CR85-p04-Europe W1:SJC-Casino Review 25/10/09 14:13 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
Barrière’s sweet solution
Lucien Barrière has given away nearly 5m
lollipops in the last two years, le Figaro reports.
The French operator offered the sweets to
guests after the smoking ban was introduced in
order to help keep them at the tables. The move
was immediately popular, so much so that an
News
initial order of 500,000 that was expected to
last six months went in two.
EUROPE WEST
Full online casinos such as Barrière’s
LeCroupier.com will not be permitted but poker
will be, provided the operator is licensed
French Parliament passes online gambling Bill
A partial opening of the online gambling market in France is looking ever more likely. However, its provisions are the least the
government can offer and will leave land-based casino operators with online aspirations wanting more.
halfopen ace betting legally in France virtual table games. required to account for their games. It expects its take to Lucien Barrière Group,
FRANCE for the first time. There are thought to be activities in France sepa- remain constant at about E5bn. which has a full online casino
The law is being pushed around 100 online gambling rately and will be required to Horseracing bets will attract already operational in legal
The members of France’s forward in response to pres- operators who will compete have a registered office in an additional eight per cent markets outside France, will
Assemblée Nationale voted sure from the European for licences. According to the the country. levy that will go direct to the bide its time in launching a
302 to 206 for a Bill on online Union over equal provision budget minister Eric Woerth, The online gaming regula- industry. Levies from betting full paid-for site in its home
gaming and betting on 13 and access to services and in some 50 operators will be tor, Arjel (l’Autorité de Régu- on other sporting events will market. The Partouche Group,
October, which could see the order to provide a legal alter- awarded five-year renewable lation des Jeux En Ligne), be subject to an agreement however, which is already
partial opening at least of a native to the masses of illegal licences to operate and will will award the licences, regu- between the operator and the offering full gaming services
legal online market in the operations currently being have to conform to a strict set late their activities and be event organisers. online into France from
country from early next year. offered in the country. of rules that will include part of the fight against illegal The major land-based casino Gibraltar and Malta - deemed
The measure now has to go However, the Bill does not general issues such as preven- operators. Anyone found operators have been calling illegal by the government but
to the Senate before a final vote allow for the setting up of tion of addiction, transparency guilty of operating illegally for online gaming to be per- yet to be tested fully by the
by deputies. If the Government online casinos - yet: the stick- and prevention of crime and faces three years in prison mitted, and the concession on courts given the confused
succeeds in overriding the ing point is virtual slot money laundering, as well as and a E45,000 fine. poker is a sop to them given a legal situation at the heart of
fairly strong opposition, it will machines, so a compromise specific regulations on the The state will tax stakes on continuing reluctance by the the EU - could be in danger
allow private operators to may be found in the future operation of games. sports betting at 7.5 per cent government to open the under the much more spe-
offer poker, sports and horser- to allow the operation of Foreign operators will be and at two per cent in poker market further. cific new legislation.
Sven Boinet steps Casino moratorium
down from Barrière declared in Andalusia
fondfarewell Chairman of the group, deepbreath tracks of five originally Seville in Tomares between
FRANCE Dominique Desseigne, said: “I SPAIN planned. The unfulfilled Cirsa, London Clubs and a
and all the shareholders thank casino licences apply specifi- local group, which eventu-
The CEO of the Lucien Sven Boinet for his work over The government of the cally to the provinces of ally won.
Barrière Group, Sven Boinet, the last five years, which has autonomous region of Almeria, Granada and Huelva. More troubles have arisen
is leaving the company at the allowed the group to Andalusia in southern Spain The Regional Govern- for the casino’s operators
end of October in order to consolidate its leading position has said that it will not autho- ment has taken the decision whose plan to cut costs
lead the huge leisure and in all its activities in France and rise the opening of any new because the steep decline in through job reductions has
property group Pierre et Switzerland and created a casinos or racetracks until casino revenues in recent provoked significant strike
Vacances, where he has also high-performing and reactive 2013, even though some of times, say reports, down ten among workers. The amount
been a director since 2003. organisation. In a particularly the licences currently per cent in 2008 against of strong press coverage of
In his stead will be co- difficult economic environment, allowed for in law have not 2007. However, that also this most recently awarded
CEOs, Christian Meunier and he has helped the group to been awarded. coincided with a bruising licence is likely only to have
Jacky Sticker, already board face the crisis without
Sven Boinet is moving to
There are five existing battle for the licence to stiffened the Government’s
members with operational reneging on the quality of
take up the reins at Pierre
casinos of a maximum eight operate the Gran Casino resolve to pause before begin-
responsibilities. service, which is its strength.” et Vacances in the region, and two race- Aljarafe, just to the west of ning again.
4 November 2009 • europewestnews
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