Napoleon Games Wins Brussels Casino License Worth 750 Million Euros, Replacing Casinos Austria in 2027

Updated July 2026. The City of Brussels has awarded the concession to operate Viage Casino, its central city Class I casino, to Napoleon Games for a period of 15 years starting January 1, 2027. The concession, valued by the Land and Economic Affairs Authority at 750 million euros excluding VAT, was awarded through a competitive selection process that attracted six operators. Napoleon Games, which has been majority-owned by Romanian group Superbet since 2021 and also operates the Grand Casino Knokke, will replace Casinos Austria International, which has run Viage since 2010.

• Concession value: 750 million euros (excluding VAT), as assessed by the Land and Economic Affairs Authority (Source: Yogonet International)
• License duration: 15 years, starting January 1, 2027 (Source: CDC Gaming, G3 Newswire)
• Six operators submitted bids in the selection process launched by the City of Brussels (Source: Yogonet International)
• Viage Casino attracts more than 310,000 visitors per year and spans 14,300 square metres in Brussels's pedestrian district (Source: Yogonet International)

What Is Viage Casino and Why Does It Matter

Viage Casino is one of Belgium's nine casinos holding a Class I gaming licence, the highest category under Belgian gambling law. Located on Boulevard Anspach in Brussels's pedestrian zone, it occupies 14,300 square metres and reports more than 310,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most visited casino venues in Belgium. Its central location in the Belgian capital gives it commercial and reputational weight that extends beyond its gaming revenue.

The casino operates under a concession model, meaning the right to operate is granted by the City of Brussels for a fixed period rather than held as a permanent licence. Casinos Austria International won the previous concession in 2010 and has operated the venue since. Its term ends when Napoleon Games takes over on January 1, 2027.

Who Is Napoleon Games

Napoleon Games is a Belgian gaming company that currently operates the Grand Casino Knokke in the coastal town of Knokke-Heist, one of Belgium's other Class I casinos. The company also manages 25 gaming arcades across Belgium and employs approximately 400 people.

In 2021, Superbet, the Romanian online betting and gaming group, acquired a majority stake in Napoleon Games. Superbet was itself acquired by private equity firm Griffin Gaming Partners in 2020 and has been pursuing aggressive expansion across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Western Europe. Adding the Brussels casino concession significantly raises Napoleon Games' profile and extends Superbet's land-based footprint into the Belgian capital.

How the Bidding Process Worked

The City of Brussels launched a selection process for the Viage concession that attracted six competing operators. The concession has been valued at 750 million euros by the Land and Economic Affairs Authority, the administrative body responsible for managing city concessions. The selection criteria and the identities of the other five bidders have not been publicly disclosed, though the competitive field suggests significant commercial interest in the asset.

Brussels city officials issued a statement welcoming the outcome and expressing the city's desire to "continue the development of an emblematic establishment in the city centre, a player in the tourist, economic and event attractiveness of the capital." The language suggests the city views Viage as a cultural and economic asset, not merely a revenue source, and that Napoleon Games' pitch addressed those wider considerations.

What Changes Under Napoleon Games

The formal transition from Casinos Austria International to Napoleon Games is scheduled for January 1, 2027, giving both companies several months to manage the handover of operations, staff contracts, supplier relationships, and IT systems. No specific changes to the casino's product mix, layout, or visitor experience have been announced for the new concession period.

Napoleon Games will bring operational experience from Grand Casino Knokke and its arcade network to the Brussels property. The company is likely to leverage Superbet's technology and marketing platforms in its Brussels operation, potentially introducing digital touchpoints and loyalty programmes aligned with Superbet's wider group strategy.

Belgium's Casino Licensing Framework

Belgium permits only nine Class I casinos under the Gambling Act of 1999, distributed across the country. Each Class I casino holds an operating licence issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission, while the physical premises operate under a concession from the relevant municipality or authority. The combination of a national licence cap and local concession control means that opportunities to enter the Belgian casino market at the Class I level are extremely rare, arising only when an incumbent's concession expires and a new competitive process is launched.

Casinos Austria International currently holds the Class I licence at Viage and will need to transfer or surrender it as part of the operator transition. The Belgian Gaming Commission will oversee the licence transfer to Napoleon Games before January 2027.

Detail	Information
Casino	Viage Casino, Brussels
Location	Boulevard Anspach, Brussels pedestrian zone
Size	14,300 square metres
Annual visitors	More than 310,000
Licence class	Class I (Belgium)
Current operator	Casinos Austria International (since 2010)
Incoming operator	Napoleon Games (owned by Superbet)
Concession value	750 million euros (excl. VAT)
Concession term	15 years
Transition date	January 1, 2027
Number of bidders	6

What This Means for Superbet's European Strategy

The Brussels casino win is a significant step in Superbet's ambition to become a major pan-European gaming operator. Founded in Romania, Superbet has been expanding aggressively across Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, and now major concession wins. Controlling two of Belgium's nine Class I casinos (Knokke and Brussels) through Napoleon Games would give Superbet a meaningful land-based presence in one of Western Europe's most regulated and mature gaming markets.

Belgium's proximity to major European markets and its position as the administrative capital of the European Union also give a Brussels gaming presence strategic value beyond pure revenue. Regulatory familiarity with Belgian law and relationships with Belgian authorities could support future bids or expansions in other EU markets.

Casinos Austria International's Position

Casinos Austria International operated Viage for 16 years from 2010 and will exit the Brussels market when the transition completes in early 2027. Casinos Austria is the international subsidiary of Austria's state-affiliated Casinos Austria AG, which operates casinos across Austria and internationally. Losing the Brussels concession to a Superbet-backed competitor represents a setback for the group in Western Europe, though the company retains a network of other international operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Viage Casino in Brussels?

Viage Casino is a Class I casino located on Boulevard Anspach in central Brussels. It spans 14,300 square metres, receives more than 310,000 visitors a year, and is one of Belgium's nine Class I casinos operating under the country's 1999 Gambling Act.

Who is Napoleon Games?

Napoleon Games is a Belgian gaming company that operates Grand Casino Knokke and 25 gaming arcades across Belgium. It has been majority-owned by Romanian group Superbet since 2021 and employs around 400 people.

Why is Casinos Austria leaving Viage Casino?

Casinos Austria International's concession to operate Viage Casino is expiring. The City of Brussels ran a new competitive selection process, which Napoleon Games won. Casinos Austria's tenure ends when Napoleon Games takes over on January 1, 2027.

How long is Napoleon Games' new Brussels casino license?

Napoleon Games has been awarded a 15-year concession to operate Viage Casino, starting January 1, 2027.

What is the Brussels casino concession worth?

The Land and Economic Affairs Authority valued the concession at 750 million euros excluding VAT.

How many bidders competed for the Brussels casino concession?

Six operators submitted bids in the selection process launched by the City of Brussels.