The new Gaming Act legalizes online gambling in Switzerland. It enables Swiss casinos to establish and operate online casinos in a responsible manner. Grand Casino Luzern has been working intensively over the past few years to prepare for its entry into the online market. To this end, it developed the Mycasino.ch brand specifically for this purpose.

The Federal Council’s positive decision has sparked great joy in Lucerne. Casino CEO Wolfgang Bliem (pictured above) said in a statement: «The Grand Casino Luzern is among the first to receive a license from the Federal Council for a Swiss online casino. For us, the online casino market is an additional and important sales channel for the casino, which is our company’s core business.»

A special innovation is in the works for the table games area: Once an operating license is granted, a live roulette table will uniquely connect the existing casino with the online world. The game will be streamed live from the Grand Casino Luzern to Mycasino.ch. Players can participate either in the traditional way at the on-site casino or online. A space has already been reserved in the casino building on Lucerne’s lakefront promenade for this new feature.

Tamedia conducted the survey on harassment and sexism in the workplace, which was published on Saturday. The survey was sent to 3429 media professionals in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. 755 people from TV, radio, print and online from all major media companies took part.

The anonymous online survey is not representative, but according to Tamedia it includes hundreds of cases described in detail. Previous surveys conducted by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) and Amnesty International on this topic have yielded lower figures in terms of the number of people affected.

In the study, 244 women (53%) and 34 men (11%) reported sexual assault or harassment at work. According to their statements, one media professional was raped in the office and another was forced to perform an unwanted sexual act. The participants frequently named superiors and external parties, such as interview partners like politicians or managers, as the accused parties.

The vast majority of the female journalists affected stated that they had been the target of verbal harassment such as insinuating remarks or sexist remarks. In three dozen cases, there was even harassment involving physical contact such as touching the breasts or buttocks. The respondents also described several dozen cases of intrusive stalking, for example by text message or email, or sexual harassment without physical contact. Many cases involved advances, sometimes with promises of advantages or threats of disadvantages from superiors.

Of the 200 women who responded, 158 said they had spoken to work colleagues, friends or family about the incidents. 27 did not speak to anyone about it. Only 15 women said they had contacted specialist agencies or the police. (SDA)

Geneva State Councilor Pierre Maudet (FDP) filed a complaint against the "Rundschau" report. In the vote, the complaint was approved by five votes to three, the UBI announced on Friday. SRF had broadcast the contribution on October 3, 2018 in the political magazine "Rundschau". According to the introduction, it was about "the Maudet file and what that has to do with the Swiss hub for dirty gold".

The background was Maudet's trip to Abu Dhabi in 2015, which is being investigated by the public prosecutor's office of the Canton of Geneva against the FDP politician. The film report focused on the import of gold from the United Arab Emirates via Geneva Airport.

The UBI had to assess whether the audience was able to form its own opinion in accordance with the principle of objectivity. Since serious allegations were made against Pierre Maudet and these were connected with the criminal proceedings currently underway against the politician, the editorial team was subject to heightened duties of care, in particular to ensure the presumption of innocence.

After a controversial discussion, a majority of the commission had come to the conclusion that the "Rundschau" audience was unable to form its own opinion of the report. Several aspects were decisive, which significantly influenced the overall impression. For example, Maudet was not able to take a direct position on the vehement accusations of a criminal law expert.

The information on the awarding of a contract for ground handling at the airport was incomplete, as it was limited exclusively to aspects incriminating Maudet. According to the UBI, only people who tended to be critical of the government council had their say in the report. The politician's point of view had been insufficiently expressed overall and the non-verbal form of the report had had a tendentious character. (SDA)

The experienced and multilingual communications expert has been drawn back to Basel after a four-year period in Lausanne, where he successfully built up and profitably marketed the neighborhood management of the trendy "Flon" area as Head of Real Estate Western Switzerland. The 50-year-old will take over the function from Peter Frey, who will retire to the Board of Directors after a transitional period. The Basel-based LSA agency, which is remembered as the inventor of the "Stop Aids" campaign, plans to expand into new business areas, both on and offline, according to the statement.

