The new, still secret, will make headlines: Bernard Laporte, coach of the XV of France, and Denis Charvet, another big rugby star recycled from the film, bought the Casino of Saint-Julien!

“The sale will be effective in a few days sooner than Bercy (MOF) has given its green light,” says the director of the gaming facility of Saint-Julien, Patrick Péquiot.

Joint last night, said Bernard Laporte and confirms the expected downstream of Bercy. He came up twice in Saint-Julien before deciding to make an offer to Isidore Partouche , founder of the eponymous group that controls some fifty casinos, including that of Meyrin.

By acquiring the company Divonne SA in September 2005, the group Partouche had to commit to get rid of, before March 31, 2007, one of its three gaming facilities in the border region. He therefore decided to retain Divonne and Annemasse, and “sacrifice” Saint-Julien. If this election was expected, that the names of new owners was significantly less.

Not a coup d’essaiQuoique … Former scrumhalf Bègles-Bordeaux became, in 1999, coach XV of France with whom he won three times the Six Nations Championship, is also and above all a businessman. And Bernard Laporte (43 years) is not his first attempt in casinos. Partner in his time with two other rugby Philippe Saint-Andre and William Téchoueyres, he acquired the Casinos of Lacanau, and Biscarosse Mimizan, then sold with a profit estimated at 12 million euros (19, 3 million francs ). Laporte has decided to leave his post as coach of France after the World Cup to be organized by France this year to handle its affairs.

At St. Julien, he will team with another former star of rugby become astute businessman Denis Charvet (44 years) has created a clothing line (Eden Park), worked as a sports presenter for the channel France 2, before embarking on film. Having been an actor (as Vercingetorix), he produced last year’s film Richard Bohringer is a beautiful city at night.

Familiar with the adage “Never change a winning team, they will maintain their functions Péquiot Patrick et al.

Owner of the establishment, the group Partouche initiated similar measures in all the other casinos it operates in France, where the dealers had taken the word of the strike the unions. According to corroborating sources, Patrick Partouche , CEO of the group, intends to play a showdown with its employees over the protest, but the unions point out that the strike of New Year’s Eve can not be invoked to justify dismissals , especially as the strikers were covered by national notice. An opinion shared by the Departmental Directorate of Labour, Employment and Training that dealers have contacted threatened with redundancy.

The group Partouche is not the only one to react strongly in this conflict: his great rival, the group Edge , also initiated termination action against the strikers last night of 2006. Yet the strike had finally bit disturbed that the operation of casinos. And for good reason: farmers had obtained from the Minister of Interior, their minister, exceptions to employ replacement staff that night

Casino de Berck-sur-Mer, a prestigious games of the Opal Coast, in the Pas-de-Calais, was one of the seven remained closed doors on Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve, following the national strike launched by the Inter-FO, CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC. Thirteen employees to work that night, nine have stopped work. The nine, three cruppers, two cashiers and four controllers at the entrances, were summoned for an interview prior to their dismissal. All the same date, January 17 next at the same time, 15 h 30. Patrick Partouche , CEO of the Partouche , who owns a fifty casinos in France had come in person at Berck threatening that “if we do not return to work, should go to the competition,” says Carole Chicken, Steward FW. “This assumes he wants to fire us have gone on strike because no one has committed professional misconduct,” she says.

But lay off due to strike is prohibited by law. The management therefore justifies its decision by the non-fulfillment of a “duty of disclosure and a duty to notice.” But Carole Chicken replies, “we did not have to file it on the scale of the facility since we were covered by national notice. Among the nine threatened employees, three are “protected” by the union office. Labour inspection must give its approval to their dismissal. The CEO is also preparing to sack two couples in which women are pregnant. “We’re not ready to let it go. We will not hesitate to go to tribunal, “warns Carole Chicken.

Working in the luxury but are paid minimum wage, these “green carpet of minimum wage earners” have stopped work to try to hear their demands: a wage increase of 5% and the award of a 13th month, measures deemed necessary to compensate of staggered working hours, night and Sunday, and wages that are around 1 000 euros net. They also demanded the withdrawal of a draft Ministerial Order “reform of the regulation of casinos, which must be ratified in January by the appropriate Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and cause, according to unions, the abolition of the 17 3500 000 jobs in the sector.

