The council has chosen to establish a casino next to a neighborhood. Opponents criticize a project that could ruin the poor.

After a chaotic process of two and a half years, the City Council has appointed Toulouse, May 2, the company that would build and operate the future casino. Accor-Barriere, favorite, won the tender, beating nine other candidates. With 14,000 square meters, the gaming establishment would be the largest in France. It would consist of a central building oval – to symbolize the rugby? – Surrounded by two wings – a symbol aeronautics? This temple of roulette, baccarat and slot machines would rise on stilts because the chosen site, along the Garonne, is a flood zone.

The casino will open in Toulouse does its doors as planned on 1 April 2007? Nothing is less certain. Because one of the unsuccessful candidates, the group Partouche , has already plan to file an appeal. Above all, the prospect of a gaming establishment near a great city popular Empalot, arouses strong opposition. Neighborhood associations, communist activists and city councilors left have formed a collective. They see this casino a formidable decoy stretched to the most helpless, the poor. Looking for a hypothetical jackpot, do not they will squander their money in the final slot?

Opponents of the casino first battle engaged on the topic of gambling addiction statistics show that this is a social evil. According to a confidential background information, established in late 2004, France has 28 000 people asking to be turned back at the entrance to the casino. These “forbidden volunteers who want to be protected against themselves, are increasing annually. More broadly, there would be 400 000 people in France gambling and in particular to 15,000 slot machines officially established.

This form of abuse leads to a cascade of debt, domestic violence, child abuse, suicide … “We do not create a casino where it will cause the most damage in the population! “Stephen protested Dupraz, Councillor CPF. He also doubted the measures adopted to prevent addiction: “Prevention is based on the only casino operator! ”

The sling also continues in the legal field. The mayor and the Accor Group Barrier want to operate a temporary casino at the racetrack of Cépière, pending the final opening of the casino. The anti-casino group is challenging the legality of the temporary facility and is preparing to enter the administrative tribunal.

The UMP mayor, Jean-Luc Moudenc, and his mentor, Philippe Douste-Blazy, announced that the casino will create between 200 and 300 jobs and pay each year 2 to 3 million in city coffers. What is telling to Councillor Simon Francis (ex-PS): “Speculation about the loss of players to create a hidden tax. Stefan Dupraz adds: “This casino is a tax on poverty. “

The group of gaming establishments Partouche , which vies with Lucien Barrière the title of first casino operator in France and Europe, has filed an appeal against the choice of the municipality of Toulouse which has awarded the casino project in the Rainier Gate. The administrative court in Toulouse has reviewed the interim application filed by pre-contractual Partouche yesterday. The court is expected to rule today. “I read in the press that our family group had the best proposal,” said Patrick Partouche , head of the supervisory board of Casino, which estimates that “the secret deals, and therefore the procedure has not been respected “and that” there was no equal treatment. “The mayor of Toulouse, was slow to choose, would be allowed to fence the time to make his case more attractive.

Toulouse City Council approved on May 2 the choice of mayor for the Barrier Group to build and operate for 18 years the future of Ramler casino, scheduled to open on 1 April 2007. The use of Partouche add a new episode to a judicial procedure that has been glazed.

Close to the spa, casino Fumades began on Monday, a real makeover with the extension and restructuring (of 1600 m² in the end) that will last for nineteen months. In early 2007, lovers of slot machines and roulette will therefore have a new part to play.

He is former director Serge Corbier, who died tragically in 2000 in a road accident, which launched this project now done by these successors. “It’s the most beautiful thing we could do to pay tribute to Mr. Corbier. “Ideally, the architectural firm Alès Lechat & Partners was chosen for future casino floor on a building that dates back over a century.

This work, whose cost is estimated at 3.5 million, and provide a projection of the casino with a large ramp to the public. Customers who come to the aisle, will fall on a bright and spacious exterior entrance with columns and fountains to remind them that the Fumades is also a spa.

The project architects also provides a huge dome treated zinc gives the whole retro look of the 1900s. “The interest is to arouse the public to visit the facility. That’s why he was treated for decoration “explains one side of the casino managers. Inside the building, customers will be entitled to a larger space, airy and lighted.

Room balls and change of place to be at the entrance on the right. In contrast, the number of slots (49 at present) will not evolve. The idea is to give more character to the site while maintaining a park slot corresponding to the number of customers. In this connection, 15 to 20 thousand people come each month to play casino Fumades.

