From the green pitch to the green of the gaming table: that’s exactly what continued to be the motto of the Casino Cup in 2023, after last year’s rousing premiere. Over the past few months, Austria's football clubs and amateur teams have been competing at Casinos Austria’s gaming tables playing roulette, blackjack and poker to collect points.
Four teams were particularly successful, writing an exciting new chapter as TV stars as they go on to compete in the Casino Cup semi-finals, with the two winners going on to meet in the final one day later. The TV show will be broadcast on Monday and Tuesday, December 18 and 19 on PULS 4 and on Austria’s free SuperStreamer JOYN at prime time at 8:15 pm.
The final step to select the Casino Cup Champion is a two-part “ball-in-show” – a top-class gaming entertainment format that already set new standards last year. The show organisers at PULS 4 have once again come up with ingenious ways to combine the two worlds of casino and football: the four team captains have to demonstrate both brains and ball skills in football blackjack, a baccarat speed duel and other tricky challenges.
The show’s successful elements also include the celebrity mentors who support the captains of the semi-final teams. Successful musician Thorsteinn Einarsson will compete with USK St. Koloman from Salzburg, cabaret artist Angelika Niedetzky with SFC Yumentus from Vienna, actress Nina Hartmann with ASK Bad Fischau-Brunn from Lower Austria and cabaret artist Paulus von Dr. Bohl with the women’s team of SC Landskron from Carinthia.
TV audiences can expect the highest level of professionalism in the presentation of the ball-in-show. The two evenings will be hosted by Sasa Schwarzjirg, congenially assisted by the commentary duo Andy Marek, the long-time Rapid stadium voice, and radio presenter Alex Nausner. At the gaming tables, croupiers from Casinos Austria will be showing off the skills that they demonstrate routinely in their daily work.
After all, the Casino Cup is not just about a chance to shine in front of a large TV audience, but also about winning a fantastic main prize: the winning team can look forward to a football festival worth 20,000 euros, boasting everything a footballer’s heart desires.