The law on gambling, which came into force on 1 April 2000, prohibits gambling outside of casinos for the benefit of a concession. A transitional period of five years, however, was scheduled for the continued operation of slot machines in public schools, where the limit was five aircraft. This deadline expires on Thursday.

So as of Friday, about 6,000 slot machines will have been disconnected cafes and gaming halls of the thirteen districts that have authorized (AG, AI, AR, BE, FR, GL, LU, NW, OW, SH, BT, UR , ZG), said the Federal Gaming Board (CFMJ). They will be replaced by slot machines games of skill, such as video games and pinball reaction.

Many farmers took advantage until the last moment of time allotted to them. It was only Wednesday that the company Escor began to decommission its 1,100 slot machines, said its director Norbert Mauron. Proms, however, has already replaced a slot on both, as its director Christian Blanquet.

In Switzerland, industry automata generates a turnover of 162 million francs and employs about 1,200 people, according to data from its umbrella organization Swissplay.

With this change, operators are worried about not hitting the jackpot. Initially, at least, for lovers of gambling are not the same as games of skill where the ability of the player determines its gain. Still, some enjoy the atmosphere of coffee and will not ever set foot in a casino, says Christian Blanquet.

Escor provides a decrease of 40% of its annual sales as the company Proms talking about 50%. In their view, the situation should gradually recover toward the end of the year.

Violators of the new law face a criminal prosecution and a sentence of imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 francs.

The wheel is about to turn Noirétable. This town nestled in the heart of black wood between Drill and Auvergne, obtained permission from the Ministry of Interior to open a casino. Its status as resort, awarded in 1930 enabled him to create such an institution as well as spas or resorts smartest. But none had elected to give thought to play before 1998. A “person” had indeed asked the mayor in 1994. Unanswered. It was not until the election in 1995 of a new municipal team and a new request to generate interest and communal … operators. Many groups, not least, responded to the call for tenders launched by Noirétable: the European Casino Partouche , Accor … But for fear of freezing their site by these companies, already well established in the region, politicians have preferred to rely on a “small”. The leaders of the Casino du Golfe de Cavalaire and have won the jackpot for ten years. To them to grow their original investment: six million euros.

More than local taxes!

According to market research, the casino Noirétable could be attended by 600 people a day, three years after its opening, scheduled for July 2005. The products of the games could rise to 10 million euros, after four or five years and generate 1.5 million additional revenue for the town. “More than the amount of local taxes,” Mayor Welcomes Denis Tamain. And much more than investing or operating budget of the community Loire, close to one million euros each. This casino will have three dining rooms, a piano bar, a conference room of 400 seats. It will create thirty jobs in the first year and as much when he could operate slot machines. What enhance the attractiveness of this rural village of Drill Mountains which had operated the first molt in the 1960s, spurred on by business leaders Auvergne, blacksmiths and knife makers. Despite some failures and the relocation of activities including the manufacture of grenades, Noirétable still has some 200 jobs in the wood industry, plastics processing, packaging or forging of knives … imported from Asia.

After declining, its population is recovering. “Our goal is to host 2,000 people in 2015,” observes Denis Tamain, 250 more than the last census in 1999. Some Nétrablais adoption have already transformed their second home as primary residence. To meet the demand for land, the municipality will have to revise its land use plan. “There is more land to build,” says the mayor. No more apartment or any house for rent. To 12.2 euros per m2, the ground is given, even as prices rose more than 10% in a few months.

With its casino, wants Noirétable again become a fashionable resort. Like when it hosted the Lyon and Paris, on holiday or working-class children and minors from St Etienne to fill cell to over 1000 m altitude. Also attended a halt in his time, by Michel de Montaigne, who in 1581 lived in a coaching name Nigrum stabulum originally named Noirétable.

In the report of the Management Board which will be presented at the AGM, Group Partouche an update on its prospects. The operator of casino gaming said that the activity level of 2005 (commenced on 1 November 2004), already penalized by the increase in CSG occurring on or after 1 January 2005 (from 7.5% to 9 , 5%), remains uncertain in view of the slowdown in year-end 2004 and confirmed in early 2005.

To help boost business, and beyond animation renewed efforts on the holdings, Groupe Partouche can count on endowments of additional slot machines in the schools of Port-Barcarès La Trinite-sur-mer Nice and Le Havre. Since the beginning of the year, 120 machines have already been approved for casinos Plombières (+30 units), La Ciotat (20 units), St Amand-les-Eaux (+50 units) and Vichy (+20 units) .

Groupe Partouche also recalls the recent opening (26 February 2005) the casino in Port la Nouvelle (Languedoc-Roussillon) and the transfer of the casino-Barbotan Cazaubon (Gers) March 22, 2005.

