France reported an increase in full-year net revenue generated by the country’s casinos for the very first time in seven years. There were 201 gambling venues operating within its borders in 2015. Income from those amounted to €2.2 billion, up 2.2% as compared to the figure posted for the previous year.
Commenting on the reported results, Luarent Lassiaz, Chairman of gambling operator JOA, said that France is Europe’s leading country in terms of the number of casinos within its borders and the turnover figure from those. Mr. Lassiaz also pointed out that the greater part of his company’s casinos features non-gambling options as they consider diversification particularly important. JOA runs 22 casinos across France.
Following the positive performance, French gambling operators have reportedly started looking for ways to expand their presence around the country in a bid to attract younger gambling clientele. Over the past decades, casino companies have located their venues in glitzy resorts. And that same companies now seem to be eyeing urban centers.
Although gambling facilities have not been welcomed in larger cities for quite some time now, officials from those cities now seem to be less hostile towards casino gambling as they are looking for revenue streams. And taxes from casinos could be one such stable source.
Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin was the first to pave way for the development of casinos in a big French city. Earlier this week, he announced that a public tender for a casino license would be launched. Mr. Gaudin said that he has never been a fan of gambling, but he can “understand why people like it.” The official added that a new gaming hall would create up to 500 jobs and would annually generate €10 million in tax revenue.
Gambling operators have also expressed interest in opening casinos in Paris. However, a 1907 law forbids the establishment of gaming facilities within the capital and within a 100-kilometer radius. A report from 2015 recommended the legalization of casinos in the city and if officials decide to pay it due attention, gaming companies may eventually be allowed to enter Paris via opening private gambling clubs there.
JOA and fellow operators said that the idea has been examined actively and that they are likely to adopt models that had been introduced in London and other major European cities and had proved to be successful.
