Profit increase for Swiss casinos

2008-05-08 16:13:15

The Swiss Casino Association has announced the latest earnings result for Switzerland's gaming industry.

Swissinfo.ch reports that profits rose during 2007, although the regulator suggested that things might not be as positive in the future.

A smoking ban is apparently on the cards for Switzerland, as are changes to the way casinos are taxed, which could be detrimental to the sector's revenue streams.

Similar modifications in the UK have had a huge impact on casinos and bingo halls, while venues in the US have also been struggling to cope with smoking bans in some states.

For now, however, things look good for the European country.

Its 17 casinos made $861.34 million profit in 2007, an increase of 5.4 per cent on 2006.

Visitor figures were also up, with 300,000 more people going to the nation's gambling resorts than the year before.

Switzerland's casinos provide close to 3,000 jobs between them.