Viage casino staff protest against possible job losses amid licence uncertainty

Employees of Casino Viage in Brussels held a protest on Tuesday regarding ongoing uncertainty surrounding the casino’s licence and the resulting implications for their future.

The City of Brussels awarded the 15-year casino licence this past July to a rival, ECK, the parent company of Napoleon Games, but Belgium’s Council of State suspended that decision due to problems with the tender process.

Among other issues, the Council of State said that the City based its choice on criteria that were not included in the original tender specifications.

Politicians also criticised the involvement of Brussels’ mayor Philippe Close (PS) in the decision-making process due to his membership of the board of one of Napoleon Games’ major sponsors, Anderlecht football club.

As a result of the Council of State’s ruling, neither ECK nor previous licence holder Viage currently holds a definitive licence to operate from 1 January 2027, and readvertising the licence will take a considerable amount of time.

Meanwhile, Viage already received a registered letter from its owner, AG Real Estate, requesting that it vacate the premises by 31 December 2026.

This leaves the casino’s employees anxious over their jobs and future, especially as the City of Brussels has still not taken a final decision on the future operator.

Viage sent a letter to the city authorities on Monday asking for clarity on the future. According to the casino, the consequences of a possible closure would extend far beyond the operation itself.

“A closure would trigger a redundancy plan and have a direct impact on more than 280 jobs,” a source close to Viage’s management told Bruzz.

“Our workforce comprises staff of nearly 40 different nationalities. The economic impact on our suppliers is also significant. We work with 493 suppliers, 380 of whom are Belgian companies. Of these, 163 are based in Brussels.”

Tuesday’s protest - held at Brucity, the administrative centre of the City of Brussels - aimed to draw attention to the ongoing uncertainty and its consequences.

“Political decision-makers must fully realise the social impact of their choices,” the SYNOVA union said.

Siham Makrache, marketing director at Casino Viage, said that while the protest is a union initiative, the casino understands its staff’s concerns.

“As an employer, we are unfortunately in a situation today where we cannot yet give them a clear answer about what will happen after 31 December,” Makrache said.

“We’re awaiting clarification from the city regarding the next steps in the concession process. Our priority remains the continuity of operations and the preservation of jobs.”

The casino licence is estimated to represent a turnover of €750 million per year.

In Belgium, only one company per municipality is permitted to operate a casino licence.