The Garmisch-Partenkirchen casino will be particularly hard hit by the Corona year 2020: gross gaming revenue plummeted by 31 percent to around 7.8 million euros.
This also has consequences for the market, which receives an annual royalty from the casino business.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Every crisis has its winners and losers.
This is no different with the corona pandemic: Mail order and online retail, for example, are celebrating booming business.
On the other hand, the nine Bavarian casinos, one of which is the house in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, are a pity.
The state-owned companies were badly shaken in 2020: their doors remained closed for over four and a half months during the two lockdowns.
And in the rest of the time, the casino fever was subdued - no wonder given the hygiene requirements.
Compulsory masks and Plexiglas panes as protection against infection do not really encourage fun.
The result: ruined balance sheets.
The gross gaming revenue of all casinos in the Free State, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Finance, was around 57 million euros at the end of the year - about a third less than in 2019. This means, in simple terms, the money that guests lose at the tables and machines.
The casino in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is in a prime location Am Kurpark, was unable to escape the negative trend.
The statistics now presented are teeming with minus signs.
The gross gaming revenue fell by 31 percent compared to the previous year - to around 7.8 million euros (around 800,000 euros in the big game and 7 million euros at the machines).
A total of 46,000 visits were counted - a drop of 63 percent.
"The decline is enormous," said casino director
Casino director Peter Eursch doesn’t avoid the bush: “The decline is enormous,” says the official.
However, it cannot yet be said whether the bottom line will be an economic loss or a profit.
The annual financial statements are currently only being prepared.
"I hope for a black zero or low losses," says Eursch.
In his opinion, the setback hurts twice, because the company with 80 employees, which has existed since 1955, has recently been able to record growth.
Particularly bitter: In the Corona year 2020, the international guests stayed away - and thus wealthy customers who ensure high sales at the roulette, blackjack and poker tables as well as at the machines.
Negative developments also have an impact on the financial situation of the market community
The development also has an impact on the financial situation of the market town.
Because this brings in 15 percent of the gross gaming revenue every year - a nice sum that is good given the many projects that have to be tackled and financed.
According to Eursch, a special regulation comes into effect so that the shortfall in income is not so severe this year.
The municipality receives a kind of compensation from the Free State.
Exact figures are not yet available, as it is a complicated calculation that takes into account the casino revenues in the years 2017 to 2019.
Eursch assumes, however, that Garmisch-Partenkirchen will only have to cope with a moderate discount.
"This is a help for the local communities, which have to get by with less tax money anyway," he explains.
The director remains optimistic - and hopes that the situation will normalize again this year: “You have to look ahead.
We will not be intimidated by Corona. ”The facility is currently still closed.
But behind the scenes, concepts are already being worked on to make the casino experience even more attractive.
Among other things, a redesign of the Big Game is planned - with the support of the students of the Schools for Wood and Design, who develop design drafts.
Eursch is aware, however, that the restart will not be a walk in the park: "We have to fight again for the guests."