Things are not going well between the Partouche Group and the Central Racing and Gaming Service (SCCJ), the body responsible for monitoring casino activity in France.
Targeted by an investigation since mid-March which has already led to the arrest of the directors of two of these establishments, the number 2 French casino gaming company accuses the members of the service of acting against its interests and of « sympathizing » with its competitors.
Tensions are therefore rising on both sides, while the Council of State, for its part, is reframing the prerogatives of each.
Violation of the confidentiality of the investigation
The current dispute between the Partouche Group and the SCCJ began in mid-March. As part of an investigation by the police, a search was carried out at three of the group’s establishments . Following this, two casino directors were taken into custody and subsequently charged with misuse of corporate assets.
The affair caused a stir and the Partouche Group’s share price plummeted, losing 20% of its value . The consequences were so swift and disastrous in part because the operation was recorded by M6 cameras and broadcast by the channel.
As the case is still ongoing, Partouche’s management is pointing the finger at the SCCJ and deciding to file a complaint on the grounds of breach of confidentiality of the investigation.
>> Read also: » The Partouche group in turmoil following searches «
An unwelcome dinner
A few days later, Philippe Ménard, head of the Central Racing and Gaming Department, was invited to the annual dinner of the Casinos de France union. A seemingly ordinary courtesy, but one that was immediately misunderstood by the Partouche Group. Indeed, the said union represents the interests of its main competitor, the Barrière Group. At France’s second-largest casino, this was seen as lobbying and a confirmation of certain suspicions.
The DCPJ prefers to remain silent in the face of these accusations; even better, they are ridiculed by some of the guests at this lavish meal. All in all, tensions are rising, and Philippe Ménard’s remarks on March 19th, on France Bleu, did little to calm things down. The head of the SCCJ had then mentioned possible administrative closures for the establishments in question.
The Council of State comes to the rescue of casino operators
It is in this somewhat deleterious context that the Council of State announced, on May 4, the cancellation of the guidelines imposed on French casinos since the end of 2016 by the SCCJ, as part of the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Deemed too demanding by the national supreme court, these rules will no longer be taxable on these establishments. A sigh of relief for the latter, pending the adoption of new, more realistic measures by the state system.
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