Europe’s Land-Based Casinos Face Uncertain Future as Admiral Closes

_{Better days for Casino Admiral Ruggell. (Image: Linkedin)}

On 30 September 2025, the Casino Admiral Ruggell in Liechtenstein closed its doors for the final time. Opened in 2017 as the first casino in the principality, Ruggell quickly became a regional landmark and an anchor of Liechtenstein’s gaming industry. After eight years of growth and successful operation, the chapter is ending—not because of failure, but because of shifting conditions in the European gambling landscape.

A Place of Work, Community, and Belonging

Casino Admiral Ruggell was more than a gaming venue. For staff, partners, and guests, it was a space of belonging. Employees, described by management as “the backbone of this house,” brought professionalism and passion to a business that grew into a respected part of Liechtenstein’s economy and social fabric.

Regional and international partners also played their part, contributing to the casino’s development as a reliable player in public and economic life. And, perhaps most importantly, the guests themselves helped shape the character of the venue: not just as gamblers, but as participants in a shared community.

A Broader Trend in Europe

The closure in Liechtenstein is not an isolated event. Just months earlier, Sweden witnessed the final chapter of its own land-based casino era. On April 25, 2025, Casino Cosmopol Stockholm closed its doors, with the new Swedish gambling law banning all land-based casinos from January 1, 2026.

Casino Cosmopol’s four venues once symbolised Sweden’s regulated gambling market. Now, with the state-owned operator dissolved, the country has shifted entirely to online regulation. For employees and players alike, it was the end of a generation of live gaming experiences.

Taken together, the closures in Liechtenstein and Sweden highlight a broader decline of traditional casinos in Europe. Rising operational costs, tighter regulations, and the surge of online and mobile gaming platforms are steadily reshaping the industry. Where once land-based venues thrived as hubs of glamour and community, today digital platforms dominate the market, offering convenience, innovation, and global access.

The Future of European Gaming

Industry observers note that while casinos in iconic hubs such as Monte Carlo or London’s Mayfair still attract international visitors, smaller regional casinos face mounting challenges. Governments across Europe are tightening rules to address problem gambling, while younger audiences increasingly favour online platforms with features such as gamification, digital ownership, and blockchain integration.

Casino Admiral Ruggell’s closure therefore symbolizes more than the end of a local chapter, it reflects an inflection point in European gaming. With Sweden banning land-based casinos outright and Liechtenstein reducing its casino footprint, the question is whether other European jurisdictions will follow.

A Legacy Remembered

Gaming Manager Nico Behling. (Image: Linkedin)

As Admiral Ruggell closes, gratitude has been expressed to employees, partners, and guests who made the casino what it was. For many, the memories of teamwork, trust, and community will outlast the gaming tables and roulette wheels.

Nico Behling the Casino Gaming Manager said: "After eight years of intensive development work and successful operation, the Casino Admiral Ruggell chapter ends on 30.09.25. The doors are closing, because the framework conditions have changed profoundly."

"I was allowed to accompany this house from the first to the last day. In these eight years, much more has been created than just a game. It was a workplace, but for many of us, it was also a familiar place where we felt like we belonged."

The European land-based casino model is not vanishing entirely, but it is undeniably shrinking. As online platforms grow ever more sophisticated, the closures in Liechtenstein and Sweden may be remembered as turning points, moments when Europe’s casino industry decisively stepped out of the physical world and into the digital age.