On Thursday, March 12, 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed millions of viewers to announce the closure of schools, starting Monday, March 16. This historic decision was taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus, known as Covid-19. Even before it became effective, on Saturday, March 14, he intervened again to announce that the vast majority of public places would also remain closed, starting at midnight.
This is how the lockdown had just begun. From that moment on, most shops, bars, and restaurants, for example, could no longer welcome customers on French soil. And of course, the same went for casinos. Thus, French players could no longer go to land-based casinos in France to play slot machines, blackjack, or roulette.
As of May 11, the gradual deconfinement began. The French government decided to reopen some school classes and more stores than before. However, land-based casinos in France were still required to keep their doors closed. Operators now hope that the closure will not last too long. During a recent interview on BFM Business, the chairman of the board of the Partouche group ( Fabrice Paire ) believes that the health protocol proposed by the sector should allow for a rapid restart after more than forty days of closure. Let’s take stock of this issue together.
A loss of 50 million euros in turnover for the Partouche group
Currently, the Partouche group has established itself as one of the leading casino operators in France. While the gambling establishments of its main competitor, Barrière, generate higher revenues, it has more complexes. In total, it currently operates 38 such complexes in France and employs approximately 4,200 people.
During the lockdown, the Partouche group estimates it lost around €50 million in revenue. From a broader perspective, the entire casino sector has obviously been heavily impacted by the lockdown. In an attempt to minimize these losses, the sector will be asking the government for a reduction in its taxes, which normally reach between 53 and 54% of gross gaming revenue.
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Land-based casinos in France: A satisfactory health situation
In a recent interview with BFM Business, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Partouche Group (Fabrice Paire) announced that reopening protocols based on health protocols have been sent to the Secretary of State for Tourism (Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne).
He believes the overall package is strict enough for the government to agree to a fairly rapid reopening. Indeed, all these protocols should ensure a satisfactory health situation within the establishments. This includes, among other things, mandatory mask-wearing and increased distance between slot machines to maintain the essential barrier gestures. Should we therefore expect to return to our favorite gambling establishments soon? Only time will tell…
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