CR63-p04-Euro4:SJC-Casino Review 22/12/07 20:29 Page 1
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New slots for Pougues
Despite approval from the prefecture of Gironde, the French gaming
The Tranchant casino at Pougues-les-Eaux in the heart of France,
commission (CSJ) has rejected another application by the casino in
180km south of Paris, has been awarded 50 new slot machines by the Gujan-
Gujan-Mestras near Bordeaux for 100 new slot machines to add to
Interior Ministry, in spite of objections by the French gaming commission.
Mestres
its current 50. The issue has been at the centre of a controversy for
The minister Michèle Alliot-Marie accepted an appeal by the operator in
late November. The machines were installed on 19 December bringing
knocked
some time with the casino’s principal shareholder Frédérique
Ruggieri complaining bitterly that her venue is not being treated
the casino’s total up to 230 making it one of the largest in France and
back again fairly. Her company will now appeal directly to the Interior Minister,
which will allow it climb the rankings in terms of gross gaming revenue who has the final decision, in the hope that she will overturn the
from its 45th position in 2005/6. CSJ’s decision as she did for the casino in Pougues-les-Eaux.
Spectacular new
casino for Toulouse
It may have overrun a little in construction but Lucien
Barrière’s latest addition to its casino portfolio was worth the
very slight wait. The Casino Théâtre Barrière de Toulouse is a
modern, stylish and welcome addition to the city’s economy.
Hugh Sorrill went to the opening.
showtime The casino is located over
FRANCE two floors: entry through the
now required identity check-
The people of Toulouse, the point brings visitors on to the
capital of the Languedoc in upper casino floor. The
southwest France, are reck- Central Bar and Café Barrière
oned by many impressed visi- restaurant is located in a raised
tors to this most beautiful of area to the left. Ahead is an
cities to be rather chic. That oval stairwell with escalators
reputation is now being down and up. Slot machines
enhanced by one of the most sweep around the edge of the
stylish casinos not just in well taking visitors up to the
France but in the whole of raised table gaming area with
Europe. 14 tables: American roulette,
The Casino Théâtre Barrière boule, stud poker, blackjack,
de Toulouse, located on the Île punto banco and three tables
du Ramier river island in the dedicated to Texas Hold’em.
Garonne, which runs through Toulouse is one of the first Fouquet’s, the third venue to nary space equipped with all Above left: The gaming floor seen a lot of success in the
the city, is architecturally strik- casinos in France to offer the bear the historic name. The the latest technology. Seating
covers two levels with 250
first month or so since the
ing: set on stilts in order to newly authorised game. original Le Fouquet’s restau- a maximum of 1,200, includ-
slot machines and 14 tables
soft opening. Since the intro-
avoid the worst effects of any The lower floor has the rant in the Champs-Elysées in ing 300 seats in two levels of
Above: Proud of their
duction of entry controls in
flooding, there are two further Café des Sports with high def- Paris opened in 1899 and for boxes, it is one of the largest
achievement: l-r Dominique
November, we’ve actually
storeys with the front eleva- inition plasma screens, includ- most of its history has been a theatres in the region. It has
Desseigne, Sven Boinet and
been able to gauge the
tion entirely walled in glass. At ing what is currently the favoured meeting place for also been designed to be flex- David Parré number of visitors accurately
the centre of the building is world’s largest at 2.6m, people of consequence. ible, to offer dinner theatre and we’ve discovered there
the theatre auditorium, which showing sports events. The Almost a hundred years later for 500 or for the floor to be you need determination too.” have been far more than we
together with the restaurants floor houses the rest of the Diane Barrière-Desseigne, cleared entirely for a banquet. Dominique Desseigne would have thought. In the
and casino on either side are casino’s slot machines, cur- daughter of the man who The theatre is offering 150 added: “This is a big day for us restaurants in the first month
soundproofed by the rear rently totalling 250. There is a named the company and wife show nights per year, with the and a big day for the group. we had 37,000 covers plus
service areas from the rocade, full range of machine - tradi- of its current chairman first light-hearted look back at When I think of the whole banquets. I can imagine
the western part of the city’s tional favourites plus the Dominique Desseigne, the music of the 70s and 80s. tender process, we’ve been reaching one million visitors
orbital motorway and conven- latest models from America bought the restaurant and The entire casino is non- very well rewarded today. in the first year.”
ient access route for visitors. It and Australia, although none then opened another in smoking, although there are David Parré has given himself He continued: “It feels
was designed by the from European manufactur- Cannes. Le Fouquet’s at wide exterior terraces, heart and soul to the project natural to be here. It is the
renowned architect Jean- ers. The new machines Toulouse offers the same heated in winter, where and with partners like that, fruit of a joint ambition
Michel Wilmotte working include some being seen for warm welcome as well as smokers can gather. you cannot help but succeed.” between Lucien Barrière and
with local architects Cardète the first time in France, such excellent food at affordable At the grand opening on 5 He continued: “This is not the city. The city undoubt-
and Huet. as IGT’s Star Wars and Termi- prices with an enviable wine December, an emotional just a place for gaming but a edly drove a hard bargain but
Just as striking is the interior nator, as well as the Fort Knox cellar. It has 170 covers inside casino director general David real place for leisure. It is now the result is that this casino
décor by Parisian designer and Red Hot jackpot games. plus another 60 on the Parré, who worked very hard the biggest casino in France marks a new stage of evolu-
Pascal Desprez, who has chosen There are two further terrace. There is also a private to a very tight deadline, said: and will soon take its place tion for casinos in France: a
a “Spanish” palette of red and restaurants: the Japan-themed dining room called Du côté “We have taken 17 months to among the top ten of earners central location, an attractive
black. In the main restaurant, Samouraï Bar, an intimate du chez Diane named in go from virgin territory to too. We expect it in the future building and a cultural offer-
they combine with polished space designed on Zen prin- memory of Diane Barrière- the finished product. It has to be in the top three or four.” ing. The casino industry is
wood, open spaces and high ciples with huge windows Desseigne who died in 2001. been difficult but achievable: Chief executive Sven undergoing change and
ceilings to recall loft living. opening to the front, and Le The theatre is an extraordi- motivation is not enough, Boinet added: “We’ve already Toulouse is leading the way.
4 January 2008 europeannews
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