At the end of last week European gaming giant Casinos Austria International announced that the Belgian Gaming Commission has granted it a licence to conduct gaming activities in Belgium. This completes the legal requirements for opening the first casino in Brussels, following the award of the concession by Brussels City Council to Casinos Austria International back in 2004. Grand Casino Brussels will open its doors in December 2005, with an official Gala Opening Ceremony planned for January 2006. The casino will initially be located in the Salle de la Madeleine in Brussels city center, but future plans include a relocation to the new Anspach Center when planning and construction work is completed at this site, probably in 2009.

Casinos Austria International and BOA, the Brussels-based project architects, have developed a totally unique casino concept for the Belgian capital, with a look and feel destined to set Grand Casino Brussels apart from other casinos in the country and the rest of Europe. The entire ground floor will be dedicated to table gaming and slot machines and will also feature various catering zones and bars. The luxurious gallery on the first floor offers VIP gaming, lounge-style relaxation, and dining in a club-like setting, while the ballroom on the top floor will serve as the venue for all manner of events.

At opening, Grand Casino Brussels will offer a choice of 21 gaming tables, 226 slot machines, several restaurantsand bars, as well as a multi-purpose ballroom. The casino aims to become Brussels' in-place for fun and entertainment. The new casino and entertainment complex will be a valuable asset for the Brussels economy, creating over 260 new jobs and helping to revitalise the city centre by attracting new international visitors, hosting prestigious events and participating fully in the life of this exciting capital city.

As leading players in the international casino industry, Casinos Austria International and its parent company, Casinos Austria AG, currently operate 72 casinos in 16 countries and on board several luxury international cruise liners. In 2004, the two companies together posted revenues of EUR 996 million ( US$1.39 billion), welcomed more than 17 million guests and employed around 9,200 staff. Casinos Austria's revenues from the casino sector are expected to exceed EUR 1 billion in 2005. The company enjoys international renown throughout the casino and gaming industry and is looking forward to sharing its wealth of experience with the city and region of Brussels by opening this new and exciting casino in a historical and prestigious European setting.

Casinos Austria has historical roots dating back to the very first gaming operations in Austria in 1934. Casinos Austria AG was founded in 1967 and is the parent company of the Casinos Austria Group. The company is also the owner and operator of 12 Austrian casinos and has held the sole concession to operate casinos in the country since January 1, 1968. Casinos Austria International's ultimate mission is to attract new customers to both segments of its business: casino development and management. On the casino development side, this means identifying new markets and attracting new partners with whom they can develop and open international casino projects. At present, Casinos Austria has teamed up with a local business to seek casino licences in Chile, where 17 new licenses are up for grabs. (E-10.13.05)

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