Competing Gambling Hubs in Hessia, Germany’s Gambling Sector
Hitting the Jackpot: Bad Homburg's 2024 Casino Windfall
By Yannick Schroth, With a Touch of Angela Burke's Edits, Published on: 06.05.2025, Updated on: 05.06.2025.
58 Million Euro Gaming Galaxy at Bad Homburg's Spielbank
The esteemed Spielbank in Bad Homburg shined brighter than ever in 2024, recording an incredible €58 million in gross gaming revenue. This staggering figure, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, is courtesy of a press release from the German Press Agency.
Lutz Schenkel, our grizzled and affable casino maestro, shed some light on the glitzy scene. Young blood and seasoned vets, hailing from various age groups, cascade through the casino's doors daily. On a typical weekday, around 650 people grace the casino, while weekends often see it bursting at the seams. Over 230 employees ensure smooth sailing for these eager revelers.
The allure of the casino lies in its dazzling array of games. The slot machine hall gleams in the spotlight, but classic games like roulette and blackjack find their rightful place in the historic Brunnensälchen.
Bad Homburg's Casino: Financing a New Kurhaus
A thrilling tango is in the works in Bad Homburg: the Spielbank is poised to become the primary tenant and fund the revitalization of the crumbling Kurhaus. The city cleverly plans to finance this project almost completely using the rental income of the laudable François-Blanc-Spielbank GmbH.
The revamped Kurhaus will shed its outdated '80s skin, making way for a contemporary reconstruction. With its renovated interior, the Spielbank will reclaim more space - roughly 50 additional slot machines - potentially boosting annual earnings by approximately €13 million.
As far back as the 19th century, the Spielbank played a pivotal role in financing the then Kurhaus. Now, history repeats as the circle closes - the Hollywood ending we've all been waiting for!
Wiesbaden's Spielbank Maintains Classic Charm
According to Spielbank Wiesbaden's Andréas Krautwald, the preservation of classic games is a strategic decision. While many German casinos have long since shifted to an all-slot machine gaming experience, the Spielbank Wiesbaden, similar to its counterpart Bad Homburg, keenly prioritizes the traditional gaming vibe.
The plan is to safeguard the traditional casino district within the city known as the Nizza of the North, seamlessly infusing it with cutting-edge technology to remain competitive in the bustling gaming scene.
Although classic games still hold sway, Bad Homburg registers a staggering 90% of its earnings from slot machines, while only 10% can be attributed to classic table games.
For Kurdirector Holger Reuter, the enchanting spirit of the Spielbank Bad Homburg, established in 1841 by the dashing François Blanc, is indispensable to the city's identity and economic growth: "Bad Homburg would not be what it is without its Spielbank."
The Problem of Pathological Gambling
Despite its winning streak, the casino remains steadfast in addressing the issue of pathological gambling. Informative brochures detailing compulsive gambling behavior are conveniently placed at the entrance of the casino, and preventive chats with guests exhibiting potentially harmful patterns of behavior are available upon request. Strikingly, some visitors even opt for self-imposed bans, Schenkel relayed.
Employees' personal touch contributes to early detection of at-risk players, according to Schenkel. Interestingly, croupiers in classic games do not undergo formal training but hone their skills through an internal training program, which includes playing themselves.
In Schenkel's perspective, online gaming poses a higher risk in this regard, as anonymity complicates early intervention.
Wiesbaden's License Renewal Saga
The license in Bad Homburg is valid until 2037, but Wiesbaden faces a more pressing dilemma: the license is set to expire at the end of 2025. The city administration has already initiated the process of reissuing the license, hoping to complete the procedure by summer 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.
Gambling titan Novomatic has entered into discussions to replace the current majority shareholder, Jahr + Achterfeld Gesellschaft. The city has also mulled the option of operating the casino themselves, but faces challenges such as high start-up capital and a lack of gaming expertise.
Stay tuned for more updates from the world of gambling! The game is far from over.
The Francois-Blanc-Spielbank GmbH in Bad Homburg, known for its significant earnings from both traditional and modern casino games, is set to fund the renovation of the Kurhaus, revitalizing the city's landscape and potentially boosting its annual revenue by €13 million through the addition of more slot machines.
Meanwhile, online casinos in Germany could be a cause for concern, as the lack of face-to-face interaction and personal touch may complicate early intervention in cases of pathological gambling, a challenge being addressed by the Spielbank Bad Homburg.
