CR88-p08-europeW3:SJC-Casino Review 21/1/10 17:46 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
Léas wins another 15 years at Soulac
Roland Léas, the independent owner and operator of the
News
casino at Soulac-sur-Mer, at the mouth of the Gironde,
north of Bordeaux, has been awarded a 15-year licence
to continue. The decision for the town council was made
easier when the only other candidate Frédérique
Ruggieri withdrew in December. Léas will now also be
EUROPE WEST able to offer poker but he did not succeed in having the
tax rate reduced.
Rotterdam
opens a new
chapter for
Holland Casino
Holland Casino has opened a refurbished venue in the port
city of Rotterdam: it was a huge transformation that is
redefining the casino experience in the Netherlands and
bringing in a new kind of clientèle. Hugh Sorrill caught
up with spokesperson Mark Woldberg.
chicappeal offer great entertainment.” ing while Claessens Erdmann
THE NETHERLANDS An innovative feature is helped the project meet the
Gamebar Joy, a bar where specific requirements of
Rotterdam woke up to a new groups of friends can have a Dutch building legislation and
style of casino on 4 Novem- drink and play free games - environmental regulations.”
ber last: the Holland Casino video games - together. The He continued: “We’ve
venue, which was suffering UltraLounge Purple is now one invested several million euros
from the passage of time and of the sexiest music lounges in in the project - not all in the
of fashion, was relaunched the whole city, with pounding décor; there was a lot of work
as a funky night environment sounds inside designed not to to be done on the building
where gambling is just one disturb the gaming floor right itself, which is almost 20 years
of the entertainment options next to it. There is also a range old and needed attention. We
available. of restaurants from the à la stayed open throughout the
“We decided to give it a carte TOMS, to the snackier renovations, which took place
radical makeover with bold Take 5 and Devine, where in phases over the course of
design that would meet the excellent food and wine are six months. We managed it
expectations of visitors old served in the most chic of envi- without causing too much dis-
and new,” spokesperson Mark ronments. For poker players ruption for our regular visi-
Woldberg told International there is the new poker pit. tors, who have watched the
Casino Review. “The old Rot- “To achieve all this, we transformation with us.”
terdam casino was primarily asked New York’s famous He added: “After just two
focused on gambling: we Icrave Design agency and Ams- months of operation, it is a bit
wanted something new that terdam architects Claessens too early to say just how much
would appeal to people who Erdmann to work together,” impact the remodelling has
like to gamble but also to said Woldberg. “Icrave has an had on revenues but the first
those who just want a night excellent track record in signs are promising and we needs of casino visitors, chan- bility. The move towards offer- The new Rotterdam gaming
out with friends, so we have designing ‘all round experi- know that we are seeing new nelling them towards a safe ing leisure and entertainment
floor (top) looking towards
put a new focus also on food ence’ environments. They guests.” environment, and bring in in combination with gambling
the UltraLounge Purple at
and beverage. We have new have managed to incorporate As a state-owned company, enough people to be viable helps fulfil that strategic objec-
the back. The slot area with
the Devine restaurant to
restaurants and new bars that all aspects of our core busi- Holland Casino has a narrow and sustainable, without com- tive and is a strengthening
the right (above)
are stylish and attractive and ness into a very difficult build- path to tread: it must meet the promising on social responsi- trend in European casinos.
Casino Barrière de Lille to open soon French jackpot
nearlythere food and haute cuisine.
breaks new
FRANCE A completely modular
auditorium is also part of the
After almost two years in complex: the stage is
record
construction, the much antic- retractable and the seats
ipated Hotel Casino Barrière foldable. Set up as a theatre it topprize system, located in 100
de Lille will have its soft can hold 1,200 people. Enter- FRANCE casinos around the country.
opening at the end of January tainment will be an important The minimum stake required
or the beginning of February. part of the offering in Lille, The Magic Casinos Jackpot to win is E1.50.
Patricia Legros, director with 160 evenings already in France broke the E3m- All 35 Barrière casinos are
general of the venue told scheduled for variety shows, mark in early January for the part of the network, as are
local press early in the new comedy and magic across first time since the national the 17 casinos in JoaGroupe,
year: “We’ll soon open a the whole year. The first artist progressive was launched in the 16 in Groupe Tranchant,
40,000sq m complex but will be comedian and impres- September 2009. The the eight of Groupe
we’re still a building site! sionist Laurent Gerra on 25 opening level was just Emeraude and 24
There are still many things to Lucien Barrière’s new casino The casino part itself February. E3,750, showing remarkable independents.
do, but as soon as we have
in Lille will be the biggest
covers 12,000sq m, including The luxury hotel will com- growth in less than four The casinos hope the size
started decorating, it will go
opening in France this year
a 2,500 sq m gaming floor prise 142 rooms and suites months’ operation. of the jackpot will help to
very quickly.” over two levels. It will hold and is likely to be open to The operators of the bring more guests into
The hotel and casino is complex and home to the 300 slot machines on the guests in April. Underground jackpot claim it goes across casinos - the size of the pot
located in a brand new build- current temporary casino. lower level while upstairs parking provides space for the largest network of is already bringing good
ing on the edge of the Les Striking in design, the build- table games will dominate. 680 cars. interconnected casinos in publicity but even when it is
Dondaines park next to the ing is made up sharp angles There will be plenty of bar Barrière’s aim is to attract the world: it is playable on finally won, the new pot will
Euralille Commercial Centre, and is covered in glass and restaurants, including a million visitors to the venue 331 Bally slot machines, immediately start at half the
part of Eurostar station panels. fast food, brasserie-type every year. through an Atronic network level of the previous win.
8 February 2010 • europewestnews
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