The G3 was introduced in TCSJohnHuxley booth at two trade shows in 2006 and the G3 has featured in advertising campaigns for technologies gaming tables Their new team of gaming tables has already demonstrated its effectiveness with this crucial first project in Poland. This project will allow profit TCSJohnHuxley develop the technical expertise required to build his team G3. This first installation will be conducted by the DEQ and will be supported by TCSJohnHuxley so they get the training required to become independent.

“We are particularly pleased with the marketing efforts that were put forward by TCSJohnHuxley and close links were established between our two organizations,” said Earle G. Hall, President and CEO of DEQ. The very good TCSJohnHuxley reputation for service and their international team of professionals are major assets for the distribution of G3 in Europe. ”

“The agreement with DEQ allows us to offer our customers the most advanced technology platform for side betting for table games, said David K. Heap, CEO of TCSJohnHuxley. Considering the increase in satisfaction players and revenue for the casinos, the G3 system surpasses any other technology available today. It is no coincidence that the product is gaining in popularity. ”

TCSJohnHuxley will present the DEQ’s products at the International Casino Exhibition (ICE 2007) to be held in London from January 23 to 25 next. TCSJohnHuxley take this opportunity to make personalized demonstrations of the G3 system with its clientele from across Europe and beyond.

About DEQ

DEQ is a publicly traded company recognized as a global provider of technology products for the entertainment industry, including electronic systems for auxiliary table games DEQ’s products are present in 200 casinos located in 30 countries worldwide. DEQ has developed and holds an extensive international patent portfolio that is the basis of its current products.

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such actual results could differ from those contemplated in these forward-looking information and statements.

All those who dream of obtaining a new license to operate a casino in Biel anxiously awaiting a decision from the Federal Council, which should have fallen in late 2006 and should be taken within a few days or weeks. Mayor Biel, also chairman of the board of directors of Casino Palace SA, does not hide that he has a project in hand: “We are in negotiations with federal authorities,” he says. If we get a new license, we are ready to reopen the casino. Several key partners have communicated their interest. ”

Recall that Biel has lost its casino in 2002 on Federal Council’s decision, shortly before the end of the CNE. He remains in the premises of the Palace is a “Mini-Casino, with five slots, the mayor Hans Stöckli likes to call” the smallest but most beautiful casino in Switzerland. ”

Decision imminent

The Federal Council will take a new decision on the number of licenses for casinos in Switzerland. “It should not fall in the coming days, but soon,” said Jean-Marie Jordan, director of the Federal Commission for gaming. The government can either support the status quo, or impose a total liberalization of the market (unlikely, according to experts in the field of play) or allow certain areas to obtain a concession. Quite likely, this scenario arouses desires in Biel. And Mayor Hans Stöckli does not hide his enthusiasm when the FCC asked the gaming ban slot machines “Tactilo” in bars and restaurants: “It’s good for us,” said Mayor. Loterie Romande is the big loser if this decision is upheld, since it has no casino. If the business of Tactilo can exist only in casinos, it will do everything to that new concessions are granted and to get one. That could push the Federal Council in the direction we want. ”

Favored casinos?

This analysis is only partially shared by the Loterie Romande. Under the tutelage of the six speaking cantons, it has a special agreement with Biel, as a bilingual city. But Jose Bessard, communications director of the Loterie Romande, do not think that his institution is launching soon in the casinos, “We are a utility company. Casinos are often operated by private entities. It would be surprising if we get into this track. Especially since we intend to win the battle of Tactilo and annulment of the decision of the commission! “That said, Loterie Romande closely follows the renovation of the Château d’Ouchy and it says on its website that “if the Federal Council decided to grant new concessions for casinos, the renovation would take into account the possibility of the Chateau d’Ouchy to accommodate.” Jose Bessard confirms that if the canton of Vaud gives him mandate, Loterie Romande could operate a casino. It accuses the FCC gaming casinos want to promote, that denies its director, Jean-Marie Jordan. Mayor Biel Has it been right? This controversy does promote the revival of the casino? Hans Stöckli is in the starting blocks and the project is ready.

In his eyes, he is an “unacceptable interference” in an area the cantonal level. They decided to appeal to the Federal Administrative Court.

The cantons are in the ban a political maneuver aimed at changing the distribution of skills in games of chance and money, while promoting gaming-dependent Confederation, the Chancery Vaud statement Thursday.

