For our part we are operational for a year

In an interview with the "echoes", the President of the Executive Board of group Partouche, one of the two major French operators of casinos (42 facilities operated in France and about 50 in total), remains prudent with respect to the possible resumption of the activity, the holding "hypothetical". Patrick Partouche is also critical about the Bill on the regulation and the opening to competition of the paris area and table games online. "At this stage, the candidacy of his group is not granted", he warned. The company will decide "in the light of the regulatory device and constraints." On an operational plan, it is however "in an ideal position", he added.

On the publication of its annual turnover for 2008-2009, group Partouche is a reduction of more limited for the fourth quarter. Do you see the resume

I do not play resumed, it is hypothetical. The priority remains to control loads. Without our management efforts, we would not have offset the decline in sales in fiscal year 2008-2009 (-6, to 453 million euros, Editor's note). I cannot say more, the company is listed and the annual results not arrested. However, the fourth quarter, marked by a decrease of 4.9 of the gross proceeds of the games, is encouraging after two years of falling from 20 to 25. It must eventually landing. Paradoxically, and I will surprise you, group Partouche has never been as strong as today ' today. A year ago, we were unable to repay our debt, today our syndicated credit is renegotiated with our historic partners. We then left for seven years with a duty of disposals of assets, amounting to between 80 and 100 million euros, over two years. We have also the most beautiful industrial platform, including Web and interactive television. We are ready at the opening to competition from the French betting market and online table games, regardless of the calendar. I also wish to recall that, for the casinos hard, we have our own "Mégapot" (a progressive jackpot on 42 institutions, Editor's note). For us, the harder is made but five years of growth have eaten within two years.

In view of the opening of the market French paris and online table games, did you not attempt by closer ties with a group of communication to win on the media surface

The Partouche vehicle is operational and we do not need new partners. We are already in the world of communication. We are partners of Paris first for seven years and we have to sign for an additional season with Eurosport for the dissemination of the Partouche Poker Tour, which is, I recall the largest tournament of poker in Europe with 25,000 players at the outset. The last final was watched by 8 million viewers in 50 countries. But it is unclear at this stage that we finally candidate for a licence in France, even if on an operational plan, we are in an ideal position.

Do you explain...

I have attacked for ten years, today I play defence: we will decide in the light of the regulatory device and constraints. I don't want a masquerade designed to protect the French for games (JDF) and the PMU. Basically, the Bill gives nothing to the casinos. Poker is attributed to everyone while Belgium only casino operators will be able to offer games of casinos online according to the new Belgian legislation. We are potentially operator "on line", since group Partouche operates 4 casinos. At this point, I'd rather be operator in Belgium and not France. But, if the State fee games to 60, I'm licensee! I also note that casino operators remain the only ones to be controlled. It is not normal that the Française des Jeux and PMU did not meet the identity of their clients, the JDF to sell lottery tickets to minors. All gaming operators should have the same rights and duties. Similarly, I respect the work of the French of the games in the lottery sector, and I find that there is no more legitimate that the PMU for the Organization of horse racing, but I am not agree when it calls into question my legitimacy for the poker. I have enough that everyone wants to eat in my Lunchbox, even if I am convinced that group Partouche, a Frenchman of poker will be online poker. The Net is a natural extension.

But nothing prevents you to be an online gambling operator...

There are necessarily interest, was an offer, but it is not our business. The game remains a matter of specialist. But if everyone wants to do my job, I me retains the right to the other. Partouche sells tickets to scratch on the Net...

You put in issue the monopoly of the JDF as the commercialization of its products through its physical network of points of sale. Consider the title to enter the European authorities

I am a Legalist, this case is not over! From the time when the State publishes texts "JDF compatible", all of the operators may enter the European authorities. I am also satisfied that the Bill will be inapplicable and attacked from all sides. It is not impossible that I attacked the State of a very violent manner on a point that would not be satisfied. As the landslide in the parliamentary calendar, there of importance to those who believed in an implementation on January 1, 2010 and June 2010. This is not our case. For our part, we are operational for a year. All the French can play on our site partouche with the same security in our casinos. I also look forward the arrival of the Sheriff...

You launched in June a multigame on the British market site. What is balance six months later

In caricaturing: zero. I am the same balance that barrier, but this has cost me less. This is not a question of mark of legitimacy. So far, we have one of the most beautiful ambassadors with Eric Cantona under contract for ten years and shareholder of Partouche Interactive.