Reprimand filed against the researcher Robert Ladouceur

Coalition EmJEU address a severe reprimand against a research professor at Laval University, psychologist Robert Ladouceur. The complaint filed to the Ethics Committee of Laval University’s research raises several ethical breaches university.

It refers to the recent publication of a study in which Robert Ladouceur says the arrival of the Casino du Lac Leamy in Gatineau has no impact on problem gambling.

Coalition EmJEU questioned the independence of the researcher. Since 1980, the research center he leads would have received $ 9.5 million from Loto-Quebec and the Ministry of Health.

According to the study published in February, the frequency of participation in casino would show an increase a year after opening, but decrease after three to five years. However, the percentage of pathological gamblers has not risen since the opening of the facility. Professor Robert Ladouceur stated that according to the results of the study, the percentage of pathological gamblers was not related to the proximity of a casino.

New rules for casinos

Identity checks on entry and free access to games

Changes are announced in casinos. A memorandum on “the promotion of responsible gaming” includes monitoring systematic identity at the entrance to all facilities at the latest games on 1 November. Before that, access to games is free.

After approval in 1988 of slot machines, the casino operator to speak French a “new era” in 2006. The two major unions of the profession and the Ministry of Interior signed in January, a memorandum on the “promotion of responsible gaming.” The document contains numerous regulatory changes. Starting with a systematic check of the identity of customers game rooms.

“It will be implemented no later than November 1 in every casino, confirmed Eric Cavillon, director of the casinos in Trouville and Deauville. This audit, without recording personal data, is intended to prevent access to minors and those banned from the game “, which can now easily enter in the halls of slot machines.

This comprehensive review is variously appreciated in gaming establishments, who see a potential obstacle to their business. “It can create stress for those who forget their card, including a group of friends,” worries Eric Cavillon. In the absence of identification, a badge “visitor” will be possible but it will not play. “There will be a period of uncertainty, fear also Loïc Piquenet, director of casino Houlgate, who hopes it will return soon in habits. Anyway, this is something that secures our business. ”

Counterparts

The casinos were granted in return for significant counterparties. In particular the end of “stamp duty” to access the rooms table games (Blackjack, Roulette, Stud Poker …), from 1 May At Deauville this entry costs 12 €, 10 € taxation. “It was difficult to market a product subject to a control and an entrance fee,” says Eric Cavillon. If all the casinos have at least one of those great traditional games (the ball), they are usually more than 90% of their revenues with slot machines. Free admission to games should reinvigorate the industry, especially as the latest departure could be downgraded.

Other measures, called “support” are also planned: the opportunity to bet on slot machines with tickets, right to advertise on progressive jackpots, new games such as roulette English electronic poker hold ‘ ahem, tournaments, etc.. They have yet to be validated to enter into force as and when. Probably not before 2007.

Later than November 1, identity checks will be systematic at the entrance of the casino, but access to traditional table games will be free.

Pougues waters: The Edge Group has won his gamble

The work of the casino recently completed and it is still some finishing Group Edge won his gamble Open in mid-March, after more than a year of work. Success for the group Edge , which will open in fact his new casino Pougues-les-Eaux, in time, that is to say, Wednesday, March 15.

The works have just been completed. The interior layout is finalized, the furniture was delivered, the planetarium (the only free planetarium, private, France) is completed, the exterior lighting has been installed. These coming days will be devoted to the latest small finishing. A green Beginning Wednesday, March 15, 10 h, the Nivernais discover a new “temple of the game” huge in a veritable haven of greenery: 5,000 square feet of interior space, a two hundred and fifty parking spaces and a park trees of 28,000 sqm. Pride of place was given to the natural elements: wood facade exotic, lake, rustic bridge. Inside the casino, designed by architect Christian Gautier, favors, of course, spaces for recreation and relaxation. It has an auditorium seating four hundred, a restaurant with covered eighty and two bars. One hundred thirty machines side games, the new casino will have one hundred and thirty slots (thirty additional machines), two blackjack tables, two roulette English and novelty: a table of stud poker.

The opening of the casino is scheduled over three days, Friday, March 31, Saturday 1st and Sunday, April 2. Various activities are planned during the three days (including clients will receive a complimentary cocktail).

The highlight of these celebrations will be on Friday 31 at 19 am, with the passage of the patrol group Tranchant on the site.

