Grand Casino Brussels Viage could remain open for another six months after the casino operator and the City of Brussels reached a preliminary agreement to extend its current operating concession temporarily.
The City of Brussels had previously awarded the 15-year concession to ECK, the parent company of Napoleon Games. However, the Council of State annulled the decision in August following a legal challenge by Viage.
Viage argued that the selection process had failed to apply the evaluation criteria properly, lacked adequate justification and contained significant assessment errors. It also raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest involving Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, who sits on the board of Anderlecht football club, which has a partnership with Napoleon Games.
Following Viage's request for suspension, the Council of State sided with the existing licence holder, identifying several shortcomings in the tender process. These included insufficient reasoning behind the decision and questions over compliance with European regulatory requirements. The court found that certain tender criteria had not been properly considered and that some factors used in the assessment appeared irrelevant.
Under the proposed extension, Viage will pay €2m to the City of Brussels to remain operational for an additional six months. The arrangement will also require renewing contracts with 497 suppliers. According to a Viage spokesperson, protecting employees' jobs was the main reason for agreeing to the temporary solution.
The casino's current concession expires on 31 December, while Napoleon Games had been scheduled to take over operations on 1 January 2027. The temporary extension would allow Viage to continue operating while the city determines how to proceed with the concession process.
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