players who cling to their passion for slot machines despite inflation
The Enghien-les-Bains casino, nestled on the shores of the lake in the Val-d’Oise, offers a motley picture of a persevering French clientele willing to try their luck despite economic challenges. Véronique, for example, a disabled woman from Picardy, eagerly awaits her turn in the casino’s gleaming atrium. For her, it’s a special evening ahead, a sort of escapade into the shimmering world of Las Vegas (French version), a mixture of excitement and fatigue after an hour and a half’s drive. Let’s take a look at the French who swear by slot machines in these times of crisis.
Casino tours: the French indulgence in inflationary times
Access to the Enghien casino requires an entrance fee of €16, a rarity in France. For Véronique and her sister, it’s a first in Enghien-les-Bains. Despite Véronique’s health problems, which have forced her to give up her job as a cleaning lady, she is determined to get back to work. enjoy the evening without spending too muchI was very attracted by the reputation of the place.
The difficult economic climate has not escaped the fifty-year-old, who confides that her pleasure lies in “casino hopping”. She proudly lists the establishments she has already visited, often on rare vacations. And many more may soon be added to her list of casinos already visited. The passing of a law aimed at reducing territorial inequalities suggests that new establishments will appear in the years to come, in towns less prestigious than Deauville.
Véronique and her sister are not the only ones to visit the Enghien-les-Bains casino. Aïcha, a 55-year-old care assistant from Puteaux, spends €500 a month on gambling. Despite a salary of around €2,000, she considers this outing to be a real treat. essential entertainmentalthough it recognizes the importance of self-control in avoiding addiction.
Isabelle, a septuagenarian from Creil, travels two hours round trip to visit the casino. Although she admits to having lost money, her disappointment lies more in the lack of human encounters. She points out that people don’t talk much anymore, expressing a social dimension of casinos that is often overlooked.
Casinos: a highly democratized form of entertainment
Jean-Pierre Martignoni, a seasoned observer of gamblers for over twenty years, points out that casinos have democratized over the decades, becoming essential entertainment venues, especially in small and medium-sized towns. He also explains that for many, casinos are non-stop places offering a safe night out, an important consideration in today’s climate.
Despite its reputation as France’s leading casino in terms of sales, the Enghien casino seemed less busy that evening. A retired couple attributed the drop in attendance to inflationIn the past, people had to queue up to play slot machines. However, they feel they have the right to enjoy them after saving all their lives, while remaining reasonable in their spending, limiting their bets to €100 per evening.
