Winterthur: Swiss Casinos rents in Lokstadt

Swiss Casino wants to operate "the most modern and urban casino in Switzerland" on around 2,600 sqm in Winterthur's Lokstadt. The owner Ina Invest announced an architectural competition for the use of the hall, which was won by the project of the Oxid Architektur and Haefele Schmid Architekten consortium. It envisages the installation of a futuristic wooden structure, the "Loki", in the Rapide Hall. The historic substance of the halls will be preserved and will continue to be open to the public. As Marc Baumann, CEO of Swiss Casinos, says, the passageway hall is intended to enliven the area as a meeting space with offerings such as food stands or small bars. Swiss Casinos wants to ensure this together with Ina Invest and the Radisson Red Hotel also planned for the Lokstadt halls.

Marc Pointet, CEO of Ina Invest, describes the casino as the "perfect addition to Lokstadt". With its diverse, crowd-pleasing mix of uses, the new Winterthur district has the best chance of establishing itself as a genuine "place to be" and a beacon for sustainable, hybrid real estate, he says.

According to Ina Invest, the lease agreement with Swiss Casinos was signed on November 24. This means that the Lokstadt halls with a total of 8,200 sqm of floor space are fully leased. The building application for the new casino is to be submitted next year. It is expected to open its doors in 2025 - provided it receives the necessary concession from the Federal Council. Swiss Casinos expects the Federal Council's decision in October 2023. With the opening in Lokstadt, Swiss Casinos will close the casino in Schaffhausen. The reason was that losses had repeatedly been incurred there. The 70 employees will continue to be employed at the new Winterthur location. (ah)