Since Monday, work, long term, have begun, which may cause some inconvenience to customers at the level of noise and dust. By Thursday, the plane trees will be felled to make future access ramp to the casino. At work, it will also move the slot machines with the binding agreement of the Ministry of Interior, which sets regulations for the management of casinos.

Other projects will follow to review the current room balls (to make an emergency exit in particular) and fit upstairs offices and a large games room. The casino Fumades is ready to change configuration.

Montreux • After completing the sales record of 7.8 million francs for the month of March alone, the Casino Barrière prepares to welcome its millionth visitor.

Nearly a million visitors! After starting on the hubcaps, the year that 2005 promises to break all records for the Casino de Montreux. A single casino in western Switzerland, he has already recorded an increase of 12,000 visitors (+8.6%) compared to the first four months of 2004, but especially a record turnover of 7.867 million alone for the month of March, achieving its best month since opening in February 2003. The property also is preparing to welcome its millionth visitor on June 7, with a big party free buffet and drinks included.

Boxing & Jazz
Saturday, May 28, a large rally organized by the Montreux Boxing Boxing Team will take place within the walls of the Casino. During the afternoon, the best amateur boxers in western Switzerland compete for the award of the championship Romand, finals at 19h and evening will be held three professional fights. Recall that the performance hall of the Casino will host at least 16 nights under the Montreux Jazz Festival that showcases jazz and French songs, including several ladies, including Tori Amos, Cassandra Wilson, Lisa Stansfield Marianne Faithfull, Juliette Greco (detailed information on the site www.montreuxjazz.com).

Terminator machine
Since the minimum bet has been lowered one franc, the “Craps” is a great success, Montreux Lake Geneva is the only casino to offer this legendary game of dice which caused a sensation in Las Vegas. The Casino offers a total of 21 tables and 6 different games, most in the main room where there are also slots.

In the panoramic lounge table games on the 1st floor, several new machine models in the last generation are emerging, including the legendary “Terminator”. The main game area now 324 units, some of which allow for 5 cents already made. The property also contained the second largest Swiss casinos in terms of turnover on this game offerings

The prefect of the Moselle region and Bernard Hagelsteen is about to enter the application by tribunal in Strasbourg about the future constitution of the mixed enterprise company responsible amnévilloise resume as soon as the casino. The warden would ask the administrative judge to declare the law, particularly regarding entry into the capital of the Spielbank German offshoot of the Saarland.

Similarly, the regional prefect wrote to the Regional Chamber of Auditors in the Epinal “2005 budget” in the city of Amneville. These magistrates to peel the accounts of local practices regularly revel not always orthodox team of Dr. Kiffer. This specialized court in the controls of legality, has already sent last month a series of observations on the accounts of the municipality in 2004.

After it be expanded without fanfare, the casino operator now seems like a fun little crazy Amnéville. In denouncing the mayor “megalomaniac”.

METZ. _ Nothing goes to where Amnéville after his games for fifteen years, Georges Tranchant leaves his lucrative reserves to engage in a “mission of public health.” It is a prelude to the loss of its casino license, which is scheduled next Monday to council Amnéville. Consider themselves “first taxpayer” of the town, he experienced many difficulties to the attention of Amnévillois who had invaded his Wednesday evening press conference Hagondange.

Draped in her role as public enemy number one of Dr. Kiffer, Georges Tranchant Assen a series of accusations, without necessarily adding much new compared to the rosary “revelations” which he recites the past two months. Here however, an anthology that it alone is responsible.

BCBG

The Galaxy first. It’s his hobby. Georges Tranchant , minority shareholder in the theater, loves to challenge the step-son and beautiful daughter of Jean Kiffer. “Eric Revel still running with a sumptuous 4X4 BMW at the expense of the company and his wife Carole in a small Austin latest model luxury preppy girl.” Beyond the form where Georges Tranchant delights, the casino operator denounces a financial hole and “negative equity of 451 407 euros.” He predicted that the next four shows at the program that Lenny Kravitz and Snoop Dog, “will perhaps not happen if the organizers want to be paid in advance”.

