Lower Saxony casinos
Spielbanken Niedersachsen GmbH, SNG for short, operates 10 state-licensed gaming venues (roulette, blackjack, poker and slot machines) in Lower Saxony.
The company employs a staff of around 410, whose aim is to meet the demands and expectations of their guests and to offer gambling that is entertaining and exciting, but also safe and of high quality.
In Brunswick (Braunschweig), Bad Zwischenahn, Hanover and Osnabrück, SNG offers classic gaming with roulette, in some cases blackjack and poker, as well as slot machines.
Slot machine casinos with state-of-the-art equipment such as Multi Roulette and attractive jackpots can be found in Bad Bentheim, Bad Pyrmont, Göttingen, Seevetal (Hittfeld), Wolfsburg and on Norderney.
Legal basis
State-licensed gaming may only be offered in Lower Saxony after a license has been granted by the state. Spielbanken Niedersachsen GmbH holds all 10 licenses and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Casinos Austria International GmbH (CAI), based in Austria
Facts and figures
Casinos: 10
Gaming tables: 40
Slot machines: 1200
Status 2023
Quality management, an attractive range of games, the implementation of stringent security standards to protect guests and employees, as well as measures to prevent and combat gambling addiction are therefore part of a continuous development process.
The legal framework and the operation of state-licensed gaming are governed by the Lower Saxony Gaming Act and the Lower Saxony Gaming Regulations. The various supervisory functions are performed by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Finance.
Levies
Since September 2009, an average of 50% (previously 70%) of the SNG’s “turnover,” i.e. the gross gaming revenue (BSE), has been paid into the Lower Saxony state budget. The BSE is the sum of all remaining gaming revenues after the winnings have been paid out. In fiscal year 2019, the BSE totalled 94 million euros. Distribution of these levies is at the discretion of the State of Lower Saxony.
In classic gaming, the distributed winnings amount to more than 96% of the stakes, the average for slot machines is 94%.
Structural change
The image of state-licensed gaming is defined mainly by classic gambling, such as roulette and blackjack. Over the years, changing economic conditions and a shift in consumer and leisure behaviour have led to a change in the balance between supply and demand.
Today, most of the revenue is generated from slot machines.
Restructuring and aligning the range of games on offer to meet demand are therefore challenges for the company both now and in the future.