Paf to power igaming for Switzerland’s Grand Casino Luzern
Åland Islands-based operator Paf has been named the igaming technology partner of Swiss land-based casino Grand Casino Luzern, as it prepares to launch its online offering this summer.
Following an extensive selection process, Paf was chosen as to power the operator’s MyCasino.ch site, providing its technical platform, gaming content and operational support for the roll-out.
“This is an excellent opportunity for Paf to bring its know-how and competence in player protection to the Swiss market in the long term,” Paf chief executive Christer Fahlstedt said.
“We are very pleased that Grand Casino Luzern has chosen us as a partner. There is a strong mutual understanding behind the partnership and I am convinced that together we will succeed in Switzerland – where only four online gaming licences have been distributed to date.”
Confirmation of the deal comes after Grand Casino Luzern had its igaming licence application ratified by the Swiss National Council (Bundesrat) last week. It was one of four venues approved to launch igaming, alongside Grand Casino Baden, Casino Davos and Casino Zürichsee.
Swiss gambling regulator Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission (ESBK) had already approved the application, though awarding of the licence had to be signed off by the Bundesrat.
“Paf will be a partner with strategic know-how and the right technology,” Grand Casino Luzern chief executive Wolfgang Bliem said. “They have been pioneers in online gaming and we believe that Paf can give us the experience and innovation needed to establish an online casino quickly in the Swiss market.
“Paf has a long history of stable ownership and they are also well known for their responsible gaming, which makes them an excellent partner for us,” he added.
While four venues have been approved to launch online casino games, Casino Grand Luzern is just the second to publicly announce a partnership with an igaming service provider after Casino Zürichsee operator Swiss Casinos, which has partnered Playtech.
Grand Casino Baden, which also owns Casino Davos, is yet to announce its igaming partner. The Stars Group has said it is in the hunt for a partner in the market,
The country’s new gambling laws came into force in January this year, after being approved in a public referendum in June 2018. From July the authorities plan to begin blocking access to unlicensed igaming sites.