Gaming clubs in Paris are on the brink of closure as their legal status hangs in limbo due to the dissolution of France’s National Assembly and stalled budget proceedings. If no solution is found, all seven gaming clubs in the capital will be forced to shut their doors on January 1, 2025, bringing an abrupt end to a years-long experiment.
The seven cercles de jeux—including Barrière Club, Paris Élysées Club, and Montmartre Club—were established in 2018 under an experimental program allowing table games but prohibiting slot machines and roulette. Originally set to conclude in 2020, the program was twice extended, with plans to make the clubs permanent fixtures by 2026. However, these plans collapsed after a vote of no confidence led to the government’s censure, leaving Parisian gaming clubs without the necessary legal authorization to continue operations.
Unintended Consequences of Political Crisis
The current political chaos began with President Emmanuel Macron’s dissolution of the National Assembly and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The rejection of the finance bill that included provisions for the clubs’ legalization has left the gaming sector in limbo. Without a new budget or a legislative solution, the clubs will lose their operating permissions at the start of 2025.
Operators have expressed alarm over the looming closures. Grégory Rabuel, CEO of Groupe Barrière and Chairman of Casinos de France, described the situation as catastrophic: “We support all club operators on the eve of this disaster and we want to believe that it can still be avoided. Exceptional circumstances call for measures that must be taken as a matter of urgency. We call on the public authorities to help us.”
Rabuel’s concerns highlight the economic risks associated with the closures, as 1,500 jobs are at stake. Some operators are seeking temporary measures, such as short-time working arrangements, to prevent mass layoffs while awaiting a new budget.
PokerStars Cancels European Poker Tour in Paris
The regulatory uncertainty has already had immediate consequences for the city’s gaming industry. PokerStars announced the cancellation of its European Poker Tour Paris event scheduled for February 2025 at Club Barrière. In a statement, the group cited licensing uncertainties as the reason: “PokerStars and Club Barrière remain committed to collaborating with local authorities to achieve a more stable regulatory framework. We remain optimistic that this will pave the way for the return of one of the most beloved stops on the EPT circuit.”
Hopes for a Solution Before January 1
Despite agreement from the Ministry of the Interior and operators that the gaming clubs have been successful, the lack of a legislative framework leaves their future uncertain. Industry leaders and trade bodies are urging the incoming government to prioritize the issue and pass urgent measures to save the clubs.
For now, the fate of Paris’s gaming scene remains tied to France’s political uncertainty, with no clear resolution in sight as the January 1 deadline approaches.
Source:
”Paris Gaming Clubs Face Uncertain Future Amid Political Turmoil”, World Casino Directory, December 16, 2024.