Swiss gambling in 2024: setback and digital upswing
2024 was not an easy year for the Swiss gaming industry. From the outside, everything may appear to be business as usual: glittering casinos, flickering slot machines, and elegant gaming tables. But a look behind the scenes reveals that things weren't going quite so well economically. Gross gaming revenue—that is, what remains after winnings are paid out—declined compared to the previous year. Yes this affects the entire industry.
In numbers, this means a total of 897,5 million Swiss francs in gross gaming revenue was generated. While that still sounds like a lot of money, it represents a decline of approximately 1,4% compared to the 909,8 million francs generated in 2023. Yes this decline has consequences – not only for the operators themselves, but also for the country's retirement provision, as a portion of the casino taxes goes directly into the AHV (Old Age and Survivors' Insurance). These contributions also fell – to 400,9 million Swiss francs, a decrease of 2,2%.
Land-based casinos struggle with declining revenues
Traditional casinos – the normal, "real" casinos where you play physically on-site – were hit particularly hard. Of the 21 land-based casinos in Switzerland, almost all suffered losses. Total revenue in this segment fell by a whopping 5,8%. Some locations were hit particularly hard: The Fribourg Casino alone lost 17,2% of its revenue. Bern, Montreux, and Courrendlin also saw double-digit declines. Only a few venues, such as those in Baden, Pfäffikon, and Interlaken, fared relatively well, with losses of less than 3%.
One reason for this is certainly the change in gaming behavior. People are no longer drawn to casinos as much as they used to be. The pandemic certainly played a part in this, but even afterward, it was not possible to reach pre-coronavirus levels. The classic gaming tables and slot machines—there are approximately 232 tables and around 4.500 slot machines in Switzerland—have therefore lost some of their appeal.
Online casinos on the rise
While traditional casinos struggled with declining revenue, the online situation was very different. The ten licensed online casinos in Switzerland saw a total increase of 8,5%. The digital branches of the casinos in Montreux (+61,6%), Bern (+24,4%), and Meyrin (+21,1%) saw particularly strong growth. This clearly demonstrates the direction the trend is heading: those who gamble are increasingly doing so from their couches.
Of course, not all online casinos fared equally well. Growth remained rather subdued in Lucerne (+3,7%) and Lugano (+0,7%), and in Interlaken, digital revenues even declined by 2,8%. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: the future lies in online gambling in Switzerland, too – and operators who recognized this early on are in a much better position today.
Overview: Land-based casinos vs. online casinos in Switzerland (2024)
Land-based casinos (terrestrial)
- Quantity: 21 casinos
- Total gross gaming revenue (GSE): Decrease of 5,8% compared to 2023
- Main sources of revenue:
- Approximately 4.500 slot machines (generate about 83% of revenue)
- 232 classic gaming tables
- Locations with the strongest decline:
- Fribourg: –17,2%
- Bern, Montreux, Courrendlin: double-digit losses
- Locations with moderate decline:
- Baden, Pfäffikon, Interlaken: less than –3%
- challenges:
- Declining visitor numbers
- Pre-coronavirus levels not reached
- Strong competition from online offers
Online casinos
- Quantity: 10 licensed online casinos, all linked to land-based casinos
- Overall development: Growth of +8,5% compared to 2023
- Top growth locations:
- Montreux: +61,6%
- Berne: +24,4%
- Meyrin: +21,1%
- Less strong growth:
- Lucerne: +3,7%
- Lugano: +0,7%
- Negative development:
- Interlaken: –2,8%
- Power:
- Flexibility and comfort of playing from home
- Growing popularity among younger target groups
- Continuously increasing user numbers
Swiss Gambling 2024:
| feature | Land-based casinos | online casinos |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | 21 | 10 |
| Development 2024 | –5,8% | +8,5% |
| Largest fluctuations | Fribourg (–17,2%) | Montreux (+61,6%) |
| Main source of revenue | Slot machines (83%) | Gaming platform & apps |
| Audience | tourists, older generation | Younger target groups, digitally savvy players |
| Future perspective | Stabilization necessary | Further growth expected |
Where do you travel?
The Swiss casino industry is in the midst of change. The brick-and-mortar sector is declining in importance, while online business is growing – but the latter is not yet enough to fully offset the losses in the traditional sector. Yes even though many players love the atmosphere of a real casino, the industry must adapt to survive in the long term.
The big challenge will be to meaningfully connect both worlds. Perhaps with hybrid offerings, more digital interaction on-site, or with improved online platforms that are even more oriented towards user needs.
One thing is certain: the industry is shrinking – at least for now. But with the right steps, it could grow again – just not in the same way as before.