On the economic, cultural, social and sports, the ban decreed by the CFMJ cause very serious damage to the cantons. Beyond the financial dispute which exceeds the 100 million francs a year for speaking cantons of thousands of associations would be directly threatened in their existence, and the thousands of jobs generated.

By preventing large Swiss Lottery to develop an electronic format, the CFMJ condemns them to compete internationally and Internet calls into question the principle of operation of games in favor of public entities, say districts.

Recall that the Federal Gaming Board has decided to ban Tactilos outside of casinos According to her, these devices are similar to slot machines and must be subject to the law on gambling houses, they should be withdrawn from the market within six months.

According to the magazine Challenges, the negotiations concern the composition of the management team. Historical pattern of the group, Isidore Partouche should definitely leave the company. His son Patrick would be required to undertake to remain in the management of Casino for three years.

Michel Oyahon has until the end of the month to exercise its option on the group Partouche , in the form of a takeover bid. Still according to Challenges, the offer should be made ??on a basis of 21 euro, while the title Partouche oscillates slightly above 19 euros for about three months.

Title Group Partouche rose 0.05% 19.19 EUR

The rules changed last December to the 190 French casinos that have negotiated arrangements with the Ministry of Interior in exchange for the systematic monitoring of inputs identities.

Casino Bénodet anticipated by November 1 by checking identities. Six months ago, the entrance fee of 10 € at the gaming tables had been removed, allowing free movement between the gaming and slot machines.

First consequence, the public gaming tables has tripled with the influx of young people in particular. Suddenly, the table games that are less than 10% of the activity of the casino will expand with the impending arrival of two blackjack tables and a table of Texas Hold’em poker game popularized by retransmissions télévisées.Il some new stuff on the side of the 100 slots that will progressively equip “Bill Acceptor”, that is to say, instead of introducing 50 chips of 20 cents, we can introduce a € 10 note. This innovation is authorized by the Ministry of Interior which had triggered the strike casinos on December 31 last.

The unions see it as a threat to employment. This will allow the casino to fit 14 machines set for 10 cents. The interest in the player is to play two times longer than the 50 machines at 20 cents. You can find further 32 machines to 50 cents, 9-1 and 9 other € 2 €. Fifteen slots were authorized last April. This helped connect four slots for a progressive jackpot that has never been won € 156 000 have already been accumulated on this super-jackpot “Breizh Genius”, but it will not fire every year.

Two casinos for one city. In Vendée, Les Sables d’Olonne is an exception. And it pays.

Casino Pine (group Moliflor Entertainment ), the first casino in Vendée, are harvested in the slot machines and table games totaled € 15,300,000, between 1 November 2005 and October 31, 2006. Of this amount, you must remove the share taken by the state, which is 47% and that of the county, estimated at 9.61%, to obtain the total revenue of the casino. Of the 15.3 million euros, the casino pocketing just under half.

In Atlantis ( Barrière Group ), the same calculation. Of the € 6,994,000 Product gross revenue of the gaming establishment in reality amounted to 3.52 million. “The crude is up 7% to 8% from last year, noted Hervé Le Cam, CEO of the Atlantis casino. It is through the slot machines that were brought to themselves € 6,868,000. .

For the city, the casinos’ money is a significant windfall. Each year, the municipality receives 2.8 million boxes of the two gambling establishments. “The convention center is costing us € 300 000 annually, the grant to the Office of Tourism 600 000 €, we spend a million euros each for Vendée Globe … lists Jean-Noël Landais, Managing Director of Services for mayor of Sands. Without the revenue from casinos, we could not fund everything. And the players? With ten jackpots in excess of € 20 000, the gains won in 2006 by customers of the casino Pine totaled nearly $ 11 million. For Atlantis, players have won € 6,700,000, “almost as much as crude,” says the director. If until now, casinos brewing more and more money, the trend for 2007 is reviewing those numbers down. Because of this reversal: the identity check has become mandatory since November. “In December, we noted a decrease of 20% of the clientele, says Laurence Chaillot, head of marketing and communications for the Casino des Pins. But this reform was necessary. We are now sure not to bring any minors or persons prohibited games. To fill this financial loss, the ministry provided some compensation. “We had permission to install machines to 5 cents, and bill acceptors on machines with less than 50 cents. We also developed a pass, detected when the customer arrives at the casino lobby. He did not need to identify himself as the information concerning the display automatically on the computer. “Compensatory measures that will allow the casino to prepare a second reform feared by gambling establishments: the tobacco legislation.