Stad Brussel cancels award of Brussels Casino three months before concession expires

La Stad Brussel withdrew the award of the Casino van Brussel made on July 17, 2026, in favor of E.C.K., the company behind Napoleon Games, after the award was suspended by the administrative jurisdiction. The measure was announced at the municipal assembly on September 21, 2026, leaving the future operator unappointed with just three months remaining until the expiration of the current concession on January 1, 2027.

What happened and why was the decision annulled?

The award to E.C.K. on July 17, 2026, had been subject to an appeal lodged by Casinos Austria International Belgium, the current operator exploiting the establishment under the Viage brand. The administrative section suspended the award in an order dated August 31, 2026, identified as arrest no. 267.514. Following that suspension, Stad Brussel communicated on September 21 that it was withdrawing its decision from July 17 and nullifying it.

The Council of State identified deficiencies in the reasoning behind the evaluation of the offers, in the assessment of certain partnerships proposed by the selected candidate, and in the compliance with obligations related to the European regulation on foreign subsidies. These observations prevented the city from reissuing an immediate award without remedying the legal points indicated.

Consequences for the schedule and operational continuity

The main risk now is practical: the current concession by Viage expires on January 1, 2027. Without a valid award or a temporary agreement with the current concessionaire, the casino could operate without an operator on that date. Stad Brussel needs to decide whether it can correct the processing of the file in time or if it is necessary to restart the procedure.

A six-month temporary extension was discussed during a meeting with staff representatives following their demonstration on September 15, but Viage rejected that extension. In a letter addressed to the Stad and the Brussels regional government, Viage indicated that it does not wish to extend its operations beyond December 31, 2026, with a mere extension of the current concession and instead requested a new reopening and evaluation of the bids following the ruling of the Council of State.

Status of the bids and deadline requested from candidates

According to information reported by Le Soir, Stad Brussel sent a communication to bidders on September 14, 2026, asking them to confirm within ten business days that their proposals would remain valid until February 3, 2027. This confirmation aims to preserve the possibility of continuing to work on the bids already submitted and to prevent their expiration from becoming an administrative obstacle during the analysis of the consequences of the judicial ruling.

Initially, six candidates submitted bids for the 15-year concession: Chaudfontaine Loisirs, E.C.K., Grand Casino de Dinant, Casinos Austria International Belgium, Circus Casino Bruxelles, and Golden Palace Grand Casino Brussels. The bid from Golden Palace was subsequently excluded due to what were considered substantial irregularities in the procedure.

Economic and labor implications of the case

The Stad had estimated the concession at €750,000,000 excluding VAT over fifteen years. This amount underscores the financial importance of the case and explains why compliance with legal obligations, including European ones, has become central to the review. The immediate future of the casino directly affects 286 employees, who have demanded greater clarity regarding their working conditions and continuity.

Possible avenues being considered by Stad Brussel

The municipal administration must now define which procedures can be resumed in the opened file and which elements need to be completed before making a new decision. Among the options are:

1. Correcting and continuing the current procedure by remedying the deficiencies indicated by the Council of State.

2. Opening a new award process from scratch, with revised deadlines and requirements.

3. Reaching a transitional agreement with Viage to ensure operational continuity, provided both parties agree.

Nawal Ben Hamou stated in the municipal assembly on September 21 that Stad is still considering the possibility of dialoguing with the current operator to find a solution that guarantees the continuity of the casino.

“The city remains open to dialogue with the current operator to ensure the continuity of operations,” said Nawal Ben Hamou during the municipal session.

Any extension can only be formalized if Stad and Viage reach an agreement; Viage has already expressed its rejection of a mere extension without a new evaluation of the bids.

Political dimension and upcoming milestones

The case also carries a political weight, impacting the figure of Mayor Philippe Close, although there is currently no legal finding of a conflict of interest according to available information. Stad now has several weeks to decide how to act before January 1, 2027, a critical date on the calendar.

The immediate steps that will dictate the pace of the case are receiving confirmations of offer validity until February 3, 2027, determining the elements that Stad must complete to comply with the ruling of the Council of State, and negotiating with Viage for a temporary solution. The resolution of these milestones will determine whether Napoleon Games (E.C.K.), Viage, or any of the other candidates end up being designated as the new concessionaire.

For regulatory follow-up and market implications, professionals can consult the regulation section and local reports in the news.