Timetable: The current casino close its doors to the public Tuesday, March 14 at 19 pm Reopening of the new casino, the next day at 10 am

In recent days, the new casino has a night lighting that showcases his magnificent park of 28,000 sqm.

A year later, the casino heist of Divonne-les-Bains

Three masked and armed individuals have raided a large sum in cash in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the same scenario a year ago to the day …

Less than five minutes, almost an operation timed, and a team of criminals surge in nature. Mere coincidence? A year almost to the day after a robbery already traumatic for staff and customers, which occurred on the night of Saturday 5 to Sunday, March 6, 2005, the Casino de Divonne-les-Bains has again experienced an episode of banditry in night from Saturday to Sunday.

According to initial findings on the spot by the police of the company Gex, it must have been about half past midnight when a car big engine stopped before the door of the gaming establishment, releasing three men wearing balaclavas and carrying of handguns. While the driver was performing a maneuver in the parking lot to get back in the direction of flight, the three men entered the room of slot machines, before breaking work.

Thus, two-step, three moves, first robber fractured the glass boxes with a jack, allowing the second access to cash, the third man is content to stand guard. Without violence and without having spoken a word practically, the criminals off again, swept into the vehicle registered in Switzerland – and reported stolen – that started on the hubcaps.

The forced checkpoint
If the plan Owl, immediately fired by the police in the country of Gex and in neighboring districts, have failed to arrest the criminals, they will be spotted a few moments later, having forced the border post Bardonnex towards Upper Savoy from Switzerland where they had penetrated.

A route through Geneva and a scenario strikingly similar to the holdup of a year ago. Meanwhile, there had been a previous more violent in May, already in Divonne, the fugitives who had to remove a truck driver in their run, the neck of the Sickle.

Another recent episode, the judicial police investigators Lyon – seized by the prosecutor of Bourg-en-Bresse – will probably still head, turning the casino Hauteville-Lompnes, which occurred three weeks ago, February 11 evening.

In each case, the damage in cash had never sent the 15 000 euros, this time, a source close to the investigation, he would approach 80 000. Hearings of witnesses, expert surveillance cameras, the investigation has just begun.

The new set of French casino operator

The casinos are evolving to remain competitive in the lucrative global market game

The global market for game is valued at $ 250 billion. In France, Partouche , Gates, Moliflor and Edge are the four main groups that generate 80% of the market share of the sector. To address the slight slowdown witnessed in the last three years, the casinos out new cards.

In 2000 France pocketed the silver medal on the podium of global Gross Gaming. (“The money lost by players before taxes, it is not money lost but played” Coach Omnium), without taking into account the benefits of virtual casinos.

Over the past fifteen years, casinotier observed a double-digit growth of the PBJ has been particularly effective from the introduction of slot machines on French territory (1998). They still represent over 90% of GGR.

However, the PBJ marks a slight decline in three years. Thus, between 2003 and 2005 the growth rate of GGR from 3.5 to 1.5. This finding is far from being alarmist because if the rate of the 2003/2004 season (with 2.6 billion euros PBJ) was the lowest since 1990, he has still increased by 988% in fifteen years.

Chips in the zeitgeist

Against this backdrop, major casino operator has decided to upgrade the profession by acquiring such new games but also positioning itself in the field of online casinos.

Besides, according Reuters ” Partouche (a) announced Friday (24/02/06) the appointment of Frederick Vinzia the post of executive chairman of Partouche Interactive, a subsidiary grouping together media digital broadcast and electronic media of group of casinos in the gaming and entertainment. ”

The press group Partouche (CA 2005, € 455.8 million) issued March 3, 2006 stated: “as such, Frederick Vinzia will support the management of interests in television” Cash TV, multimedia editor “That Jeux.com” production company “SOGIMAGE” and the Internet portal “e- Partouche .

On the occasion of the arrival of Frederick Vinzia, Group President, Patrick Partouche , said Partouche Interactive aims to become a leading global operators of “Entergament.

The phenomenon is not isolated. The operator of video game Head in the clouds, which bought the casino in French Society recently told France Exchange: “The cybercasinos become increasingly competitive and it is not excluded that we will enter a project in this branch. ”

As for the third French leader, he throws chips into the air.

Moliflor in 2005 sales of € 260m brings new technologies to slot machines and table games. Thus, the “electronic roulette” will soon break into the playroom.

The group also wants to serve chips one size to play on all machines. In short, a multitude of electronic gadgets, leading to a renewed need to attract the barge.

