Last year, numbering 180, the casino had posted an increase of 3.68% of GGR, to 2.546 billion euros. Especially after a double-digit growth during the 90s with the explosion in the number of slot machines, found the activity of more moderate growth rates. And industry professionals believe that their margins are squeezed by largely tax grabs that have made progress since that decade. Latest, the increase of the CSG is expected to cost about thirty million in the sector.

This year, once again, the Casino of Enghien, near Paris, who leads by far with a GGR of 136.93 million euros (+ 16.98%) or almost twice the second French casino, namely Charbonnières-la-Tour-de-Salvagny, in the Rhone.

The bandits still contribute largely predominant, which continues to grow. During 2003-2004, the gross gaming revenue from slot machines accounted for 93.38% of GGR total, 2.44 billion euro (+ 3.15%). This activity, which requires authorization from the Interior Ministry, has become fundamental to the financial health of a casino. Thus, the last six casinos classification (Le Havre, Briancon, Jonzac Alvignac, Barcarès le Lydia and La Trinite-sur-Mer), which are new institutions and do not operate slot machines, possess a PBJ of only 626 538 euros. As for institutions Barbazan and Saint-Gervais, who obtained a permit this year they have seen their progress PBJ respectively 413.64% and 320.49%.

Among the claims of casino operator, the right to enter the halls of table games (roulette, blackjack, boule …), 10 euros, held responsible for the stagnation in this part of the casino business. Professionals for its removal.

But further progress on slot machines in the casino business has also results in lower employee gratuities, non-negligible component of their compensation. They estimate that the tips are still fell 9.89% to 41.017 million euros, after falling 18.83% the previous season.

The same goes for the strike which a priori seems to only affect large groups for the moment we are not concerned and have not received any notice for the moment. ” This feeling is shared by the casino manager of Santenay, “We can not make any comment on the negotiations in which our group does not participate,” Didier Maurel exlique reminder that the casino has joined the group in April 2001 Moliflor-recreation account twenty institutions. But what is certain is that so far no strike notice has been given and no rumor seems to run on any claims for salary increases, recognition of drudgery and demands of compensatory rest , essential items of the claims made by the unions.

Each category of staff without apprehension seems to expect this evening of New Year’s Eve, a time which the casinos of France to reach their biggest sales. Unless unforeseen Santenay Casino will be opening its doors at 10 pm as usual.

The Santenay Casino employs 80 employees. He occupies his PBJ (gross gaming) 40th place on the 186 casinos in France. It hosts an average of 600 people each day, or about 220,000 people a year, knowing that it works 365 days out of 365.

The victim, a 41 year old man, surnamed Lee, began early Wednesday and play in the afternoon, he had already lost more than three million Macau patacas (400,000 dollars, 300,000 euros), according to the website the “Macau Daily News.

Late Wednesday, the unfortunate player ended his life by jumping off the casino restaurant: it crashed into the hotel lobby, says the article.

Funded Sheldon Adelson, a major casino owners in Las Vegas, the Sands Macau casino opened last May in the Chinese enclave dedicated to the gaming industry

Former Portuguese colony, Macau was returned to China in 1999. Located 64 kilometers from Hong Kong, Macau attracts thousands of Hong Kong and Chinese players, not counting foreign tourists.

The strike, “decided overnight, followed by a score of the 40 employees working at the casino owned by the group Lucien Barrière SAS, said Balmier Lawrence, director of the facility has a total of 170 employees.

These employees and anticipate the call for a renewed strike from December 31, launched at national level by sector unions who claim such increases in salaries and compensation for night work.

The strike casino Niederbronn-les-Bains is both “in line and in the margins” of the movement of national claims because of “local specificity,” said Balmier, citing compensation already applied overnight the granting of a thirteenth month, a pay level lower, but still 25% higher than the national minimum.

“Employees table games are anxious about tomorrow,” especially with the opening in January of a new casino in Alsace, Ribeauvillé (Haut-Rhin), which occurs after the casino in 2003 Basel (Switzerland) Balmier said.

An agreement was recently reached with only CFTC “majority union” at the casino Niederbronn-les-Bains, to stagger the opening hours and leave an “observation period of three months to see the impact of casino ribeauvillé “on activity.

