France Might Allow Opening a Casino in Its Capital

According to some reports in France’s daily Le Parisien, French authorities might allow opening a casino in the country’s capital – Paris. The authorities are, reportedly, evaluating the possibility of making legislative reforms which would make establishing a casino in Paris a legal action.

The news comes only half a year after the French police raided the famous Aviation Club de France and the Cercle Cadet. If the daily is to be believed, French Ministry of Internal Affairs has asked Jean-Pierre Duport to make a study in which the pros and cons of a Paris casino would be listed and analysed.

The paper revealed that the study should be completed by the end of April; its main objective would be to define whether gambling in the capital should be put in the hands of network of cercles, also known as gaming rooms, or handled by a real brick and mortar casino.

Gambling Expected to be a Hot Topic in France

No matter whether Duport’s study ends up being in favour towards restoration of the well known cercles or opening the city’s first casino, there is no doubt that gambling is going to be a hot topic in France.

According to an anonymous source who talked to Le Parisien, the legal status of the cercle and the way some cercles organised their operations resulted in various illegal practices and frauds. Therefore, the person pointed out that “the time of opacity is over.” The source went further explaining that Duport’s mission was to create a transparent and controlled offer of gambling games.

Since the two options are a casino or reviewing the legislation regulating the cercles, it is obvious that the legislator will have a lot of work to do.

Currently, there is only one casino near Paris – Enghien-les-Bains, which is located approximately 11 kilometres of the city. Those who want to enter the building are asked to buy an entrance ticket and this rule makes it one of a kind in the world.

Paris Casino Could Generate €30 Million in Tax Revenues

One of the reasons why the City of Paris refused to officially give its opinion on the topic is the huge profit the capital could make if a casino is opened on its territory. There have been some rumours that a brick and mortar casino in a city with 2.2 million citizens and approximately 30 million tourists per year might generate a profit for the state and the city of 30 million Euros.

Currently, players who used to play at the both gambling facilities that were closed six months ago are heading to the casinos in Deauville and Enghien-les-Bains. Also, there have been some announcements of opening a Las Vegas style casino in Roissy-en-France, a place located only 20.7 kilometres from Paris.

In any case, it remains to be seen what the future will bring for Paris and whether the city will soon get its first brick and mortar casino.