Ultimately the casino industry is entering a series of mutations necessary to revitalize a product that was not enough renewed for 15 years. Casinos face, we must not overlook the importance of competing heavyweights: the PMU and French Games that display a respective growth of 10% and 6% for the past three years.

Moreover, on January 9 last French Games ended fiscal 2005 on revenue of 8.9 billion € in hause of 4.3%. Growth primarily driven by Euro Millions, which represents 77% growth. As for the lottery, its turnover amounted to 1.48 billion €.

The moral: if the scratch games and casinos always make dream, it seems less risky than ever to increase the earnings of your portfolio by playing the card market.

The horse in the eye paris Bercy

After the gambling casinos and the French games, the Budget Ministry tackles paris horse. Objective: to fight against the dependence of the players.

THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET continues its offensive against gambling. After the casinos, after the scratch games and drawing the French games, paris horse is now in his sights. Discussions between the Department and the PMU – which has the monopoly on the Paris – began six months ago. This was confirmed yesterday Bercy.

Launch of Paris taken from the Internet and interactive television, all-round development of the “bet spot” that allows those who know nothing about racing bet anyway, extending Quinté More each day of the week, etc.. To rejuvenate and feminize its customers, the PMU has muscled its commercial lot in recent years. This strategy worked well. The PMU has 6.5 million customers, but a quarter of them plays the races within the last three years. Year in, year out, the turnover of 500 million increase ARPU: EUR 7 billion in 2003, 7.55 billion in 2004 and 8.1 billion last year.

An ID at the entrance of casinos

Bercy that wants more control over the commercial supply of the PMU is actually quite logical. The ministry has set in quick control over the casinos and the French game (JDF). “Even if the activity of the PMU is very different, we have to worry, says one at Bercy. We want the whole range of games offered and Paris in France is responsible. “It is an ethical issue. Expenditures games weigh more heavily on household budgets (see box): 135 euros per year on average French. Tighten the control is, for France, the only way to justify the current monopolies and … protect them. The Interior and the Budget have developed year-end protocol on Responsible Gambling in casinos. It provides, inter alia, that from 1 November, identification will be required at the entrance halls of slot machines. Objective: to protect minors and people banned from casinos.

The pressure is also on the French games. A decree published in the OJ recently imposed a number of objectives: “Framing the use of games in order to prevent phenomena of dependence and be careful not to encourage under 16 to play.” The text also establishes an advisory committee of responsible gaming. Composed of representatives from four ministries – Health, Interior, Youth and Sports, Budget – and three independent members, it will aim to give opinions on the commercial supply of the JDF and inform the Budget Ministry. A decree published this week says more clearly the new rules of the game company will submit to the Minister each year – before November 15 – the program sets the following year: description, expected turnover, the impact view of addiction, etc.. The text also calls on the public company to send it by September “an action plan to prevent excessive gambling.”

Partouche casinos rely on the virtual

The operating group of casinos creates subsidiary Partouche Interactive online activities, mobile and television.

This is a new casino that is currently building the group Partouche . A virtual casino. Thus, the group sees its new subsidiary Partouche Interactive where all activities will be collected through new technologies. Because it will no more nor less than exploit games, such as casinos “hard”. It is through this structure, in particular, the group will manage its minority stakes in television Cash TV, available on CanalSat, or Quedesjeux.com, offering mobile games (without monetary gain) for operators Orange and SFR. And it will develop its future activities for the Internet, mobile and television.

Or by mixing them with the idea of playing multiple players on a single platform, real-time via the three channels. “In January we made a presentation in London, a poker game where Players play via their mobile, their TV or Internet at the same table, “says Patrick Partouche , CEO of the group. But the company has not ruled to outsource their skills and provide white label. “I can sell technology as casino slot machines sell,” says Patrick Partouche .

Complaint against the French state

Remains a cloud on the horizon, always the same when it comes to online gaming: the state monopoly on this activity, through the French game and the PMU. “The state maintains the defocus. He tells anyone who will listen that Internet gambling is banned in France. The problem is that ten thousand sites are available to play with a credit card French … But French companies remain excluded from this market, close to two million players by Patrick Partouche .

The group faces a problem with the site since 2002 casino Partouche . com. The company leases makes his mark with another operator, but asked it to make it impossible to use French bank cards, waiting for a clear position of the State. “Now we are in 2006, and nothing s ‘has passed since, except for an offensive increasingly important to the French game and the PMU. “The latter has recently attacked the Zeturf.com site, a site based in Malta paris horse, which operated from the French Internet. Zeturf believed to have European law for him.