The image of wealthy players dropping in plumes of cigar smoke, tips over the handle after endless games of stud poker or roulette English, suggesting that dealers earn very good living.

Wages down

This is not true. Since the arrival of slot machines in casinos in 1988 and the introduction of the euro and the stagnant economic situation, many players have deserted halls of traditional games. A Niederbronn-les-Bains, a casino group Lucien Barrière SAS, this activity recorded a decline of 30% in recent years.

Who said lower activity will lower the tips and thus decrease the compensation of dealers. The method of remuneration of staff of board games is indeed based on a system of coefficients that lets you share tips. Once the key distribution calculated, the amount allocated to each person is compared to the national grid of minimum income.

If the amount of tips shared does not achieve this minimum, the employer shall at the end. Otherwise, it pays nothing, gratuities enough to pay staff. This is often the case in Niederbronn, but wages, once well above the minimum guaranteed come close now.

“At one time there were so many tips that lived all over the casino, says Jacques Hauser, 48, party leader, joined the casino in 1982 and Steward FW. Today, we lost 40% of our salary despite the downsizing and reorganization of work … We demand our wages stopped falling. ”

Slot machines have disrupted the financial stability of the institution as that of other French casinos. The gross gaming revenue (GGR) which is the difference between wagers and winnings of the players is € 28m per year, only 2.2 M € from traditional games.

“Management wants to cut two hours per weekday opening of traditional games, complete Martin Fischer, 42, head of the table, entered the casino in 1984 and CFDT union delegate. It’s been 32 hours per month, so it will further accelerate the decline of tips. ”

According to management, the average gross monthly wage of employees in the games room (without frames) is established over the last 12 months, € 1 657. “To which we must add the participation Balmier says Laurent, 35, director of the casino. It is indeed a question, then, to enjoy and spread the wealth generated by the company … On average, over the years, this represents 1 to 1.5 months of salary. ”

Strike today

Employees assigned to slot machines (some forty employees for 185 machines) have very little tip, but will receive a 13th month. What makes observers say that the establishment of Niederbronn-les-Bains is not the worst payers. But the downward momentum brought on Remuneration of quarantine concern of dealers. Therefore FOR and CFDT called the strike, renewable, starting this afternoon at the tables. The casino reported that the activity will be provided.

Unions have clamped down last Wednesday after the failure of negotiations with employers. They demanded higher wages, compensation for night work (six days of compensatory rest), a recognition of the harshness of the profession and a pension scheme at the branch. They ensure that their incomes have plummeted since the arrival of slot machines in 1988 and estimate that 90% of workers earning the minimum wage. The bandits are indeed become an essential activity for the financial health of the casinos.

The leaders believe, them, that the profession is going through a difficult phase, particularly because of the state. His specimens reach 56%, “eight points more than eight years ago.” Denouncing the tax grabs, they ensure that the increase of the CSG is expected to cost about thirty million.

About twenty employees of the casino table games Niederbronn-les-Bains (Bas-Rhin), which belongs to the Lucien Barrière , have been on strike since Friday at the invitation of the CFDT and FOR.

A thorny issue shakes the casino sector for several months. It concerns the issue of banned game, players “compulsive” and the impoverishment of indebtedness, the consequences of excessive practice fun. As for alcohol or tobacco (Loi Evin), casino operators may be afraid to run a tightening of legislation, individual or collective complaints of gamers (or their families) who would be ruined by playing slot machines As (MAS), or committed suicide as a result of leisure-financial setbacks. Steps that could result in costly compensation, the court cases that can destroy an image that casinos have taken years to rebuild.

This problem concerns all operators including the French play and games (JDF) and the PMU. But for the time of ignorance, convenience and interest the Government decided that only the casinos would be in their sights. Given the impressive growth rate of banned casino for 2002 (+ 74.35%) but in the absence of a statistical database updated by the Branch & racing games (SDCJ) threatened the casino operator to impose an identity check at the entrance halls of slot machines, as exists for the “big” games.

