| The venue in Campione d\'Italia was founded in 1917 as a World War I espionage base, but closed in 2018.
The main motivation for the opening of the casino in 1917 in Campione, a small Italian enclave surrounded by Switzerland, was to be used as a base for foreign diplomats\' espionage activities during World War I. It was closed a few years later, but reopened in 1933, the same year Benito Mussolini added "d\'Italia" to the town\'s name to assert its Italian identity.
Over the following decades, the Casino di Campione, the oldest and largest in Europe, brought wealth to the town and became deeply entrenched in its life as a major employer.
Now brighter days are ahead, as a court in Como, Lombardy, has approved a rescue plan that will allow the casino to reopen before mybetinfo.com.
Paolo Bortoluzzi, councilor in charge of infrastructure at Campione d\'Italia, said, "There is a lot of enthusiasm in the town. We are finally out of a really difficult period. We need to finalize a few things, but we hope to reopen the casino as soon as possible."
The closure of the casino and the loss of nearly 500 direct jobs and another 300 jobs in related businesses was a blow to the heart of the community. The number of tourists visiting Campione d\'Italia declined, and some stores, bars, and restaurants were forced to close. The situation was further aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The whole town and its identity revolved around the casino. It was like an earthquake when everything collapsed," he said.
The casino initially employed 174 people and will employ 280 over the next five years.
Mayor Roberto Canesi said in a statement: "The citizens of Campione can finally look optimistically to the future, leaving behind the dramatic past three years of the long-term closure of a major source of support for the local economy."
Located on the shores of Lake Lugano, Campione d\'Italia, which was part of the Swiss customs union and exempt from VAT, will rejoin the Italian economy and thus the EU customs union in January 2020.
The town was one of only four locations in Italy with a casino license, and in 2007 it moved into a new facility designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta. 1,000 slot machines could be installed, and the casino was doing well until the popularity of online gaming took a toll on revenues. The casino was doing well until the popularity of online gaming took a toll on revenues.
According to a Star Casino survey, those who were expelled from venues across the state were "encouraged to come to Queensland."
This article is over a year old
Money Laundering Plays Central Role in Investigation into Suitability of Star Casinos to Hold Licenses in Queensland
Stay up to date with our live blog on Australia News.
Get our free news app, Morning Mail Briefing, and Daily News Podcast.
Associated Press Australia
Tuesday, 23 August 2022 05:47 CEST
SHARE
Star Entertainment\'s money laundering controls will be tested by a new investigation that will examine claims that people expelled from other casinos were encouraged to travel to Queensland.
Hearings on the propriety of Star holding a casino license in Queensland began Tuesday, and Jonathan Horton QC\'s lawyer confirmed that the issue of money laundering will play a central role.
Star is dealing with the issue at a group level, but there are special concerns related to Queensland, the hearing was told.
A general view of the Star casino construction in Brisbane.
Queensland casino study: what it examines and what could happen to Star.
More Info
Legendary Gambling Victories: A Glimpse into the Pantheon of Big Wins
The Ever-Expanding Thrill Of Gambling: A Global Powerhouse
|
| Recently Spotted MembersNo members found. Be the first. |