Electric cars drive cleanly and are the most climate-friendly. At least in Switzerland. That's what researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have discovered. For the all-electric Audi E-Tron, which rolls off the production line at the world's first CO2-neutral plant for premium mass production in Brussels, Y&R Wunderman has now created a visual that surprisingly combines the themes of electricity and nature.

What appears at first glance to be a flash of lightning turns out to be a root in the ground on closer inspection. And thus symbolizes the environmental friendliness of the E-Tron. The visual is used both online and offline.

He created distinctive illustrations for each canton, which come together on 366.1 square meters to form a giant picture in the shape of Switzerland. Switzerland's largest jigsaw puzzle can be admired on June 6 in the station concourse at Zurich's main train station.

The unique work of art consists of 11,592 puzzle pieces in the typical Fredinko style, somewhat reminiscent of the famous hidden object pictures. There are thousands of subjects to discover and unravel on over 360 square meters.

Fredinko, whose real name is Frederick Rossmann, did not design with brush and canvas - as he is accustomed to doing - but had to resort to tablet, pen and computer due to the unusually large dimensions. "To design the whole of Switzerland in all its facetted diversity on such a surface was a unique opportunity for me," the artist is pleased to say. "The fact that this is a Swiss record is the crowning glory of this project" Fredinko adds proudly.

For one day, the art project was exhibited at Zurich's main train station - but not just to look at. Each puzzle piece, all of them unique, could be taken home by visitors for a voluntary donation. The proceeds will go to the Pro Juvent association. Fredinko himself will sign the pieces on site. "So everyone can choose their part of Switzerland and take it home," he explains.

The motifs of the cantons are not only part of Switzerland's largest puzzle, but also the label subjects of Coca-Cola's current summer promotion. The PET bottles with labels created especially for the Swiss market are now available in stores.

"Such a close collaboration with a Swiss artist is also a first for us," says Matthias Schneider, Head of Corporate Communications at Coca-Cola. "We are very pleased to support Swiss artistic creation and thus contribute to a diverse society."

More on the campaign in the following print edition of Werbewoche.

Jennifer Frame, Head of Marketing Non-Food (l.) and Nicole Calegari, Head of Marketing Competency

Manor was honored with the German Brand Award 2019 and as winner in the category "Excellent Brands - Trade, Retail & E-Commerce" on June 6 in Berlin. The Swiss department store group was recognized for the most innovative brands, consistent brand management and sustainable brand communication.

"Our brand communication is geared to the customer. It is important to us to be able to understand purchasing decisions in order to fulfill customer wishes in the best possible way. We are all the more delighted to receive the German Brand Award, which shows us that we are on the right track. We thank the jury as well as the organizer - and of course our marketing team, without whom this award would not exist," says Nicole Calegari, Head of Marketing Competency at Manor, who accepted the prize in Berlin.

Thanks to the new brand strategy, Manor has succeeded in raising awareness in Switzerland to just under 100 percent. This was influenced not least by the Manor Christmas campaign, which contributed to significant growth in key figures by taking first place among the most successful advertising videos of 2018.

Farfalla's comprehensive rebranding was awarded gold in the "Brand Design" category. The agency Lämmler & Mettler, which specializes in brand development, has been responsible for Farfalla's brand presence since 2002 and developed a complete rebranding as part of the generation change at Farfalla: everything was redesigned, from the brand to the visual language to the design of the entire product range and the comprehensive communication media. "With the butterfly as brand ambassador, we succeeded in creating a striking brand element with a high level of recognition. A beautifully crafted and at the same time also high-quality looking brand that perfectly combines the themes of nature, cosmetics and care," reads the jury statement.

farfalla, a pioneer in natural cosmetics and natural essential oils as well as organic and natural cosmetics, empowers its customers to take care of themselves individually - supported and 'inspired' by a new, fine and atmospheric design. "follow the butterfly" is the guiding idea. It is consistently implemented in a clear concept in a light and independent way. The refreshing and emotional visual language reflects Farfalla's values and stands out well from the natural cosmetics field.

The butterfly as a brand ambassador is at the center - as in the name of the brand (Farfalla: ital. butterfly). It represents metamorphosis and renewal, individuality and diversity, beauty and femininity, and naturalness.

