GRAND CASINO BRUSSELS OFFICIALLY OPENED

For immediate release

Vienna/Brussels, 23.01.2006 --- Over 1,200 VIP Belgian and international guests and celebrities gathered in Brussels on 19 January 2006 for the prestigious Gala Opening of Grand Casino Brussels.

Festivities began at 7.30 pm with a Welcome Reception hosted by the Mayor of the City of Brussels, Freddy Thielemans, Casinos Austria International CEO, Paul Herzfeld, CFO Josef Leutgeb and Grand Casino Brussels General Manager, Tim Cullimore.

Guests were treated to a spectacular evening of fine dining and outstanding entertainment, including star performances by Belgian jazz favorite, Toots Thielemans and a thrilling casino stage show by Luc Petit. A particular highlight was the symbolic spin of the Roulette wheel with the Golden Roulette Ball by international film star, Emmanuelle Béart, marking the Official Opening of the casino in true Casinos Austria tradition.

This was an historic moment for Brussels, which had waited a long time for its first casino. Freddy Thielemans, Mayor of the City of Brussels expressed great pride in his city's newest entertainment venue, saying: "The opening of Grand Casino Brussels puts our city well and truly on the world map."

Casinos Austria International CEO, Paul Herzfeld, was also highly delighted with the success of his company's latest casino: "Grand Casino Brussels is a flagship operation for the Casinos Austria Group and one of the most prestigious and ambitious casino projects realized in Europe in recent years."

Grand Casino Brussels "soft opened" on 19 December 2005, but the Gala Opening Event was timed to coincide with Austria's Presidency of the European Union. The casino is rapidly proving to be a highly popular destination for local and tourist visitors alike. It already welcomes some 800 visitors a day, while its bars and restaurants have established a reputation for being the places to wine and dine in Brussels. The casino's state-of-the art gaming areas offer guests a total of 21 live gaming tables and 206 slot machines.

About Casinos Austria International
Casinos Austria is a leading player in the international casino industry and currently operates 74 casinos in 17 countries and on board 9 luxury international cruise liners. Casinos Austria's revenues from the casino sector are expected to exceed EUR 1.1 billion in 2005.

About Grand Casino Brussels
Grand Casino Brussels
Rue Duquesnoy 12-14, 1000 Brussels
www.grandcasinobrussels.be
Open daily from 12 noon to 4 a.m.
Telephone: + 32 2 289 11 30

For further information please contact:

Hermann Pamminger
Head of Corporate Relations and Customer Care
Casinos Austria International
Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 14
A-1015 Vienna
Tel. +43 1 53440 527
E-mail: hermann.pamminger@casinos.at