Alan Campbell looks at the casino market in France.
With almost 200 venues, the land-based casino market in France is one of the largest in Europe but the industry has been struggling over the last few years due to increased competition from the online sector along with the consequences of the ongoing global economic downturn.
Despite inventing many of the games synonymous with today’s casinos including faro, blackjack and roulette, along with the suit of playing cards used around the world, France did not legalise casinos until 1907. Initially permitted as a way to increase tourism at specially selected spa towns, seaside resorts and mountain retreats, the industry soon took off nationwide with punters especially enjoying table games such as baccarat and chemin de fer.
Casino gaming continued to grow gradually until the 1960s when France, which includes its Departements D’Outre Mer of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte and French Guiana, boasted over 150 venues. Subsequent high tax rates and increased competition from neighbouring nations saw this number fall to 135 by 1985, at which point the government bowed to years of industry pressure and legalised slot machines. The controversial move worked and a revitalised industry had recovered by the end of 2007 to post annual aggregate revenues of $3.95bn from in excess of 190 venues.
Read the full article in the February issue of InterGaming