Result: The group Partouche bought in turn licensed in Gibraltar he intends to use it proves that it can operate its interactive services from France. He also claims to have in reserve a complaint against the state, ready to be sent to the European Court of Justice. Reason: illegal pure and simple state monopoly on gambling.

CAPE VERDE: A Chinese man to affirm invests 100 million euros

The Chinese businessman David Chow will invest nearly 100 million euros in building a tourist complex in the small island of Santa Maria in Praia, it was learned Tuesday from a reliable source in the Cape Verdean capital. David Chow, a native of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macao, is from Monday to complete Praia with Cape Verdean authorities details of the project on which work will begin this year and will be completed in 2009.

The tourism project includes a casino, hotel, marina, restaurants and swimming pools.

David Chow, one of the magnates of the game in Macau and also doing business in Hong Kong and Singapore, told reporters that the materialization of its projects in Cape Verde “bring Asian tourists to choose the islands as a destination.”

The tycoon believes that Cape Verde has all the requirements to become a “pearl”. He said only that it lacks some countries tourism segments typical of Asian countries.

The horse Jag Bellouet, winner of the Prix d’Amerique, disqualified

Author’s doubled in the Price of America on the last Sunday of January, Jag Bellouet has been disqualified from first place.

As usual, a urine sample was performed on the son of Viking ‘s Way at the end of the race, which proved positive. Christophe Gallier, his coach, had just administered vitamin C to her boarder but this product consisted of tolfenamic acid, a substance prohibited.

No sanctions were taken against Christophe Gallier because the responsibility lies with Vétoquinol laboratory that manufactures and sells the product. Surrounding the crack should now be turned against that laboratory. A matter of course to follow!

That in any case a thunderbolt in the racing world that did not necessarily need that to his image.

Gigant Neo will remain in history as the winner of the 2006 Prix d’Amerique.

The games are made Noirétable

Grand opening in a border town of Puy de Dome yesterday’s games are made Noirétable 3800 square meters of customers, restaurant head in the Michelin stars: Casino Noirétable does not modesty, and does not hide his ambitions.

Noirétable small town in the Loire, not far away from the border puydomoise. A city without history, without pretension, but the ambition of full pockets. And who intends to fill.

The story goes back to 1930. Noirétable is then classified as “resort,” a label reserved for sites whose air quality is supposed to rhyme with therapeutic properties. And which, like spas, to establish a casino. A godsend. The present majority decides to enjoy it, and solicit bids for the construction of the facility. On ranks, the biggest fish market: Partouche , Accor and European casinos. And a small group, with its HP a single site, Cavalaire, Var. The “feeling” is going to speak, the chicks are chosen. Authorization from the lottery commission later, in July 2004 and the Company’s operating casino Noirétable (SECN) is created. Eight million investment for a large-class, luxurious and spacious (5,500 square meters, 3,800 space customer). If the establishment gourmet restaurant opened its doors last November, the inauguration was held yesterday, along with all project stakeholders, and elected officials in mind. Elected officials who did not hide, indeed, their enthusiasm: the casino can bring very big. 15% of the games for the town alone, for example. Besides the appeal of air to the entire local economy. For proof, already forty jobs were created, including some among the local population. And radiation in a hundred miles around, including financial and human manna of Saint-Etienne.

Moreover, the casino, legally compelled to animation and restaurants, decided to take the high road, with its gourmet restaurant, which is scheduled to open March 16. With Christian Têtedoie as culinary advisor, Michelin-starred and Meilleur Ouvrier de France, his clear goal: “to do list” the famous guide. And give its credentials to the table Noirétable.

Last and decisive step in the establishment: the arrival of slot machines 125 machines have been required under, if the opinion is favorable for the fall. Importance. For if the games represent at least 75% of revenues from a casino, slot machines reported 98% of the proceeds from these games. And the casino has a turnover of fourteen million euros within three years. Practice Area Cross Mission, 42440 Noirétable. Open daily from 18 hours. Games 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 (4:00 on Saturdays). www.casino-de-noiretable.com. 04.77.24.79.29. INAUGURATION Speeches, ribbon cutting and tour of the program of the inauguration of a new casino, yesterday Noirétable (Loire)