French Casinos & Gambling Scene
France is a beautiful country situated in Western Europe. Gambling is popular in the country but the French casinos face many restrictions. While certainly gambling has roots in France it was most recently popularized when slot machines were legalized in 1988.
While most gamblers would think that France's casinos are similar to Las Vegas' casinos or East Europe's casinos they are mistaken. Much of today's casino revenue in France is from slot machines. But the French have a history. Roulette comes from France. Blackjack is also believed to originate here. For a complete list of card games that are popuplar in France, please check French Card Games
Casinos in France
There are few casinos in France as nice as Lyon Vert Casino situated at Lyon and Palais de la Mediterranee Casino at Nice. Both of these casinos are luxurious gambling destinations. Lyon Vert Casino is France’s biggest casino and has about 400 slot machines. It also offers Stud Poker tables, Roulette wheels and Blackjack. The age restriction for the players is 18 years and above. The player should also have some sort of identification and the visitor should follow the prescribed dress code.
“Palais de la Mediterranee” Casino hotel is a very beautiful place with wonderful décor. The lovely décor has Egyptian, Greek and 1930’s French influences. The casino hotel offers 17 table games table, 6 American Roulette tables and 2 French Roulette tables.
The Casino “Barrière d'Enghien-les-Bains”, is situated at the outskirts of Paris. This lovely casino with the stylish twenties ambience and décor, boasts of the only slot machines room in Paris. These slot machines attract casino visitors in large numbers. There are about 44 games tables and 280 slot machines at the casino. Baccarat, Black jack and English Roulette are also popular at the casino. To visit the casino you should be eighteen years of age or above and you should have a valid ID. Foreigners can use their passports as their ID. The dress code of the casino is formal.
Poker in France
France is famous for its Poker rooms and the tournaments held in France are something that all Poker enthusiasts look forward to. The leading Parisian Poker salon Aviation Club de France conducts the World Poker Tour tournament and each year the number of player doubles the past records. Some of the world’s famous personalities and Poker champions play in this tournament and ACF offers record breaking prize pool for the winners. France also supports and hosts many charity tournaments and Poker events, which just adds to the craze for the game here.
Pari Mutuel in France
Pari Mutuel was first introduced in France way back in 1870 and soon its popularity spread across the globe. Paris, however, remains one of the most favored destinations for betting on the elegant thoroughbreds. Longchamp, one the most popular race track, witnesses more than 50000 spectators including visitors from all parts of the world. With the turn of events in the Pari mutual betting front, the only form of legal betting that is now permitted in France is its Tote based system, the PMU or Pari Mutuel Urbain. The PMU is the 3rd largest in the world with over 8000 off track outlets all across France and its territory and thereby it enjoys sheer monopoly.
La Française des Jeux
In France, all the lotteries and betting activities are conducted by the La Française des Jeux. This is the French national lottery which is state controlled. The lottery has a wide variety of games and lotteries with new ones being introduced from time to time. The lottery also supports humanitarian and social causes like financing different sporting activities. From sixteenth century onwards, the lottery is providing fun and amusement to the French people.
Gambling Law in France
Gambling in France is considered legal only when Justice Ministry specifically sanctions it. Le Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) and its affiliate Le Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMH) have power over all French sports betting. Around 20% betting takes place on-course and the other 80% off-course in PMU licensed café kiosks and bars. There are 160 state licensed casinos in France. Sous Direction des Courses et des Jeux is a special police force, which keeps a check on all sorts of gambling activities in France from illegal betting to casino licenses, doping, race fixing and selling information.
Online French casinos
A large number of online casinos are found on the internet and are hugely popular among the French people. As French casinos face restrictions, the gambling craze of the French people is taking them to the online casinos. These casinos serve the needs of the gambling enthusiasts to play their favorite casino games online. The popular games are French Roulette, Black Jack, Poker, slots etc. With the growing popularity and availability of high-speed internet in most parts of France, online casinos rank high on the popularity charts of the French gamblers.
In summary, French casinos are places where you can have lots of fun and excitement. If you plan to visit France, plan your vacation by including some gambling activities in your agenda and enjoy yourself. Make sure the casinos you are visiting are legal joints so that you do not end up losing money. France is a lovely destination for all the tourists, who love natural beauty and relish the French cuisine. Visit the French casinos to spice up your vacation and add some more excitement to your trip.