Carré Océan awarded licence for casino in Soulac-sur-Mer
Operating consortium made up of Smart Group and Hinvesto, the parent company of the Chamonix casino
Closed in the summer of 2025, the Soulac-sur-Mer casino in Gironde is preparing to reopen under a new operating structure, with the town council awarding a casino licence to SAS Carré Océan for a period of 15 years. While the premises housing the casino are currently undergoing renovations, gaming could resume as early as June, according to the mayor.
With a gross revenue of €1.2m in 2023 to 2024, the casino languished in 95th place before closing its doors. The new operator is a consortium comprised of Smart Group, whose president, Bernard Chaussegros, heads the Syndicate of Independent Casino Suppliers (SFIC), and Hinvesto, the parent company of the Chamonix casino in Haute-Savoie, headed by Jorge Lopes, who also manages SFM SFC2A. As part of this new public service concession, the municipality and the concessionaire have agreed that the gaming period will run from the Easter holidays to the All Saints’ Day holidays. Following a phase of renovation and air conditioning upgrades, funded by the municipality, the casino will offer its visitors 50 new slot machines, 16 electronic table game stations, and a Blackjack table.
“The idea is to open in a limited capacity around June 15 so that the casino can be operational this season,” Bernard Chaussegros told the Journal des Casinos. “Then, we will undertake major renovations within the building. We will be knocking down walls to create a 200 to 300 square meter gaming room where we will install 120 slot machines and new traditional gaming tables. The nightclub will also be reorganized and given a new look.”
The agreement between the municipality and the operator includes a brasserie-style restaurant program, which will be the subject of a sub-delegation contract. As for the nightclub, whose operation is included in the concession agreement, it will be transformed, outside the summer season, into a dance bar in the afternoon and evening. Regarding staffing, Carré Océan has committed to creating 20 jobs, with priority given to rehiring former employees of Casino de la Plage.
“We are truly delighted that this municipality, with its exceptional people, has placed its trust in us for this project. The casino is a historic and iconic landmark in Soulac-sur-Mer, and while we are confident and enthusiastic about taking over and relaunching this establishment after almost a year of closure, we remain humble and want to demonstrate our expertise,” added Bernard Chaussegros.
The financial terms of the public service delegation contract provide the municipality with a more favourable allocation than previously anticipated. The rent is set at €40,000 for the first two years of operation, then €60,000 for subsequent years. As for the levy on gross gaming revenue (GGR), it is set at eight per cent for the first two years, then at 10 per cent. It will then increase to 12 per cent if GGR reaches €2.2m, and then to 15 per cent once it reaches €3m. Finally, three per cent is taken from the revenues of the bar, restaurant and nightclub and the tourist contribution has been set at €35,000.
