Operator News
Restrictive conditions behind La Ciotat tender process to be ruled on by Marseille court
By Phil - 25 March 2024
The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture has referred the fallout from the tender process for the La Ciotat casino in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France to the Marseille administrative court and is requesting a ‘termination’ of the public service delegation (DSP).
The move comes amid claims that the municipality had disregarded the public procurement regulations by not respecting the rules of competition.
Following the call for tenders concerning the casino’s public service delegation, the company PleinAir Casino, a subsidiary of the Partouche group, and outgoing operator, was the only one to have submitted its application. The municipal council chose it, on January 30, 2023, to continue operating the gaming establishment, from the following June 10. However, according to the prefecture, rules requiring potential candidates to present a lease or a promise of lease has been see as favouring the outgoing operator as would be candidates would need an agreement in place with the existing operator.
Belgium operator DRGT was one company interested in the La Ciotat Casino.
Vincent Drain, DRGT’s lawyer said to Journal des Casinos: “The conditions set out in this DSP prevented the DRGT group and any other candidate from having a chance to operate the La Ciotat casino, as to submit an offer, our competitor, owner of the premises, had to agree to grant us a lease. DRGT’s objective is to develop in France. We are therefore delighted that the public rapporteur is in favor of terminating the public service delegation requested by the prefecture. If the public rapporteur’s request for termination is accepted by the court, then DRGT will be able to apply for the operation of this casino.”
