Holland Casino has formally begun construction of a new venue at Businesspark Ter Borch, following the destruction of its former Groningen site in a fire in 2017.
On Friday, a ground-breaking ceremony brought together company employees, construction partners and local officials. Holland Casino chief executive Petra de Ruiter said the project marked a significant step after years of preparation.
“Today, together, we are taking an important step towards the future of Holland Casino Groningen,” she said.
“Here, we are not only building a new building, but also a place where guests feel welcome and where our employees can work with pride.”
Marcel Thijsen, mayor of Tynaarlo, said the development was significant for the region and could support the growth of Businesspark Ter Borch. The site’s position beside the A7 is expected to make it accessible to visitors from Groningen, Drenthe and surrounding areas.
Holland Casino says the venue will focus on sustainability, accessibility and hospitality, and will be designed to reflect contemporary guest preferences. The company has not disclosed the project’s construction schedule, expected opening date, capacity or cost.
Richard van den Broek, an employee, attended the ceremony. He said he was “relieved that it is finally starting and can’t wait to walk in here”.
Big in Germany
Holland Casino, the state-owned operator of the Netherlands’ regulated casino market, has operated without a permanent Groningen venue since the 2017 fire. The company selected Businesspark Ter Borch as its preferred relocation site in 2023.
The new location of the casino, in the north of the country, is around a 40-minute drive to the border of neighbouring Germany. Speaking to iGB in September, de Ruiter explained that German visitors were one of the key demographics to Holland Casino’s land-based offerings.
“German visitors are really interested because we have a different offer from most of the German casinos.
“If you look at our land-based casinos, it’s table games, slots, in some cases bingo and, on some evenings, poker. But there are also restaurants, entertainment. It’s an afternoon or evening out. And as I understand from our German guests, it’s a more entertaining evening or afternoon than in some German casinos.”
Online growth hand-in-hand
As it breaks ground on a new land-based site, Holland Casino has also secured a five-year extension on its online gambling licence. This will ensure its online gambling portfolio will be available in the regulated Dutch market until at least 2031.
De Ruiter emphasised that Holland Casino “will continue to commit to a safe and responsible online offering, where player protection always comes first”.
“At the same time, it remains essential that the regulated market is attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated providers, where supervision and protection are lacking,” he concluded.