Isidore Partouche arrived in Algeria in 1962 at age 30. Chance led him to the region, in Le Touquet, where he took a karting track, “Five francs for five minutes. I am told that in fifteen days the matter would be refunded. The problem is that it rained all summer. “Eleven years later, that son of a shoemaker, a former radio officer, bought the symbolic franc, with his brothers and sisters, his first casino, the Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. This is the beginning of the dynasty Partouche .

In 1976 he resumed the game site of Le Touquet and then creates another casino in Calais. In the region, it will open two others in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Berck-sur-Mer. The group quickly gained throughout France, Forges-les-Eaux, Vichy, Juan-les-Pins, Grasse … Then extends beyond the frontiers (Knokke-Heist in Belgium, Agadir, Morocco …). For 25 years, the group Partouche inaugurates Pasino Djerba. The first of its kind: a complex with casino course, but also restaurants, a multipurpose room … Like the Pasino Saint-Amand-les-Eaux changed in 2003.

By taking control of the Company’s European casinos, the group confirmed its title as the French leader: he now manages 52 casinos, including 47 sites in France, 5,526 slot machines …

MEETING • Latest survey component “The Yankees, gambling and casinos,” the French leader casinos replied bluntly.

Ten years ago, he ensures that he no longer grants interviews.
The founder of the group Partouche has agreed to meet six drives of the Voice of the North.
It is not gentle with the mayor of Lille and discusses the possible sale of its group.

Frederic Lecomte: I am very little player. What could cause me to enter one of your casino?
“I take the example (Pasino) Saint-Amand. You can spend an afternoon, evening, lunch, dinner, without gambling. You have a theater of 1,200 seats, a room like a nightclub, four themed restaurants, boutiques … All this can give you the urge to spend a moment Pasino. Then you may be attracted to slot machines and traditional games is the goal.

Perhaps you expect that I will tell you to go earn some money. I’ll tell you what I say when people ask me “how do you win in a casino?” I reply: there is only one way, you have to buy one! ”

Marc Descharles: How are relations with the cities of casinos? Who decides which sites?
“Not so long as the DSP (Delegation of public service) exists. Before, it was an agreement between the mayor and a casino patron. When we set up the bidding, cities have found that when the casino was owned by an individual, it was difficult for the city to ask anything. Many cities do not look that the financial aspect. ”

Philippe Duez: compared to the commitment you made with the Losc (1) Are you frustrated at not getting the casino Lille?
“If I took off my shirt, I could show you the mark of the dagger in the back. ”

Philippe Duez: you’re devastated?
“You can not imagine how. Lille is my second city. I love Losc, I love the city. When you see the responses to tenders is ridiculous. An example. There is a commission appointed to try cases. The first thing that Martine Aubry told his council is: I do not want more contact with Partouche . But in the case of barrier (the group that won the tender), you have a cultural advisor who is his former employee. It’s still a little big. (…) We talked about the four star hotel but this hotel is not in the tender. They would never have taken it into account. Barrier was chosen, I do not know why.

When Martine Aubry hiding by saying this is not me, it was proposed that the commission is wrong. The commission proposes and the mayor decides.

You can not imagine how I felt … I was making a personal matter, it’s my city. So, while I live, I guarantee you it does not revert to the elections next time. I have a small fortune, I will use it to bring down this municipality. ”

Marc Descharles: we know that St. Amand was afraid of the arrival of the casino of Lille. Is there not too much competition?
“You have good competition, the people of Saint-Amand and those around will go to Saint-Amand, people will go to Lille in Lille. The machines are the same, the atmosphere in principle is the same. ”

Dominique Malenga: There are two casinos in Le Touquet, how is this possible?
“At Cannes there are three casinos in Nice, two. It’s the city decides. If we permitted, we can mount two, three casinos. Le Touquet, there were always two casinos. ”

Frederic Lecomte: Are you open to international competition through the Internet?
“You have two million French players who play on foreign websites. In France we have no right to create such sites gambling ”

Laura Ansart: how many people work in a casino?
“At Saint-Amand Pasino, we have 260 employees: technicians, slot machines, other machines that open because technicians do not have the right, cashiers, bartenders …”

Laura Ansart: you recruit them in what sectors?
“We recruited some people who have no skills. It teaches them the game. From the way you deal the cards, I can tell you whether or not you will do a good croupier. ”

