Members of Casinos de France meet in Évian-les-Bains to discuss state of the sector
Casinos de France discuss online gaming, Parisian clubs and property ownership after licences expire
Members of Casinos de France gathered for its annual general meeting on March 10 at the Hôtel Royal in Évian-les-Bains, overlooking Lake Geneva.
Pauline Hot, the Director General of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ), Christine Troupel, the head of the gaming establishments office at the Directorate of Public Liberties and Legal Affairs (DLPAJ) and Stéphane Piallat, the head of the Central Racing and Gaming Service (SCCJ), attended the discussions. After a year marked by political instability, the ultimately aborted attempt to introduce online casino games in France and the closure of Parisian gaming clubs for two months, the 2026 general assembly was much more serene for members reassured by a 3.06 per cent increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for all establishments.
“It’s true that last year was particularly difficult for the sector,” recalled Grégory Rabuel, CEO of the Barrière Group and President of Casinos de France, in an interview with Journal des Casinos. “The entire industry stood together against the legalisation of online casino gambling, and we are delighted that our concerns were heard by the government. I would remind you that this authorisation would have jeopardised the business of a third of the 200 French casinos, representing a loss of €100m in tax revenue for the state.” Nevertheless, the president, who has begun the second year of his term at the head of the trade association, is not averse to progress. “Certainly, we are opposed to the legalisation of online casino gambling, but if the legislature wishes to introduce it despite our reservations, we want to be a proactive force.” Through the “Jade” program (Experimental Remote Gaming), we aim to restrict the organisation of these online casino games to local establishments, as they possess clear legitimacy and expertise,” he argued. The union proposes, in this scenario, that casinos offer online a mirror image of the games available in their physical gaming areas.
Casinos de France also welcomes the growth momentum recorded in 2024-2025 despite the heavy tax burden, which represents approximately 57 per cent of gross gaming revenue, and calls for a reduction in this tax burden. “French casinos represent 28,400 jobs, €194m in investment, and €317m in levies. Their contribution accounts for up to 20 per cent of the operating budget in some municipalities. Not to mention the social connection we create there. It is therefore unacceptable that they are treated differently from certain other players in the sector simply because the State is a shareholder. This applies to both taxation and the monitoring of minors, for example.”
Another topic of discussion at this general meeting in Haute-Savoie was the successive decisions of the administrative courts regarding its interpretation of the concept of reversionary property. “The expropriation of the Partouche group from the building it legally acquired several years ago in Berck-sur-Mer, on the orders of the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, who authorized the use of force for this purpose, is a true scandal,” declared Grégory Rabuel, indicating that, according to research conducted by Casinos de France, 74 buildings currently housing casinos are owned by an operator. “We are hopeful that the steps and appeals undertaken by the group to recover its property will be successful, and it has our full support,” he added.
Among the positive developments, Grégory Rabuel welcomed the confirmation of the continued operation of Parisian gaming clubs in 2026, following a “farcical” start to 2025 during which they were forced to close, jeopardizing more than 1,500 jobs in the capital. “Now, the priority will be to begin discussions with the Ministry to standardize the regulations governing these gaming clubs, before, subsequently, requesting authorization to introduce roulette,” he explained. This approval is unlikely to be granted for several months.
