Playtech goes live in Switzerland

Playtech has launched online and live casino operations in Switzerland in partnership with Swiss Casino Group.

The partnership sees Swiss Casino become the first operator in Switzerland to launch both a live casino offering and jackpot casino games in the market, according to Playtech.

Under the terms of the deal, Swiss Casino, which operates Casino Zurich, has access to Playtech’s online and live casino technology suite together with its omni-channel Playtech One offering.

Shimon Akad, Playtech COO, said Swiss Casino was the ideal live casino partner as Switzerland’s biggest land-based operator.

“This kind of partnership, opening up a new sector in a newly regulated market, is a perfect example of our strategy in action. We look forward to a long, successful partnership with Swiss Casino,” Akad said.

The Swiss Money Gaming Act bars external online operators from the Swiss market, enforcing a six-year period of exclusivity on all online gambling for the country’s land-based casino operators.

Of these only four licences have currently been issued, to Casino Zurich, Grand Casino Baden, Casino Davos and Grand Casino Luzern. The Swiss government has begun blacklisting international online operators, with bet365, Parimatch and Unibet among the first to be blocked to Swiss players.

However, Switzerland’s land-based casinos are allowed to partner with external online gaming suppliers, with Grand Casino Luzern having partnered with Aland-operator PAF and Evolution Gaming.

Marc Baumann, Swiss Casino’s CEO, said he was keen to translate the success story of Swiss Casinos in the land-based Swiss market to the new online market as well.

“The outstanding offer, the high competence of the team and the flexibility in adapting to the regulatory requirements have laid the foundation for a successful and long-term cooperation,” Baumann added.