Andorra, on the exclusive world casino map

Pending the Government’s decision on its first casino concession, Andorra eagerly awaits the arrival of this new tourist attraction.
 
The aim is to boost Andorra’s economy by increasing the numbers of visitors and drawing in local businesses, banks and professionals from different sectors of the Andorran economy. As the director of the Andorran Gambling Regulatory Council (CRAJ), Xavier Bardina, recently underlined in the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Andorra is planning to build a casino “to supplement its leisure facilities”. The casino will be a vital addition to Andorra’s range of shopping, culture, restaurants and sports facilities, helping to attract quality tourism outside the ski season.

Nine business groups are currently contending to build a macro-casino in Andorra la Vella or Escaldes-Engordany, within the next two years. The investments of Andorran and foreign capital range from 10 million to over 140 million euros. Proposals have been made by key companies in the gambling industry, such as the Spanish group Cirsa and the French groups Partouche and Barrière. Some of the most popular proposals locate the Casino at Caldea, Andorra’s thermal spa.

Over the past few years, casinos in Europe have had a beneficial impact on economies like Andorra’s. The President of the European Casino Association, Per Jaldung, states as much: “the gambling sector makes a positive contribution to local economies and society in general, providing business opportunities and highly-qualified jobs.” Equally, this expert highlights the volume of tax revenue that casinos generate for their host country. In an interview for the magazine Casino, Jaldung offers the example of Austria: “It is the highest tax payer in the country and one the main sponsors of the arts, culture, sport and charitable causes.”

Now the cards are on the table and Andorra awaits its place on the exclusive world casino map.