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France – Mimizan awards casino licence to new kid on the block

By - 6 August 2018

A new operator has entered the French casino sector with the municipal council of Mimizan in Landes in south-western France, giving the operating licence for its new casino, which is still under construction to SAS Casigimi, a subsidiary of the group Philippe Ginestet.

The 20 year licence to the new group will replace the current agreement with Cogit group and see the casino relocated from its current seafront home.

The Ginestet Group has built its success primarily from its budget gift stores Gifi and has recently acquired Tati stores. This diversification to the world of tourism or leisure is not a first for Philippe Ginestet, as in 2011 he bought a castle in Saint-Sylvestre sur Lot, a few kilometers from the headquarters of the group, and transform it into a 4-star, multi-coloured hotel, called the Stelsia, with a spa and a restaurant displaying a Michelin star. Mr. Ginestet has surrounded himself with partners from the casino sector, with whom he has been working since 2014. For over five years, the municipality of Mimizan has wanted to move the casino into the ZAC Hournails, where it has a building to accommodate it. In the future, other complementary facilities are planned around the casino, but these will be run independently of the casino concession.

This is the fourth call for applications launched by the municipality with the others either being unsuccessful in the case of Socodem, who runs a casino Gujan-Mestras) had their award annulled by the administrative court. The Cogit Group’s licence was supposed to expire on September 30, 2017, forcing the city and Casino de Mimizan to agree an extension in April 2017 until May 31, 2018 and then until December 31, 2018. SAS Casigimi is based in Villeneuve sur Lot, along with its owner the Philippe Ginestest group. Its object is directly related to the gaming establishment of the seaside resort.

Casigimi’s field of activity could also be extended to other casinos. The company stated: “We may also be interested, in any form whatsoever, including by way of creation of company, contributions, merger, subscription or purchase of securities or rights and any participations, to any French or foreign companies or companies, whose activity would be similar to the social purpose or complementary of this one.”

The group Philippe Ginestet holds 85 per cent of the company with two other shareholders Matthieu Leboucher, holding 10 per cent and Prosper Masquelier holding five per cent.

Prosper Masquelier, 37, is a nephew of Patrick Partouche. He led Partouche interactive from 2006 to 2009, before leaving the family group. After legalising online games, he created the site PokerXtrem.fr in October 2010. In 2013, he organized at the stadium of Wembley, London with Laurent Tapie, the International Stadium Poker Tour. In 2014, Prosper Masquelier creates with Philippe Ginestet a site, MarketLuck, on which it is possible to play free poker, casino games or sports bets, with the key purchase orders from €5 to €100 in major retailers, including Gifi, Cdiscount, My Gift Card, Partouche casinos, among others.

Matthieu Leboucher, 33 years old, meanwhile was director of operations of Socodem for its casinos in Gujan-Mestras and Lacaune from 2009 to 2015 and general manager of MyPok, an online poker site operated by Socofinance, a subsidiary of Socodem de 2012 to 2015. This site merged in 2012 with PokerXtrem.fr, launched by Prosper Masquelier, before closing, then reopening in partnership with joaonline.fr, before closing in May 2015. Since July 2014, Mr. Leboucher is Director of Operations for Marketluck and Bravoloto.

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