French casino market a case of the rich getting richer

France’s land-based casino industry reported modest revenue growth in fiscal 2017, although the gains were concentrated among a shrinking number of casinos.

Overall gaming revenue at France’s 200 brick-and-mortar casinos totaled €2.29b in fiscal 2017, a modest 2.4% improvement over fiscal 2016’s result. However, only 117 casinos posted individual year-on-year gains in 2017 compared to 137 who enjoyed forward momentum the year before.

Casino operator Lucien Barrière claimed the lion’s share of last year’s revenue pie, with its fiscal 2017 total rising 3.6% to €695m. Groupe Partouche ranked second with €540m (+0.35%) while Joa ranked third with €211m (+3.2%).

Luciene Barrière claimed four of the top-five performing casino venues, and six of the top-10. The company’s (and the nation’s) top earner, Enghien-les-Bains (pictured), the closest major gaming venue to the casino-free capital Paris, saw revenue rise 4% to €169.6m.