Defensive

Georges Tranchant has peeled the accounts of the municipality in order to uncover a Amnéville … galaxy of attorneys’ fees, or “paid 92,500 euros between 2001 and 2004 instead of Dr. Kiffer” or “Deputy Mayor Horst Bruxmeier. Nothing illogical in this. The virulence of Jean Kiffer is matched only by the procedures it employs or suffers from its opponents. But ipso facto, when Jean Kiffer deals without moderation the courthouse Metz “banana republic”, it is illogical not only as a last resort, that is to say, after a journey full legal the Supreme Court did not condemn John Kiffer, implicitly ex-officio mayor. Georges Tranchant impressive publishes tables of fees that are probably Amnéville city champion France in legal fees per capita. However, the population adheres to and re-elect Jean Kiffer 40 years. Unless the elections are not held amnévilloises, too, as in a banana republic. And yet, Georges Tranchant may be frustrated. He did not have before me a fee note of the prestigious business lawyer Christian Pierret, Minister and former socialist mayor of Saint-Die, recruited by Jean Kiffer land for the casino.

Washing machine

The false invoices for washing … This time, Georges Tranchant frontal attack, accusing the deputy finance namely Mr. Zymoch. “The latter, in gratitude for his loyal service and contribution to the development of false accounts of the spa, received a salary of 151,000 euros in fictitious expense of the latter.” Better Georges Tranchant is a clerk magistrate messin ‘Jean-Marie Zymoch is summoned to be indicted for complicity in embezzlement, forgery and forgery. He also made false invoices (95,598 euros) to pay a fee for the casino site promotion. Again, the casino operator takes a challenge already launched in the spring.

Sliding

For the rest, Georges Tranchant forecaster turns into “The Dr. Kiffer megalomania led him to create an Imax with catastrophic losses are not expressed by a supplementary budget of the city. The pinnacle is reached with the building for 15 million euros in a ski which funding is not assured. ” But work is progressing fast … Faced with steep slope of its relationship with the elected, Georges Tranchant dark schuss customizing his accusations, in strange symmetry with the attitude of Jean Kiffer he accused of “squandering the significant financial resources in the casino business unprofitable and poorly managed, all to the glory of his precious little person. ”

Travesty

Once is not custom, Georges Tranchant finally touches the key is to say its casino. To announce yet another criminal complaint for “sham bidding process” after the incorporation of (SEM) where the mayor has invited German partners. The casino operator fingers crossed and predicted further: “I doubt that Dr. Kiffer, apart from the incompatibility of its administrative SEM with the operation of a casino in this situation can obtain a permit from the games’ supervisory authority. ” In this regard, it will be the loser wins, and anyway, for Georges Tranchant , nothing goes to Amnéville …

Hope casino employees Gujan-Mestras (Gironde) to see their school open after ten months of waiting, faced a further refusal of the High Commission of games, it was learned Friday from sources. The Commission has indeed issued this week a new negative opinion, it was learned from this forum. The Committee reiterated its negative opinion “in the same pattern of competition,” said a statement from the group of employees of the institution. “Very angry” face this new refusal, employees rely begin a hunger strike at the site from Tuesday and continue “until the Minister’s decision,” he told AFP spokeswoman the collective. The opinion of the Committee is purely advisory, the final decision back to the Minister of Interior. The property named “Casino Lake of the Magdalene” opened its doors last July after a site of about 6 million. After several months of waiting, the operating license of the game was denied on January 7, on the grounds of the local supply of games that already exist in the region. To date, only operates the restaurant, while a couple of dealers engaged by the institution and debauched in their previous job are unemployed art. Determined to save their jobs, employees were mobilized for several weeks to try to get the casino opened.

The French have doubled in a quarter century from the budget they spend on gambling, preferring instant prints, which alter the nature and issues, according to experts.

“Since 1976, the date of creation of the National Lottery, the French have been attracted to gambling and money,” according to a report by the INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), published Friday, May 13 , the date traditionally conducive to games of chance. “The share of budget they have spent has doubled to 0.9% in 2003,” 7.8 billion euros or 130 euros per capita, a rate comparable to “books, newspapers and periodicals (1%), “said the institute. “Spending on lottery games, bingo and instant games have increased substantially, to the detriment of traditional formulas, like the National Lottery, disappeared in 1990, according to the survey, which reports an increase of 11.4% per year and average volume over this period.