"Six is Ten" is the name of the campaign for SIX's tenth anniversary, which Sergeant conceived and implemented in close collaboration with the financial company. Now the internal campaign has been recognized for its success. At the award ceremony in Berlin on Thursday, two awards went to Zurich; one as one of the winners in "Internal Branding & Brand Academies" and one in the additional category "Agency of the Year".

Stories, games and a bit of luck At the heart of the campaign is a digital platform with interactive storytelling, user-generated content and games, on which over 4,000 SIX employees from 28 countries were able to interact with each other for a year.

If you ask Berliners about Bumble today, most of them know immediately. That wasn't the case a year ago. Then came Foundry's campaign. Founded by Swiss Sacha Moser, the agency created the hyperlocal OOH campaign last summer that brought the app to widespread awareness and popularity, drawing it to the smartphones of Berlin's Millenials. Bumble is an app with which people can seek connections of all kinds: In dating, friendship and business. And in all three modes, the rule is female first. Nothing works without the first message from the woman.

The headline campaign focused on apt allusions aimed at the Berlin audience between 18 and 35. The many messages humorously played with very specific and local aspects of various Berlin districts and their stereotypes. At the same time, the themes of dating, friendship, career and especially female empowerment were brought to the fore. The agency was also responsible for the entire media planning. The messages were appropriately placed in the districts within the streets and squares of Berlin. This made it possible to speak directly to the target group. The campaign was so successful that it spawned many more rounds. At the moment Foundry is in the preparations for the sixth flight.

In addition to offline shopping, online retail is more important than ever for the retail industry: Companies must not only reach out to and interact with their customers through digital channels, but also manage inventory and promotions more efficiently. This is driving a significant increase in global IT spending: a 3.6 percent rise is expected compared to 2018. According to Gartner, global spending on retail technologies will total $203.6 billion in 2019.

Reason enough for Tech.—a collaboration with the UK news magazine Retail Week and the World Retail Congress, one of the world’s largest retail events—to interview C-level and managerial-level retail experts from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Russia about digital transformation as well as new technology trends and strategies.

Some interesting findings from the technology survey «A World in Motion: Retail Digital Transformation Across the Globe, and the Technology Supporting It»:

• In Germany, retailers already have a strong understanding of how new technologies affect their businesses. As a result, 60 percent are investing in voice technologies, among other things.
• In the U.S., 75 percent of retailers say that the urgency of digital transformation is increasing. Forty percent are already using artificial intelligence, and new payment methods are also very popular.
• In France, half of those surveyed are already using robotics, and artificial intelligence is also a key item on the agenda. To drive digital transformation and make effective use of these technologies, 90 percent of retailers believe that, above all, a shift in mindset is needed at the executive level.
• In the United Kingdom, one-third of retailers plan to invest a six-figure sum over the next 18 months. Visual search tools are at the top of their wish list, as they aim to provide customers with a more intuitive shopping experience.
• Russian retailers also believe that digital transformation requires a new approach to business management. However, three out of four retailers admit that there is currently a shortage of skilled workers. Currently, 75 percent of companies are using technologies based on artificial intelligence.

Retailers in these markets are under significant pressure. The growth and complexity of e-commerce mean that companies must operate more efficiently and cost-effectively to remain competitive. At the same time, they must find new and creative ways to attract and retain customers. 

In Germany, voice search is therefore a popular tool, with a 60 percent adoption rate. This allows users to quickly, easily, and conveniently ask a question or express a product request via their mobile device or a connected speaker. Otto is one of the first German retailers to enable its customers, through a partnership with Google, to enter product requests via the app using a voice assistant.

Visual search is proving very popular among 45 percent of retailers in the United Kingdom, especially when it comes to selling high-priced items. It gives customers a much better sense of what a new kitchen or sofa would look like in their own home. In France, robots assist with product picking in large warehouses.

Poppie Mickleburgh, Event Director at Tech., summarizes: «New, innovative technologies are opening up opportunities for the retail industry that would have been completely unthinkable just a few years ago. All markets agree that digital transformation should be at the top of the priority list. How individual countries are approaching this and which technologies they prefer is fascinating and offers international peers the opportunity to learn from one another.»

