The future of gaming in Paris: clubs instead of circles – L’Express

Poker enthusiasts, baccarat and baccarat are other defendants. To satisfy their passion player, they will now attend new clubs that could open in Paris in early 2016. This was the solution chosen by the Minister of Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve, reading of report it had commissioned in February prefect emeritus region, Jean-Pierre Duport, entitled “Proposals for a new legal offer of games in Paris.” This decision entaînera closed circles, controversial for several years as a result of judicial investigations have implicated institutions like Wagram, suspected of too close ties with the largest Corsican banditry, or that of the Rue Cadet.

To avoid any repetition in clubs drifts recorded in circles, the Duport report calls for new regulations. While the circles were associations, clubs are commercial companies. They no longer enjoy the tax system shows, and especially the banking profession will be exercised by a player. The risk must be assumed by the corporation. However, in the same way as circles, clubs will not have the authorization of the slots reserved for casinos. With this device, the Interior Ministry hopes to meet the demand of games in Paris, and limit the use of players to illegal gambling dens. Since it remains only two circles in Paris against eleven in 2007, the phenomenon has grown, says one place Beauvau.

540 000 players in Paris

The opening of the clubs will be initially experimental, for a period of 5 years. The state has in fact not given up the possibility of the installation of casinos in Paris. To date, it remains prohibited by an article of the Finance Act 1920. It prohibits casinos within 100 kilometers of the capital. The Duport prefect suggests that this provision be repealed. The Interior Ministry agrees. However, only the City of Paris could, if necessary, make the authorization request for the installation of a casino. “I felt some reluctance in several groups of the council of Paris, when I met them,” said Jean-Pierre Duport. Anyway, because of the procedures, it would take at least two years to open a casino in Paris.

According to the estimates of the report, there are currently in the capital an unmet demand for about 540 games for 000 players. The operation of casinos could bring gross gaming revenue of EUR 464 million, on which the state would collect a fee.