Brussels casino given extension to prevent closure in December
The Brussels-City casino's licence has been extended by six months to prevent its closure at the end of the year, as the tender process for a new operator remains unresolved.Summary
The licence for the Brussels-City casino, operated by Viage, was set to expire at the end of the year but has been extended by six months to prevent closure. The extension allows the City of Brussels more time to resolve issues with the tender for the next operator. The city had awarded a 15-year concession to ECK, parent company of Napoleon Games, but the Council of State annulled the decision in August, partly because a promise to relocate ECK's online gaming servers to Brussels was not included as a tender criterion. The government also faced criticism over mayor Philippe Close's involvement given his role on the board of Anderlecht football club, which is sponsored by Napoleon Games. The city has not yet decided whether to better justify its decision, reassess it, or launch a new tender. The six-month extension for Viage, which employs 286 people in Brussels, costs €2.3 million per half-year and is subject to current terms. Viage spokesperson Sihame Makrache said the extension is not ideal due to unfavourable rates for suppliers, but agreed for staff certainty; the agreement in principle is expected to be signed by the end of the month, after which Viage must apply for a licence from the Gaming Commission. The city is awaiting advice from the European Commission, which has extended its deadline from 28 October to 15 November. Bidders were given time to provide financial transparency regarding foreign funding, which had been omitted from the public tender but is required by the European Commission. It is unclear how many bidders remain. Councillor Nawal Ben Hamou declined to comment. Napoleon Games welcomed the extension, with managing director Philippe Joos stating it offers continuity for the approximately 300 employees and provides an opportunity to carefully examine the bids.
(Source：The Bulletin)