"That's what Xing does": The agency Inhalt und Form is launching an awareness campaign together with Xing Switzerland. The campaign shows how Xing can help you find your dream job. In the search for the right job, six protagonists answer the question "What does Xing do for me?

Digital advertising media are used to showcase the content, functions, and tools that Xing offers its users, and job seekers in particular, for this purpose: Free access to employer reviews, salary comparison, tips and guides, and an individually searchable job portal. The campaign will be played out from the end of May to mid-June via display ads, social media and digital out-of-home throughout German-speaking Switzerland.

There are countless rankings of start-ups; the most innovative, the most disruptive, the most popular or the most revolutionary. But who are actually the best-known start-ups among consumers? And who are the most popular?

Rod Kommunikation investigated this question and conducted the first representative study on the topic in collaboration with Marketagent. The result: the three podium places are occupied by start-ups that serve the three basic human needs: Food, drink and love. This may be partly due to the fact that the three start-ups already reach a broad audience due to their products per se. However, the companies have also used different strategies to attract collective attention - and apparently with success. Or how do the CEOs and co-founders explain their top rankings in the Rod Start-up Study 2019?

Alan Frei, Amorana: "We didn't hide from the start and admitted that we sell sex toys. This allowed us to realize many unusual media stories in the beginning. Today, sponsored content and television advertising are an important measure for us, even if we have to meet a whole range of requirements due to our products."

Roman Hartmann, Farmy: "We are delighted that Farmy is perceived as the most likeable and sustainable Swiss start-up! A key factor in our success is that we evaluate the needs of our customers very precisely and align our products and appearances accordingly. In our communication, we place a strong focus on our producers."

Philip Bucher, Doppelleu/Chopfab: "As a brewer, we have consistently focused on specialty beers right from the start. Getting these out to people via communication is not so easy due to legal regulations. We have held thousands of tastings and word-of-mouth advertising was certainly important in achieving the recognition we enjoy today. This allows us to now also perform at major festivals."

An innovative product, simple sources of supply and good communication with the market therefore seem to be an important recipe for a company's success. This may come as little surprise, but it is a decisive factor for start-ups in particular. If we compare the awareness levels of the start-ups with the statements regarding the willingness of potential customers to use the product, one finding is particularly striking: the vast majority of the start-ups surveyed actually seem to have a product that would meet with great interest on the market - if people knew about it. There is great potential in this, which could be exploited with clever communication strategies.

Anyone who is no longer prepared to continue shouldering high health insurance costs should react now - and preferably wake themselves up right away ("Wake up & save money"). Under this motto, AXA has launched a multichannel campaign for its supplementary health insurance in collaboration with The House agency.

In online films, on posters and print visuals, the campaign presents refreshing instructions on how to "wake up and save". In addition to films, posters and visuals, the website created especially for the campaign is the core of the project.

With a wink of the eye, you can see on the Landing page learn about unconventional wake-up methods or share their own wake-up tips. Friends can also be woken up so that they don't sleep through the health insurance change and can save in the future. Those who are convinced by the offer can arrange a consultation directly via the website and also take part in a competition with attractive prizes. The main prize is a VIP trip for up to five people; in addition, ten times 1000 Swiss francs will be raffled. In addition, water bottles with the campaign slogan "Wake up & save money" will be distributed at 14 train stations. The idea is to wake yourself up with a refreshing sip.

High savings potential

It pays to be wide awake. Switching insurers can save several hundred francs, as the campaign's messages make clear. The special thing about AXA's supplementary health insurances: AXA's switching service is included free of charge. Those who want to change their basic insurance can transfer the formalities to AXA free of charge.

The campaign launched on June 3, 2019 with a digital campaign on 20minutes, 20minutes and 20minuti. It is supplemented by national prerolls, i.e. short online spots that are placed before video content. The campaign is aimed primarily at young professionals and young families and will run until November 30, 2019.

Adrian Vonlanthen started working for Suva at the beginning of March and is responsible for the Swiss accident insurer's financial affairs, among other things. The 33-year-old previously worked for eight years as a print and radio journalist for various media and was most recently in charge of two regional newspapers in the canton of Aargau. Adrian Vonlanthen is currently studying MAS Corporate Communication Management at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland in Olten. Previously, he had completed a Bachelor of Arts ZFH in Communication at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur.