but also pressing pause, because even though it certainly improves convenience and security for most, there is a lot of cash in society and many customers like to use cash. We need to keep hybrid options for inclusivity. And cash is the fall back plan when there are interruptions in power, wifi, cables, mobile data, etc. Cities are vulnerable today and many businesses like to be able to operate also when technology fails.
AI: Leaning in where it enhances fraud detection, customer service, and responsible gaming. Pressing pause on applications that risk privacy or remove the human element.
Personalisation: Leaning in. Using data responsibly to tailor experiences adds value, but always with respect for customer privacy. Never forget, it is the hospitality, the professionalism of our staff and the interaction between people that makes the land-based casinos unique! No matter what technology, it can’t compare to a warm welcome by a friendly, smiling employee. No tech in the world can make you – as a customer – actually feel that smile… at least not yet ;-).
“Using data responsibly to tailor experiences adds value, but always with respect for customer privacy.”
Per Jaldung, managing director of Casinos Austria International.