For Dr. Marc Valleur, department head at the hospital Marmottan in Paris, specializing in addiction, “it is spent playing games dream of sensations.” “In the Lotto, we fall asleep, dreaming of all that will be when billionaire.” However, racing games, bingo or casino immediate result is “the daily equivalent of undercover and bungee jumping,” he adds.

RAPID GROWTH AND DEPENDENCE

Meanwhile, slot machines allowed in casinos since 1988, experienced a “meteoric growth of 36.8% per year and volume,” said INSEE. In 2003, they accounted for 93% of spending in casinos. “The starting point is the authorization of slot machines. Other operators have seen the overwhelming success of slot machines, and all games have been modeled on this principle,” said Dr. Valleur.

The head of SOS-Players, psychologist Armelle Achour, also emphasizes the risks of addiction caused by the development of gambling. “The fact of immediacy and especially the fact that there are many more games on screen, it generates addictive behaviors much more frequently, which caused financial difficulties and even indebtedness,” she says.

“The vast majority of our calls are people who are hooked and are indebted to the tune of 120,000 euros while playing for three years, who have sold their apartment to pay for gambling debts and are again indebted “she says. “There are people who play 40 or 50 euros per day, but have the RMI or the minimum wage,” said Dr. Valleur.

But contrary to popular belief, the players are the first beneficiaries of bets: 60% are distributed to them by the French games, 70% for Paris on horse racing and 85% in the casinos, shows INSEE.

According to the report, “the French are not the greatest players in Europe. They are even slightly below the European average of 25, which reaches 1% [of the household budget] in 2003.

Gambling establishments in Noumea a hit yesterday. Thousands of people came to try their luck at Bingo that that slot machines, which at roulette …

11:15 sentences and casino slot machines are already under attack! Cup in hand, customers of all ages, pat on the keys of the machines. The light is dim, cozy atmosphere. No laughter or exclamations of joy or excitement. Only from time to time, the splashing sound of falling coins resonates in the room. All eyes on the colorful screen of the dream machine, they slide a regular gesture tokens in the slot. “Party over! Replace Parts “ad machine. In case you would not understand …

“I’m not really superstitious, but Friday the 13th, you never know … “Confess, hopeful, a young woman.

On a color screen, a Nemo makes the visitor’s eye. A beautiful Egyptian sways lasciviously over another. Shellfish, birds and other colorful images endlessly flashing in expectation of the customer. A handful of chips in hand, they come to believe for several hours at their good fortune. Mother chance she will make a short tour around home today? After all, it’s Friday 13.

“She is not familiar with this machine. Must not play there, “says a regular, without further explanation. If more machines do as they head! Obedient, I will look elsewhere if the vibrations are more positive. Thirty minutes later and poker pockets lightened by 3,000 francs, I capitulated. Friday, 13 lucky, this is definitely not for me. Maybe Bingo?

Addicts cardboard
and crazy roulette

Large crowd in front of the gambling establishment’s tail stretched for several feet and even the rain does not surrender all potential winners. The room is packed. Again, no excitement. The players concentrate on their boxes. The computer voice of the computer lists the numbers in a respectful silence. Quine! “He has already won last week” irritated an old lady, accustomed places. Her friends approve sipping their tea, “Lucky at cards, unlucky in love,” retorted the other with a knowing look. They giggle like little girls, raising his hand to catch a flight to the plate.

What desires and hopes drain these balls whirling in their urn of glass! What do they think all these junkies board, these cards insomniacs, those crazy roulette? Their dreams are they proportional to the energy they bring to make some money? Anyway, Friday the 13th is a day of luck and once again, Nouméens have largely played the game

The casino employees Lyon Pharaoh have extended the strike launched on Friday 13, to demand wage increases and a bonus of Transportation, said Saturday AFP CGT, Monfardino Marino.

“There has been no progress. We met with Mr. Benhamou (the school official, ie), but he remains adamant and says he will not negotiate until the workers are on strike. But if stops, he will not negotiate anymore, “said Steward.

The claims focus on employee wage increases for all categories of personnel, but also the establishment of a transport allowance, especially for employees who work night and for which the parking is not free or need take a taxi.

The casino is located inside the Hilton, whose employees operate daily two-hour stoppages from Tuesday to demand a thirteenth monthly salary.

The management of the institution, which belongs to the group Partouche , could not be reached yet.