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SBM “Monaco is clearly in the game”
In Monaco, the Soci t des Bains de Mer SBM holds the monopoly on gaming, so how does the
casino group see the future of its sector?
Un nouveau Café de Paris rutilant en 2023, un grand diner avec tous les chefs étoilés, un concept Pavyllon A brand-spanking-new Café de Paris in 2023, a gala dinner featuring all the Michelin-starred chefs, a
de Yannick Alleno au Vistamar, un autre Moods, des concerts de stars sur la place du Casino… Le groupe Yannick Alléno Pavyllon at the Vistamar, a new Moods venue, star concerts in Casino Square: the casino
casinotier et hôtelier veut continuer à séduire. and hotel group certainly hope to continue to please.
Gaming has been part of the DNA of Monaco screens to follow the game and place bets in top five competitions (football, tennis, NBA
since 1863, with the opening of Monte-Carlo real time. The objective was to reach a young, basketball, handball and ice hockey , Betclic
Casino. Since the beginning, the Monégasque digitally-aware client le, a segment referred to has become one of the only French sites
state has given the SBM the monopoly in the as “fun players”; and there is nothing to prevent, offering e-sports betting. To strengthen its
gaming sector, which has long been a revenue legislation permitting, players betting from their presence in virtual competitions, the company
source for the Principality. In the 21st century, homes on the French Roulette taking place at is now a sponsor of a FIFA team, as well as
the world changed, with smoking banned in Monte-Carlo Casino. Apogee Gaming, and has sponsored the FP
public places, reinforced anti-money-laundering professional football league. However, as for
rules, the launch of European online gambling, Betting on the future with online gaming the rest, Jean- uc Biamonti says there’s no point
the sharp increase in casinos in Asia, as well Monaco already holds the ace card in terms of playing Mystic Meg: “The evolution of the casino
as a fall in the Italian market. “We are looking online gaming. When the SBM made a 50-50 sector is difficult to predict because everything
at an economic upheaval and changes in the investment with Stéphane Courbit as early as depends on regulations. For example, even
world that create changes in our traditional 2008 in what would become the Betclic Everest though Germany now allows online games, you
client pool: for example,the Bordighera butcher Group, the company made a daring bet that can only play 1,000 per week Which is not
who used to turn up on a Saturday night with paid off over the next few decades. “The 186 very much,” explains the CEO, who hopes that
20,000 in his pocket to spend on a pleasing million investment in this business was reduced France will one day authorise online casinos .
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weekend in Monaco is no more,” as SBM vice- to 67 million but the business is worth much He is, though, optimistic: “Monaco is clearly
president, Jean- uc Biamonti liked to say a more today,» said Jean- uc Biamonti. The in the game: there is a Monaco specificity,
few years ago to illustrate these changes. French leader in sports betting now even makes which serves us well, focused on luxury and
This upheaval drove the SBM to seek out and it possible to get through lean times. “During security but which is also still fun. We will never
seduce a new, wealthy client le, to diversify this difficult period (of crisis we had to take be a Saint-Tropez or a Mykonos but we have
what was on offer and to make reforms to its on short-term debt to repay the long-term debt greatly improved our catering offer and been
structure: exceptional dinners for big players, of the One Monte-Carlo, so we burned cash; we able to bring back fun concepts that appeal to
boxing match invitations, roulette games with got out of it because the shareholders raised a younger client le.” The SBM will also now be
unprecedented million-dollar jackpots. A world 140 million from Betclic.” The consolidation able to rely on a major partner, casino group
first also took place at Monte-Carlo Casino in into the SBM accounts of the Betclic Everest Galaxy Macau; and now that there is a Café
2020, when the establishment’s French Roulette, Group has also enabled a positive entry of de Paris in the heart of the Asian gaming city,
emblematic of Monte-Carlo for over 150 years, 30.9 million in the 2020-2021 financial year. perhaps the joint projects blocked during the
was extended to digital players with touch- The group anticipates trends. As well as its Covid-19 pandemic can be reactivated.
1. Currently only sporting bets, horse racing bets and poker are permitted online.
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