more land-based casinos in France?
The expansion of casinos in France could soon become a reality, with the final passage of a law on gaming establishments voted through the National Assembly on Tuesday December 05. The legislation targets towns such as Saumur, Saint-Lô and Uzès, with the aim of “reducing territorial inequalities”. In practice, these towns will be able to host a casino! Read on.
Casinos in towns renowned for their equestrian heritage?
New municipalities, particularly those with an equestrian heritage such as Saumur and Arnac-Pompadour, will now have the option of opening casinos in their towns. to host a casino thanks to a law definitively adopted by the French National Assembly last Tuesday.
The law, which aims to “reduce the (…) reduce territorial inequalities in the opening of casinos In May of this year, the French Senate passed a bill entitled “A bill to reduce territorial inequalities in the opening of casinos”, which received over 70% approval in the Senate. The bill stipulates that casinos may be established in communes where a horse racing company has its head office by January 1, 2023, as well as in communes with a historic site or national stud farm where at least ten nationally or internationally renowned equestrian events have been held between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023.
In addition to Saumur and Arnac-Pompadour, this news concerns other towns such as Saint-Lô, Lamballe, du Pin, Hennebont, Lion d’Angers, la Roche-sur-Yon, Pompadour, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Aurillac, Pau-Gelos, Uzès, Rosières-aux-Salines and Cluny. It should be noted that the new provision could also apply to departments that currently have no casinos. These include the Ardennes and the Dordogne.
” The horse is a major player in French culture “
” The horse is a major player in French culture “Dominique Faure, French Minister for Territorial Collectivities and Rural Affairs. Despite this, the equestrian sector seems to be attracting fewer and fewer people, and is gradually losing its appeal over time. Frédérique Meunier, LR MP and rapporteur for the bill, rightly insisted that revenues from gambling would support a sector currently in convalescence.
The main objective of the law is to ” keep local economies alive “and ” develop a specific, recurring appeal “added Frédérique Meunier, convinced that the opening of new casinos will bring definite economic benefits to municipalities with equestrian activities, notably by strengthening their tourist appeal and their financial base.
The bill passed with 145 votes in favor and 48 against. The ecologists and LFI voted against, arguing that France already owns 40% of the casinos in the EU. The latter also mentioned pathological gambling and the growing phenomenon of gambling addiction.
