Operator News
France – Club Joa Royale closes permanently in Paris
By Phil - 21 June 2021
Club Joa Royale will not reopen with the Lyon group deciding to ‘refocus on its core business and continue its development by strengthening the games and leisure axis like the Group’s last casino, built in the town of St Laurent-en. -Grandvaux (Jura).’
Club Joa Royale was forced to ‘close its doors in mid-March 2020, only a month and a half after its opening.’ It operated for just 159 days in total. Joa was forced to wait until May 19, when the second lockdown was lifted, to be able to open the casino’s doors to the public. Faithful to the Group’s strategy, this construction, of which 50 per cent of the surface area is dedicated to non-gaming activities, is a new example of Joa’s vision of its core business.
The French operator said: “Joa regrets to announce the definitive closure of its Parisian Club and its compulsory liquidation. Opened in January 2020, after more than six months of work, this establishment located at 12 rue Royale, has failed to find its rhythm in a very competitive Parisian market and in a complex health context. Our teams make every effort to facilitate and support the search for reclassification solutions for our 87 employees, among our Parisian colleagues, but also within the other establishments of the Group.”
Other development projects are underway, added the group, including ‘construction of a new casino in Fécamp, extension and construction of a bowling alley in Luxeuil, deployment of the Joa Sports Bar, launch of a new bar concept. & Restaurant.’
The group added; “We continues our acceleration in online games with the brand new Joabet platform, which achieved sustained growth in the first half of 2021 and welcomed its new ambassador Djibril to its teams at the end of May. Cissé for Euro football and the year 2021.”
Paris is now down to seven gaming clubs participating in this experiment in the capital. Five reopened their doors on June 9, the Paris Élysées Club (Tranchant group), the Club Barrière, the Club Circus Paris, the Imperial Club and the Punto Banco (formerly Club Berri acquired by the Partouche group). The Pierre Charron club and the Montmartre Club were waiting for the end of health restrictions on June 30 to fully reopen. But the lifting of the curfew, from next Sunday, could perhaps speed up their reopening.