Marc Descharles: Have you set up special structures for those who are victims of gambling addiction?
“We created a company, Addictel, which deals only with this in our 52 casinos. You call 24 hours on 24. You answered. There is a doctor available. Then, the best way to prevent someone from playing, it does not make her credit, does not accept credit card … And you do not force people to come. St. Amand, is surrounded by nature. And 800 people come every day on average. ”

Laura Ansart open yourselves casinos in the eastern countries?
“We go where there is regulation. Now, in countries of Eastern today, there is no regulation. I opened a casino, with a combined Austrian, Hungary. The night we opened, two people have asked my manager. Afterwards, he said, was the boss of the police and the patron of taxes. At one, I’ll give so much to another, as every week, drawing on the funds. I left. ”

Philippe Duez It is said that Partouche sells some of its casinos, the smaller …
“This is nonsense. My small casinos bring me more than large ones. So if I sell, I sell large and small.

Two years ago, a pension fund made me a proposal. I own some shares, 1% of my group. My son and three nephews of my own. When I did it in their hand, they said: we will not sell. A week later, my son told me: “With me, if I sell, I can spend 35 000 F (5336 E) per day without touching the principal only on interest, income taxes paid.” That was sobering. But it did not work with the pension fund. For two years, we constantly proposals. The latest is the developer Bordeaux (2). I asked him two million euros for him to study the matter. He loses if he does not buy. In January, he’ll come to me with a proposal. But if I sell, this is not only a casino because it makes me that much trouble to sell twenty. ”

Marc Descharles. : In casinos, the region is it enough equipped?
“It features but, for example, come play for Lens in Saint-Amand, must be 80 km. So if you plant a casino in Lens, you will certainly remove some of the customers of St. Amand, but instead, you’ll recoup a portion of the population that goes nowhere. On average, 14% of the population plays is very little. We still have a big margin. The future is the big casinos, like Saint-Amand and Lille. Philippe Duez: Is that illegal gambling still exist? “In Paris, there were approximately 1500 private rooms where people play with friends, neighbors. They play poker, it’s not illegal. You have the right to play you, what should not is that someone takes the money and organize the game ”

Frederic Lecomte and illegal slot machines?
“In Marseille, there are 6,000 machines. Known, recognized. The police know where they are. She lets do it because it does not prejudice anyone. In the spirit of the police is something they have mastered. ”

Laura Ansart: players who buy scratch tickets are they the same ones who go into the game rooms?
“Not especially. Play much at all. But, for example, people who play the races, we do not see much in the casinos. It does not go together. ”

Natasha Staelens: What do you think of horse racing?
“I’m a player, but never in my life have I played the races. It’s easy to understand: I can not mount the horse! I count only on myself and my surroundings, not on a person outside. .

(1) The group Partouche is the official sponsor of the football team Losc. (2) This is Michel Ohayon, who rose to prominence in Lille with a project in downtown (burdipolis) which was unsuccessful.

SITES gambling on the Internet have to worry about. One month after the United States, France is, in turn, to prevent players to cash winnings on illegal sites. Several amendments are being prepared. They will be presented in the next few days as part of the law of crime prevention. “It is technically possible, it already exists in the part of the foreign financing of terrorist activities, says a close case. But it does concern that illegal activities on the Internet. Gains obtained from the sites of the French PMU games or are not affected. “Other avenues are being considered as the filtering of Internet gambling sites. But this does not solve the problems raised in the report of Senator François Trucy, released yesterday. Particularly those concerning equality of treatment between different operators. “Why does playing on an online casino it assimilated to money laundering, while it would not when you go to the website of the French games, or ARPU, asks Dominic Desseigne , chairman of Groupe Barrière . But for the government, it is necessary to properly supervise the games, both for reasons of money but also to prevent the phenomena of dependence diagnoses in recent years in some junkies.

After twelve days of hearings, the Court of Assizes of the Alpes-Maritimes has failed to establish the guilt of Jean-Maurice Agnelet in the disappearance of Agnes Le Roux in October 1977.

The young woman, then aged 29, was heir to one of the largest casinos in Nice. Jean-Maurice Agnelet, now 68, was his lover.

If a set of assumptions has narrowed to the accused, his supporters, My François Saint-Pierre and Jean-Pierre Versini are convinced that the absence of a confession, corpse and murder weapon law will lead to a acquittal.

