In November last year Casinos Austria International (CAI) announced that together with its South African partner Gold Reef Resorts it will be opening a further two casinos in that country. The Casino Queenstown is scheduled to open in Eastern Cape Province in late 2007 and Casino Silverstar close to Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, a much larger operation, should open in 2008.

CAI currently operates five casinos in South Africa: Gold Reef City Casino, Casino Mykanos, Garden Route Casino, Golden Horse Casino and Goldfields Casino. All five casinos are expected to post increased results for 2006. Around the world CAI and its parent company Casinos Austria AG operate 75 casinos in 18 countries and on board 10 cruise liners. CAI is opening the Casino Beograd on the Danube Promenade later this year, in partnership with the State Lottery of Serbia and the Greek gaming company Club Hotel Loutraki.

The first ever Serbian gaming show opened in Belgrade yesterday with 67 exhibitors from 21 countries. The expo will close tomorrow and CAI is using the three days to demonstrate what the Casino Beograd will have to offer its visitors once it opens. The casino will feature state-of-the-art gaming entertainment on two levels with 25 tables and 250 slot machines. Other entertainment facilities include world cuisine and fine dining restaurants, an ultra lounge bar, several cocktail bars and a multipurpose function room, with raised terraces taking the entertainment outdoors in the summer months.

"Casino Beograd will be a strong product that combines great gaming and entertainment with our customary total commitment to the highest levels of quality and security," said Casinos Austria International CEO Paul Herzfeld. "The Serbian market is more than ready for a top class, modern casino, and we anticipate that the Casino Beograd complex will soon be welcoming around 500,000 guests a year and assuming a position at the top of the Belgrade entertainment scene."

An extravagant Gala event with national and international stars is planned to mark the opening of this one-of-a-kind, luxury entertainment venue that should put Casino Beograd firmly on the European casino map. Gaming operations are expected to commence in July. Europe's newest entertainment venue will create some 300 new jobs for the region with an additional 240 created outside the gaming industry. CAI paid €18 million to Belgrade for a 10-year licence. (E-02.21.07)

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