Finally, Group Partouche participate in tenders of Toulouse, Lille and Blotzheim, for which the selection of the concessionaire is expected in the first half of calendar 2005.

The Groupe Lucien Barrière SAS holds 1,074,819 shares SHCD or 88.61% of capital and irrevocably undertakes to acquire all shares not owned SHCD.

On December 17, 2004, the family Desseigne Barrier, Accor and U.S. investment fund Colony Capital have met, their interests in (i) the Company of the hotel chain Lucien Barriere whose capital was owned full-family Desseigne barrier, (ii) Accor Casinos whose capital was divided equally between Accor and Colace (through ColEven) and (iii) whose family SHCD Desseigne Barrier held 53.7% and 34.9% Accor capital. This merger took the form of transfer for the benefit of the Company of the hotel chain Lucien Barrière by way of contribution and assignment by Colony Capital and Accor Accor Casinos in their interests by way of contribution by the family Desseigne Barrier its participation in SHCD and finally, by means of subscription and assignment of Accor’s stake in SHCD. The recovery action for restraint SHCD contribution made by the family Desseigne Barrier and Accor as well as the transfer price charged by Accor, has been established at 441.057 euros.

Following the merger, the Corporation of the hotel chain Lucien Barriere , which was a limited company, changed its name to take the Group Lucien Barrière and was transformed into joint stock company. The Groupe Lucien Barrière SAS holds 1,074,819 shares SHCD or 88.61% of share capital and 89.01% of the voting rights of society.

The Groupe Lucien Barrière SAS irrevocably undertakes to acquire at a price of 441.10 euros SHCD all shares or 138,176 shares; SHCD shares held in treasury by the Company (5448 shares) will not be made ??to supply.

The AMF has asked Euronext Paris to suspend trading of shares SHCD until further notice.

Of this amount, 316 million was paid into the coffers of the AVS and 54 million in the cantons where these gambling establishments.

With over 4 million visitors, Swiss casinos have improved their attendance last year of a million people. Satisfied, the Swiss Casino (FSC) discussed Tuesday at Bern’s political concerns.

“In a very short time, Switzerland has become a ‘country in casinos’, welcomed Censi Adriano, chairman of the FSC.

The FSC has also welcomed the establishment of common standards in casinos in October 2004 for the prevention and early detection of clients showing problematic gambling behavior.

Last year, the casinos have delivered about 3500 exclusions, bringing the total number of excluded in 9700.

On the other hand, according to Adriano Censi, the Law on gambling has already been bypassed. For him, lottery machines in bars and restaurants such as “Tactilo” and speaking the equivalent “Touchlot” distort competition.

Mid-June 2004, the Federal Commission for Gaming (CFMJ) declared a moratorium on installing new equipment, the time to determine if they are slot machines and if they fall, thus , within the scope of a ban. His decision is expected next summer.

Other games, other players
In restaurants, bars and cafes a new generation of slot machines is expected to attract a new customer. Since April 1, games of skill are gradually replacing the bandits.

The new devices make use of the skill players: their sense of touch, speed of reaction or strategic capabilities. Twelve models have been previously approved by the Federal Gaming Board (CFMJ).

As for gaming machines, the implementation varies from one to five francs depending on the canton and the gain ranges from one to 100 francs, while the loss is the money wagered.

Officials expect the industry to losses for one to two years of transition. Both companies and Fribourg Escor Proms, numbers one and two slots on the Swiss market, expect declines in sales of 40%, respectively 50% for the year.

The situation is expected to recover gradually from 2006. But it is not certain that the level prior to 2005 can be achieved even if all the bandits that had to be disconnected until April 1 are replaced by machines games of skill (up to five per school) .

The final decision must be ratified by the council in early May before the casino operators do not file an application to open with the Ministry of Interior.

The site chosen was that of the old school of chemistry ENSIACET destroyed by the explosion of the AZF factory September 21, 2001. It should welcome from the new casino in April 2007 from Toulouse.

With a total area of ??14,000 square meters, the casino will generate 400 jobs Toulouse. It will include a game room of 20 tables, a room of 400 to 600 slot machines and a theater of 1,200 seats. The estimated cost is 55 million euros and will be funded entirely by the Groupe Barrière .

To help boost its activities in 2005, Groupe Partouche can also count on endowments of expected additional slot machines in schools of Port-Barcarès La Trinite-sur-Mer, Le Havre and Nice. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2004-2005, 120 machines have already been approved for casinos Plombières (+30 units), La Ciotat (20 units), St Amand-les-Eaux (+50 units) and Vichy (+ 20 units).

In an interview with the Journal de Montreal “, the spokesperson for Loto-Quebec, Jean-Pierre Roy, admitted disappointment but the company has recognized the quality of competing bidders. A breakthrough on French soil is still possible for Loto-Quebec: a proposed casino operator in Lille.