Holland Casino breaks ground on new Groningen venue, years after 2017 fire destroyed the old site

Holland Casino has formally started building a new casino at Businesspark Ter Borch, the company's replacement for its Groningen venue, which was destroyed by a fire in 2017. A ground-breaking ceremony took place on Friday and was attended by employees, construction partners and local officials.

Chief executive Petra de Ruiter described the start of work as an important step after years of preparation. She said the company was building not only a new structure but also a place where guests feel welcome and employees can work with pride. Marcel Thijsen, the mayor of Tynaarlo, said the development matters for the region and could support the growth of the business park. Its location next to the A7 is expected to make it easy to reach for visitors from Groningen, Drenthe and surrounding areas. Employee Richard van den Broek, who was present, said he was relieved that work was finally beginning.

Holland Casino says the venue will concentrate on sustainability, accessibility and hospitality, and will be designed around contemporary guest preferences. The company has not revealed a construction timetable, an expected opening date, the capacity of the venue or the project's cost. The state-owned operator of the Netherlands' regulated casino market has had no permanent site in Groningen since the fire, and it chose Businesspark Ter Borch as its preferred relocation site in 2023.

The new casino lies in the north of the country, roughly a 40-minute drive from the German border. In an interview with iGB in September, de Ruiter said German visitors are an important group for the company's land-based casinos. She said the offer differs from that of many German casinos, combining table games, slots, bingo at some locations and poker on some evenings with restaurants and entertainment, so that a visit becomes an afternoon or evening out.

The construction start comes as Holland Casino has also obtained a five-year extension of its online gambling licence, which keeps its online portfolio available on the regulated Dutch market until at least 2031. De Ruiter said the company will continue to commit to a safe and responsible online offering in which player protection comes first. She added that the regulated market must remain attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated providers, where supervision and protection are lacking.