“In 30 years, Agnelet made no confession, and it never will. Only the jurors and the court will decide his guilt,” said the witness stand Judge Richard Bouaza first magistrate have heard the case.

“For 30 years this case has haunted me every day. There is not a day that goes by that I wonder what happened to Agnes,” he added.

J. Bouaza denied having shown leniency towards Agnelet when introduced to the case.

“My problem is that he was a lawyer and that he enjoyed a certain reputation. The quality of local president of the League of Human Rights made me think it was a pledge of honesty” , “he said.

“At the time, it was rare to investigate, searched a member of the bar, even more rare to put in custody.”

Yet in searching at Agnes Le Roux after his disappearance in the apartment she shared with Agnelette, the judge and the PJ’s investigators found a farewell note signed undated Agnes.

Staged?

“Sorry, my course is finished. I’ll stop there. I want that Maurice does it all,” said the word, prominently displayed.

Formal proof of its desire to end life? Machination? Staging cleverly premeditated? Investigators have long hesitated.

A few months later, in searching among Agnelet, they found a photocopy of the same word of farewell, this time dated, and written by them after the second attempt of Agnes.

For Christian Noguera and Michel Laffargue, the two officers who conducted the survey from 1978 to 1984, the staging was rude.

They believe that Jean-Maurice Agnelet placed this word with Agnes, slashed its date to use it at their convenience and for guiding investigators on the trail of his voluntary disappearance and his suicide.

At the bar, the judge recalled Bouaza “deep trouble” for Agnelet when asked at a hearing: “What did you Agnes?” Pale, haggard, Agnelet stammered before regroup and say: “I did not kill her.”

Today, the judge said he regretted not having gone further his advantage and leaving Agnelet release.

The discovery of the word farewell Agnes does not establish absolute proof of guilt of the former lawyer, he said.

“Agnelet was lucky” recognized the men from the PJ. “This guy is not brave, with us, he would not finassé, he would have spilled the beans quickly. In this case, it was the only one with an interest in Agnes disappears after catching price his treachery, 3 million francs, “they said.

Richard Bouaza left Nice in 1979. From there the investigation stalled. His successor, Michel Mallard, waited a year before hearing Agnelet.

Called as a witness, Judge Francis Boisseau had the distinction of being the only judge to grant a nonsuit to Agnelet.

“I ruled out the theory of the accident and that of the fugue, I could not bring myself between suicide and murder to explain the disappearance of Agnes Leroux,” he said.

Dominique Desseigne, chairman of the supervisory board of Groupe Barrière , and Sven Boinet, CEO, react to what the group Partouche (see article in La Voix du Nord, yesterday) and say they are “hostage to a quarrel between Martine Aubry Partouche .

What do you say to Patrick Partouche (CEO of the eponymous group) that tax your offer in Lille of “dumping”?

Dominique Desseigne: “We went with the greatest rigor, and I must stress that we never had to participate in a tender as rigorous.

Secondly, our offer takes into account a potential which goes from Brussels to Paris, via London. So I repeat: we come to Lille with enthusiasm, but if the state continues to tax us in layers, the economic model can not work. In 1990 there was 47% taxation. In 2006, it is 58%. If one falls, it will not be our fault. ”

Would you like Romain Tranchant , that the claims of mayors have become “delusional”?

Dominique Desseigne: “The error of the mayors is to think that we can offer the same fee to a city like Toulouse or Lille to a common 5 to 10 000 inhabitants. Lille is 9 million potential visitors. Our offer, again, is in full agreement with management. The project is not kamikaze Lille. I do not understand the reaction Partouche . When I lost the bidding at Havre, when I sponsored the club, I was not as bad loser. ”

Sven Boinet: “The group Partouche has methods from another era. The reality is that we invest in Lille ME about 100 for gross gaming potential of 100 ME too, after three to four years. In terms of investment, the project is equivalent to that of Enghien (note: the first casino in France). ”

Dominique Desseigne: “The profitability of the casino of Lille will depend largely on the number of slot machines. Plus there will be an extensive park, the more we can expand our customer base and be less aggressive with respect to a small core of players too reactive. “

The “Gambling Regulatory Bill” provides for the creation of a “Gambling Board” that will handle all matters relating to gambling, horse racing or paris policies.

