New casinos in France? This is the wish of three elected Les Républicains who voted in the first reading in the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, for a bill intended to facilitate its implementation.
The text, which obviously must be approved in the National Assembly, does not provide for total freedom but for authorized openings in municipalities with historical equestrian activity.
Saumur and Aurillac could have their casino
Examples include the city of Saumur (Maine-et-Loire) or Arnac-Pompadour (Corrèze), whose equestrian activities are very old. could therefore They have their slot machines and other roulettes.
Municipalities that are home to national stud farms such as Saint-Lô, Lamballe, La Roche-sur-Yon, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Aurillac, Pau-Gelos, Uzès, Rosières-aux-Salines and Cluny are also affected.
Another of the conditions established by the bill, that the candidate municipality host the headquarters of an equestrian company that has organized “at least ten equestrian events with national or international projection per year between January 1, 2018 and January 1 of 2023”.
But that is not all. The Senate also approved an amendment that allows the opening of one casino per border department, in a city classified as a “tourist commune.”
very strict rules
Remember that the installation of casinos in France is strictly regulated for reasons of prevention of risks of damage to public and social order, in terms of protection of health and minors.
Actually, casinos are prohibited in France, but there are derogations. Only thermal, coastal or climatic towns and agglomerations of more than 500,000 inhabitants with specific cultural facilities such as a opera, a national orchestra or a theater center, can claim the installation of a casino.
There are 196 casinos in mainland France and 7 abroad.
Gains in jobs and tax revenue stand out. Example in Saumur where, according to the text’s rapporteur, the opening of a casino would increase the number of tourists to 1.6 million annually in 2026 compared to the current 1.3 million and would generate the creation of at least 100 jobs, for concept of tax collection estimated at 1 to 1.5 million euros per year.
The government does not close the door
It remains to be seen if this text will be supported by the government in order to have a chance of being voted on in the Assembly. During the vote in the Senate, he delivered “an opinion of wisdom.” Asked by AFP, Sonia Backès, Secretary of State for Citizenship, does not close the door but has reservations.
“If it is not an end in itself, this bill allows (…) to move towards the white areas and respond to a strong expectation of the affected territories. However, we would like the wording of this text to be redrafted on the occasion of the parliamentary shuttle in order to allow the accumulation of a criterion extracted from the equestrian activity and a criterion linked to the tourist qualification of the municipality”, specifies the Secretary of State.
A turnover of 2,400 million euros last year
For associations that fight against addictions, this possibility is once again welcome. For Addictions France, quoted by franceinfo, this “would automatically increase the number of players with problems, to the detriment of public health.”
For its part, the ANJ (National Gaming Authority) advocates greater regulation of the existing market.
According to ANJ figures, French casinos achieved a turnover of 2.48 billion euros in 2022, or +138% in one year (2021 was marked by covid-related restrictions).
“These results, higher than those of 2019, cover heterogeneous situations, with 93 casinos registering a GGR (gross gaming revenue) lower than in 2019. The number of entries does not grow as fast as the GGR and is accompanied by an increase in the average basket, which could reflect a risk of intensification of the practices”, indicates the Authority.
Source: BFM TV