The services also SDCJ worry much higher banned game “volunteers” as the fact that some continue to frequent the casino despite the ban. Under the auspices of the Cabinet of Minister of Interior at the time (Nicolas Sarkozy) working group has met on several occasions. He led after protracted negotiations behind the scenes to sign a statement of conclusions favorable to the casino operator and very concerning in particular the following points:

approval of personnel (the time taken to accreditation decisions are accelerated);

investment (the investment requirement prior to filing the application to operate a casino is no longer required)

animation (it now means in a broad sense, inside and outside the casino walls);

the situation of small casinos (they can now operate with a single MAS board game: the ball);

increase the park (MAS are now taken into account the need for off-MAS peak days: weekends, holidays …).

In return, the casino operator and two trade unions (and Casinos France Casinos modern France) were engaged in the statement of claim to “define and implement a proactive policy of prevention, mindful of the risks that could create among players and their relatives play a practice that can lead to excessive dependence “. Then, under a charter signed at Paris September 24, 2003 (as displayed in the farms), the casino operator indicated that commitment by eight points.

The casino operator tried to give assurances of their commitment to strictly follow the code of good intentions signed. They financed flyers, hotlines, information campaigns and training kit to prevent …

The union Casinos France finances even curiously SOS Players, which has always fought vigorously in the media and gambling in general, casinos and slot machines in particular. Only the group Partouche has not yielded to pressures used by the association to get money. He created his own company outsourced “independent” to counsel troubled players, a structure that will be difficult to convince governments of its “independence” and its jurisdiction.

Because it is naturally on the issue of funding and independence of these structures to prevent the rub right now. Casinotier groups and two unions wanted total control measures that would respond to “concerns” of the regulatory authorities on gambling. In the case of SOS Players can even question the seriousness of this alliance against nature and wonder if there is not really a pathetic collusion of interests.

Without a sufficient dialogue (especially between independent groups and casinos), the powerful groups casinotier and union representation, refusing to take into account the complexity of the case seem to want to sink with it in “Quebec syndrome” . In Quebec in effect for over ten years, the operator entertaining history (Loto Quebec), which funded and supervised the research and studies on the prevalence of problem gambling for the benefit of the psychologist Robert Ladouceur. Faced with this contradiction and the result of campaigns by both intellectuals and researchers who specialize in gambling (play) and associations to help players truly independent, the Quebec government has radically altered this fact. It is now the Department of Health and Social Services and the Quebec Fund for Research on society and culture that ensures the objectivity of research and prevention campaigns planned in the Government Action Plan (2002-2005) heavily staffed.

If everything is not settled in Quebec to “maintain an acceptable balance between the supply of gambling and gambling problems, this country has the means (scientific and financial) to address the issue of problem gambling, unlike to France, which for the moment, merely a few scoops heterogeneous decided by the casino operator.

From 2001, the few French researchers who have worked for years on many people affected by gambling (not just on the casino players) yet had alerted the authorities about the need to quickly create a National Observatory practices fun. Organization may also scientific interest (sociological, socio-economic, statistical, historical …)

assess the overall benefits and disadvantages resulting from the provision of games (including as regards the Internet fun: cybercasinos, lotteries online …)

promote dialogue between governments and operators play;

to promote information and player protection;

lay the groundwork for a playful consumerism;

address the lack of study and expertise on gambling. The Court of Auditors had itself condemned this deficiency in its 2001 progress report, noting: that “no state service is responsible for assessing the economic, social and medical supply development games. In 2002, the report of Senator Trucy had also stressed the “lack of political games, the gaps in sociological and epidemiological research on the players.”

But it is clear that these calls were not heard. The State has to take the initiative to bring together all stakeholders, mobilize the skills to set up a second time structures (regulatory body, observatory, Institute …). The main players play (FDJ, PMU, casinos …) that are in fierce competition and which logically defend their turf, will never do for themselves. In addition, it is not their job!

A major national conference, to be held at the Palais du Luxembourg in July 2004, could break the deadlock. It would have the distinguished participants announced (deputies, senators, mayors, casino patrons, researchers …) to answer the question: “Which policy for gambling and money in France and Europe?” Unfortunately, after having been postponed to September 2004, the event was eventually canceled. The PMU and FDJ refused to participate! That says a lot about the interests at stake and the unwillingness of these two operators to change the political games that France needs.

