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SBM: Investments On Every Front                                                               by Milena Radoman


          The Monte-Carlo SBM Group is multiplying its investments both Intramuros and internationally. On land and on sea...





















         © Le Palace des Neiges



           L’ex-Palace des Neiges
          With the opening of New Moods on November   On the sea and on land internationally  This is to avoid the risk of handling dirty
          30, to be followed by the Marlow, the largest   Internationally, the Monte-Carlo SBM brand   money. “This casino has made the most
          restaurant on the sea extension in January   will soon be ploughing the Caribbean seas   significant efforts in the world with regard
          2025, and finally the MC Club Cigare in the   aboard Crystal cruise ships. Two floating   to compliance with regulations and the
          spring of 2025, the next few months promise   casinos will bear the name “Casino de   verification of the origin of the gambling
          to be a very intense time for the Société des   Monte-Carlo”. “We get a percentage of the   cash,” says Stéphane Valeri, according to
          Bains de Mer. And that’s just the start... After   gaming result and we have a guaranteed   whom the Monegasque gaming house is
          the Annual General Meeting, Stéphane Valeri   minimum. So there is no financial risk for   also... the most controlled in the world.
          spoke at length about the company’s various   the company,” says Stéphane Valeri.  “We are visited by three auditors from the
          investments. Starting with the future Monte-  SBM is also exporting to Dubai, following   Monegasque Financial Security Authority for
          Carlo One Courchevel, ex-Palace des Neiges:   the signing of a partnership agreement with   three months each year. In comparison, the
          “Thanks to the Olympic Games (in 2030), if we   the D.ream International group (Coya, Zuma,   French have over 200 casinos and have had
          were to sell today there would be a 20 - 30%   Nusr’Et, and Amazonico). From autumn 2025,   just 18 inspections. This means that a French
          increase in value. (...) This hotel has already   Monte-Carlo Club 1863 (the year SBM was   casino receives a “compliance” examiner on
          appreciated in value, and will be very profitable.   founded) will offer Mediterranean cuisine,   average every 21 years...”
          (...) You won’t find a room in a Palace Hotel In   including barbagiuans. Anything else?
          Courchevel for less than 3,000 to 4,000 euros   “Given the substantial investment in these
          a night”, the manager estimates. The Palace   projects, it would be unreasonable to imagine   SBM, partner of women’s basketball
          will be renovated by the renowned Swiss   embarking on the renovation of the Summer   Monaco’s economic flagship is
          architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, and   Sporting at the same time. But once these   committed to women’s sport. The
          is due to open for business for the Christmas   real estate projects are completed, we will   SBM has just signed a partnership
          of 2026. The manager is expecting profits that   be in a position to tackle the renovation”   agreement with the Monaco Basket
          “will run into millions every year...”.  said the director, with a smile on his face.   Association (MBA), chaired by former
          In Monaco, another project is taking shape on   “I am convinced that the real estate projects   game employee Eric Elena. “It is
          the Terrasses du Casino in the place of Les   we are carrying out will completely change   possible that women’s team sports
          Thermes and the Rothschild bank builing. “We   our paradigm.”               don’t get the recognition they deserve.
          can build completely renovated spas there, as   All these investments are now made possible   We could have chosen soccer, but we
          well as hotel residences, with luxury shops   by a flourishing 2023 - 2024 financial year,   chose basketball which has a history
          on the top floor, facing Hermès on Avenue   with an operating income of 73 million euros.   in the Principality. We will be helping
          Monte-Carlo. Work is scheduled to take four   Indicators for the first months of SBM’s new   the MBA to build a great professional
          years, between late 2026 and late 2030 or   financial year are in the green, with overall   team for the Principality over the next
          early 2031. SBM is also (still) in the running   sales up 7%. Only the gaming sector is   few years,” Stéphane Valeri explains.
          to renovate Le Méridien Beach Plaza. But in   lagging behind (-17%) due to “very poor table   The players will be able to use the
          this case, as the land belongs to Monaco, any   games and slot machine contingencies”,   SBM’s gyms and spas, as well as try
          project is subject to the decision made by the   explained Stéphane Valeri, the Chairman.   out the cryotherapy sessions at the
          Government, and the outcome of the upcoming   The Monte-Carlo Casino would also have had   Thermes Marins.
          competitive bidding process.        to do without “some thirty million games”.

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