A tour client asked me if there were casinos in Paris and what were some of the gambling laws in France. I frankly told him I didn't know as I have never been asked that question before. However it piqued my interest as I sometimes go to Las Vegas or Reno to furiously play the slots and was curious myself about gambling in France. Here is the results of my research.
Gambling is legal in France but there are many restrictions in order to operate a casino. It is controlled exclusively by Le Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) and Le Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMH).
There are approximately eight legalized casinos in central Paris. Cercle Haussmann, near the Opera Garnier, offers table games of stud poker, Punto Banco, Poker 21, and 3 card poker and sponsors poker tournaments. Hours are 2PM to 7AM every day and there is a full service restaurant, smoking lounge, and American bar. In addition to poker, Cercle Gaillon off the Champs Elysees has Blackjack and roulette. Other casinos in Paris include Association Cercle Eldo, Aviation Club de France, Cercle Anglais, Cercle Central, Cercle Clich Montmartre, and Cercle Wagram. My research concluded that there are no legal slot machines in Paris.
There are some very glamorous casinos throughout France including the legendary Monte Carlo Casino in the Beaux-Arts style by Charles Garnier, who designed the Paris Opera Garnier. It was used as a backdrop in the gambling scenes from the James Bond films Never Say Never Again and Golden Eye. It was Lucille Ball's 100th birthday last weekend and I thought of the funny episode of I Love Lucy where she accidentally places a poker chip on a roulette table and wins a fortune but doesn't know how to tell Ricky she won since he forbade her to gamble.
Other well-known resort casinos include Casino Croisette in Cannes, Casino Barrier d'Enghien-les-Bains with a view of the lake, Casino de Biarritz, and Casino Barriere de Deauville, the seaside playground of the French elite.
Internet casinos are also legal in France.
In addition to my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, we now offer Eye Prefer New York Tours, 3-hour walking tours of New Yorkís best neighborhoods including Soho, Meatpacking/West Village & Tribeca. Tours cost $195 for up to 3 people and $65 for each additional person.Come take a bit of the Big Apple on an Eye Prefer New York Tour!
Come experience my blog ìliveî with my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I lead. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris. www.eyepreferparistours.com
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
A few years ago I was riding the Air France coach to CDG, past all the industrial HQs on the autoroute. On the side of one warehouse building was the logo for "Casino," the supermarket chain.
"See!" said a wife, pointing and elbowing her husband. "I TOLD you there were casinos in Paris!"
Posted by: Polly-Vous Francias | August 12, 2011 at 06:06 AM
How interesting. Your do good work Richard.
Posted by: Ginny | August 12, 2011 at 07:24 PM