French casino operator Groupe Partouche has marked a significant milestone with the reopening of the Royal Palm Casino in Cannes. The revamped venue, located at the iconic Palm Beach site, has undergone an extensive renovation, reflecting the operator’s vision of creating one of Europe’s premier gaming destinations.
Royal Palm Casino reopens in Cannes:
The restoration project, carried out by Cannes-based architecture firm Caprini et Pellerin, involved an investment exceeding €200 million. The new design doubles the gaming area to 600 square meters and brings a luxurious 1920s-inspired aesthetic. Highlighting its exclusive appeal, the casino features just 33 slot machines alongside custom-made tables for blackjack, English and French roulette, Ultimate Texas Poker, and Punto Banco.
As reported by G3 Newswire, Eric Zana, president and CEO of Royal Palm Casino, expressed the venue’s unique vision, stating, “We want to have a royal casino. We want people to feel like they’re in a movie, a show. We’re going to try to bring the history of Palm Beach to life, like it was 100 years ago.”
The reopening of the Royal Palm Casino coincides with Groupe Partouche’s steady financial growth, despite significant renovation projects across its key properties. For the 2024 fiscal year, the group reported Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of €712.3 million, marking a 1.5% increase from the previous year’s €701.5 million.
Renovation efforts extended beyond Cannes to include the operator’s three largest casinos in Annemasse, Divonne, and La Tour-de-Salvagny. La Tour-de-Salvagny, now rebranded as Pasino Grand, underwent an expansion to transform into a comprehensive entertainment hub. These projects left a “lasting impression” on patrons, according to the company, which reported growing customer enthusiasm for the revamped spaces, Globenewswire reports.
In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, GGR rose by 2.3% to reach €186 million. Traditional gaming revenues showed mixed results, with slot machines increasing by 1.5% to €504 million, while traditional table games and electronic gaming saw slight declines of 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
International markets and future outlook:
Groupe Partouche’s international operations also contributed positively to its financial performance. The company’s overseas GGR climbed by 7.3% to €76.3 million, driven by robust growth in traditional gaming and online platforms. Swiss operations, including the Meirin Casino, benefited from favorable exchange rates and a 34.5% surge in online gaming revenue to €23.6 million. Belgium’s Middelkerke Casino also posted a 33.3% increase in revenue.
The reopening of Royal Palm Casino signifies a broader strategy by Partouche to modernize its offerings and enhance customer experiences across its properties. As Partouche stated, “Casino Royal Palm thus enters a new era,” highlighting the importance of this transformation for the group’s vision and market position.