He had to find a solution to the growing popularity of Mauritians for paris and games. This is done with a new draft Gambling Regulatory Bill to replace an incomplete Gaming Act, a disparate Horse Racing Board Act and the Mauritius National Lotteries Act and Prize Competition Act. The new legislation will create an authority – the Mauritius Gambling Regulatory Authority, who will now, through the Gambling Board, all issues relating to paris in the country.

This will make this body that will grant licenses to casinos, gaming, etc. bookmakers. The organizer of horse races, namely the Mauritius Turf Club, will also be governed by the board, as well as agencies such as the Tote. The public is invited to view and comment on the bill currently in the working document.

The spirit of this legislation is openness, which is in line with a parliamentary answer Rama Sithanen, Finance Minister in Parliament. Deny licenses and close gambling houses, he said, would encourage illegality. It is precisely the greatest evil afflicting the industry also very lucrative and is a source of revenue for the state. Under current law, activities such as football, paris policies, dog racing etc.. were illegal. It seems that this will not be the case in future legislation.

Politics and football

Indeed, the preamble explains that the purpose of this Act is to amend “and consolidate the laws relating to paris and games, provide a legal framework to regulate paris on horse races and football matches foreign and other events or contingencies and interactive paris (…) “And further, it explains what the drafter of the law means by” events or contingencies. These words mean “any sporting activity or event whose outcome is uncertain and nobody knows.”

Clearly, paris policies or those on football matches would now be allowed, that after the passage and enactment of this legislation is likely to make many happy. Indeed, many politicians and socio-cultural organizations, citing the fragile social fabric, like the government to stop granting licenses to gaming establishments or casinos. However, Paris will be considered illegal as those who claim bookmakers will not permit duly authorized by the Gambling Board. It also seems likely that the false “bookies” who want to regularize can do so without fear. Where appropriate, the law will be even more severe than it is today.

And the list of offenses being committed in contravention of the future legislation is long. Among the most serious – and widespread – access in gambling houses and casinos to people aged under 21 years of age for gaming is a punishable offense for both parties. Paris in the bookies are themselves open to those over 18 years.

The paris credit are still illegal. The principle behind this provision of the law on taxes and risk avoidance. The Ministry of Finance does not likely take that risk. And tax evasion is treated extensively in the draft bill, several steps and investigations are planned up to the confiscation of all property of a person or company by the state .

For fans of what is commonly called the “cycle” – many people put a sum of money to a group of people at each end of the month and each member receives in turn the entire amount deposited – know that this practice is now illegal …. The draft calls this arrangement the “chain-gift scheme.”

Legislators require good governance, honesty and fair play must govern the industry but also the mother of many evils.

Sad disappointment that lived on Sunday evening by a resident in the Paris region. While attending a seminar, after he spent a night at the Casino de La Roche-Posay, in Vienna. He tried his luck at a slot machine and get the right combination: 12.500 € are expected him to return. But just to settle it, about two o’clock in the morning, the casino management refuses to pay anything. Explanation: The machine on which the player has achieved its gains at fault. And, argues the direction, when a problem arises, it must be confirmed by a company to supply and maintenance (SFM), approved by the Ministry of Interior. “We are obliged to respect this process, says Director Juan Diez, because some of the money played back to the state. For every problem, an FMS should be a review of the machine and record each fault in a register. “Very angry, the client has requested the intervention of the police to resolve the dispute. But he had to leave the casino without adding he thought he had won. “We have already encountered a problem like this, adds Juan Diez. It was not until the investigation and the response of the MFC, but some failures can result in a payment. “The customer will have to wait several days and the intervention of the SFM is entitled to know whether or not this supposed to gain.

mid-January.

The information was given officially, following the question posed by an elected, at the City Council on November 2 last Divonne. We are in alarm over the change of owner is Jean-Philippe Verger, a member of the opposition. First on the renegotiation of the total tax rate casino, currently set at 15% of gross gaming revenue. This amount, the maximum allowed in France, could be lowered when renegotiating fixed in 2008. If it changes ownership, this will be discussed again. On the other hand, when the group arrives Partouche , casino revenues have declined. Residents fear a tax increase, given the various investments made in recent years by the mayor, said Mr. Orchard. Another concern relates to the nature of a future buyer. This is a real estate developer. The latter can only keep the casino and sell land, such as golf, forward Jean-Philippe Verger.