For cons, the international colloquium organized by the Centre Jacques Cartier, Lyon (held in Montreal in October 2004) was a great success. Hope that this is an opportunity for regulators and operators play some that were represented at the highest level to inform government policy on the new Quebec government in the prevalence of problem gambling and research on gambling .

For it is of course to the public to develop and co-finance research organizations, expertise, measurement, control and prevention which concern all the games of chance and not only casino games . It’s not fun for the three operators, which can only co indirectly, in well-defined limits, to do so. These organizations must remain independent and act responsibly, but in the public interest.

Jean-Pierre MARTIGNONI HUTIN sociologist
Light at the university
Lyon II.

This crossing thresholds result of the following: Under a transfer agreement dated November 16, 2004, Family Desseigne Barrier, Accor SA and Colace Ltd are committed to provide (subject to certain conditions precedent) to Groupe Lucien Barriere (GLB)

* 761 623 SHCD shares (including 110,194 shares tendered by Accor and 651 429 made by the Family Desseigne Barrier);

* 1,310,400 shares owned by Accor Accor Casinos;

* 1,619,503 shares ColEven (including 510,341 shares owned by Accor, which has previously acquired Colace Sarl, and 1,109,162 shares owned Colace).

Under a deed of assignment dated 16 November 2004, Accor SA and its subsidiary, Avoralp SA, were also undertaken to transfer (subject to certain conditions precedent) to GLB respectively 229,946 and 83,250 shares SHCD.

The removal of all conditions precedent having been established by the Board of Directors of GLB December 17, 2004 (immediately before its conversion to SAS), the contribution and the assignment has been made with effect from that date. Following these operations, GLB holds:

* 88.61% stake SHCD;

* 50% stake in Accor Casinos SAS and

* 100% stake in SAS ColEven, which itself holds 50% stake in Accor Casinos SAS.

The following statement of intent was made: “GLB intends to conduct a tender offer (possibly followed by a buyout offer and a compulsory buyout offer) for the shares as soon SHCD as possible after approval of accounts for the year ended October 31, 2004. This offer would be made taking into account the sale price and the value of capital raised by the Family Desseigne Barrier, Accor SA and Colace Ltd for the sale and the contribution of their shares to SHCD GLB or 441.057 euros per share.

GLB will require that the composition of the board of directors SHCD be amended so that the Family Desseigne Barrier, Accor SA and Colace Sarl are represented in the same proportions as the supervisory board of GLB.

Behind the glitter of the temples of the game, the standoff continues between employees and employers. Unanimous, the five-sector unions casino games (CGT, CFDT, CFTC, FOR, CFE-CGC) continues, after talks broke down Wednesday, their call for a renewed strike from 31 December. A date which is pale with anguish the casino bosses, since this is the night of the New Year’s Eve that the 188 casinos in France realize their biggest sales. The claims cover three points: a wage increase of 4%, the establishment of a pension scheme for all employees and compensation for night work and drudgery.

The employers, represented by Casino of France and the Syndicat des Casinos modern France, multiplied since Wednesday calls for “realism” and “responsibility”, citing a “challenging economic environment.” “This argument is a disgrace, lost his temper Pierre Fuoghi technician slot machines at the casino of Saint-Raphael, the CGT union. The employers laments that growth is more in double figures, but record revenues have been recorded this year. The casinos of brew million. Slower growth this year does not put them far away, on the verge of bankruptcy. ”

For the 2003 season, in fact, the gross gaming casinos in France amounted to 2.613 billion euros, a level never seen, and grew by 2.6%, albeit lower than in recent years earlier that summer is the least we can say, flourished. According to the CFDT, the turnover of the sector has increased by 70% between 1997 and 2003. “Our demands are not and actuarial,” says Peter Fuoghi. Common ground could be reached on wages, but because we had agreed to reduce our demand by 1%. However, no credible proposal was submitted to us on welfare, or on night work. We do ask, however, only six days off during the year for 1600 hours worked at night. “While negotiations continue

so far suspended, a – significant mobilization seems to be emerging for December 31.