The Serbian capital gets a spectacular new casino venue courtesy of Casinos Austria International, Club Hotel Loutraki of Greece and the state lottery of Serbia.

Guests flocked to the Grand Casino Beograd in the Serbian capital Belgrade last month for a two-day gala extravaganza at Casinos Austria International’s newest casino and entertainment venue.

Following a packed press conference on the Friday evening in the Parada function room, 1,150 invited guests were treated to one of the most spectacular parties ever to be held in Belgrade.

The festivities began with a dance and acrobatic performance to introduce the event’s ‘Colours of the Night’ theme: red for passion, blue for the sky, green for fun, food and feast, black for the night and gold for fortune.

Guests were welcomed by representatives of the Grand Casino Beograd’s partners, who ceremoniously cut the red ribbon before moving in procession with the performers to the roulette tables, where they each spun a golden roulette ball to mark the official launch of Belgrade’s casino.

The ‘winnings’ - over a million Serbian dinar - were donated to a local charity. A live DJ and dance party followed in the Parada with performances by star guest Severina and Serbian jazz and folk band Gyass.

Saturday night saw the casino host a second spectacular party for the general public. Word had definitely spread, and around 1,800 guests filled the casino and Parada for a second night of partying, fun and another rousing performance by Severina.

All the catering was provided by the venue’s three restaurants, offering guests a taste of what they each have to offer: gourmet international cuisine from the exclusive Diva, spectacular Asian creations from the buffet-style Ginger and French and Italian delicacies from Chameleon. The restaurants are now open for business and are already creating a stir on the Belgrade dining scene.

Completed in a record time of just one year, Belgrade’s casino enjoys an enviable location on the Danube Promenade. The new

complex provides an unmatched selection of gaming, dining, entertainment and event facilities.

In addition to state-of-the-art gaming at 25 tables and 222 of the latest slot machines, Grand Casino Beograd also features a VIP gaming area for high rollers, the three restaurants, an elegant piano bar, a stylish roulette bar lounge and terrace, the multifunctional Parada event room and a Vicky M store, offering a range of designer jewellery and Valentino accessories.

Grand Casino Beograd has been developed in partnership between Casinos Austria International, Club Hotel Loutraki of Greece and the State Lottery of Serbia. €85m has been invested so far in this extraordinary project, which with its top quality service, highest security standards, exclusive facilities and impressive design is the largest entertainment venue of its kind in south-east Europe.

With around 400 predominantly local staff, it is also one of the region’s biggest employers in the entertainment sector.