This new acquisition is not possible without recalling memories not so distant. Indeed, it was in September 2005 that the group Partouche has acquired the entire share capital of SA Groupe de Divonne, belonging to the Didot-Bottin and knew a difficult situation. The specter of layoffs also flat. The casino is in fact some 400 employees, is the main source of employment in the country of Gex. For now, people like the casino employees have no other information and they are left to wait until mid-January.

The Norman city provides its latest effort to be finally ranked resort. At stake: the possibility of establishing a gaming establishment.

Honfleur is biding his time. Since 1997, the port city is seeking the Ministry of Tourism classification as “Resort” which potentially could yield very large. This official status, among other benefits, is a sine qua non for the establishment of a casino in the city, huge source of income and employment.

But here, the path to achieving this is long and bumpy. Honfleur had to show their credentials in terms of sanitation, equipment, hygiene and water quality. “We’re at the last step,” says Michael Bailey, director of technical services in the city. The extension work of the collective sanitation section Vasouy are underway. They should be finished by the end of the year. “The mayor arrives at the end of a cumbersome administrative process: public hearing prior to the forwarding of the prefecture, county commissions varied. A giant step was taken in 2004 with the opening of a sewage ingenious and green. “It’s an obstacle course, recognizes Gerald Leduc, executive director of the National Association of Mayors of classified stations and tourist areas (ANMSCCT). Forty communes in France is in the same situation. We must wait an average of five to six years for this ranking in resort. ”

Mayor impatient

The Committee of Public Health, under the Ministry of Health has issued positive opinions for five years on the quality of bathing water (sea and pool) in Honfleur. Suddenly, the mayor, Michel Lamarre, impatient. “Are we asking the same thing for other municipalities? We have 3.5 million visitors per year, Honfleur is the 13th most visited site in the country. Let’s succeed. However, all this modernization of the city was necessary, even beyond a simple ranking. ”

After almost ten years of waiting, finally seem to favor the echoes. But the green light will be given at the earliest, until sometime in 2008: the time that the Ministry of Tourism’s decision, and the State Council giving a look. As for the casino, the game is far from won, even with the precious card. It will ask the High Commission on games, under the Ministry of Interior. This body has the power to reject a proposed settlement. 180 gaming facilities already exist in France, the government is now opening in the dropper. Another obstacle course begins to Honfleur …

The decree strengthening the ban on smoking in public places “closed and covered” and workplaces from 1 February was published Thursday in the Official Journal.

The decree, based on the recommendations of members of the mission of information on tobacco published in early October, is a strict application that the Evin law of 1991 on tobacco and alcohol by strengthening penalties for offenders and the creation of smoking areas is strictly regulated.

As had been announced by the government, places of entertainment such as cafes and pubs, casinos, gaming clubs, tobacco shops, discos, hotels and restaurants have a period to adapt to the new health. The ban will come into effect for them on 1 January 2008.

The prohibition of smoking is total in the transportation, schools, colleges and public and private schools – not only in court but also inside, in health facilities and in facilities for the home, training or hosting of minors.

In contrast, the ability to install a smoking room in the company remains, but it will be much more tightly fitted than before. The decision is left to the discretion of the manager, after consultation with staff representatives.

The decree allows theoretically possible to construct a smoking room in the Administration of the State, but the Prime Minister has already indicated its refusal, they say the Department of Health.

Smoking places are strictly regulated and isolated, the government announced its willingness to protect non-smokers from passive smoking said, the effects of potentially harmful to health were apparently less known it at the time of the Evin Law .

FIXED FINES

Under the decree, the new local smokers – more question vaguely defined areas for smokers – are “safe room” only allocated to tobacco consumption and in which no delivery service is delivered. ” Their access will be forbidden to minors under 16 years.

Moreover, their surface will be limited: it will represent at most a fifth of the area of the establishment in which it will be built. From a certain size of the facility, the area is limited: it can not exceed 35 m2.

The ventilation is also regulated. Smoking premises “shall be equipped with an air extraction by mechanical ventilation for air exchange at least ten times the volume of the site per hour.

For the smoking ban is more respected than the Evin law, the decree provides for penalties for violators.

The offender must pay a smoker fixed fine of 68 euros and the school head who does not respect the legislation of a fine of 135 euros per person smoking, says the department is of Health.

The police and gendarmes will no longer be able to verbalize only. It is anticipated that the inspectors and occupational health physicians can also play the counterfoil book. This will require a new decree to swear them published.